1. Academic Success Workshops for students on probation: They work!
Belinda ballew m.a., eD.s.
Appalachian state university
Nacada conference, 2017
st. louis Missouri

2. OUR GOALS TODAY About Appalachian State University
Theoretical underpinnings
How we keep it positive
Logistics
Assessment

3. ABOUT APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY
18,811 Totals students in fall 2017
Carnegie Classification—Master’s – Larger Programs
Predominately an undergraduate serving institution
89% persistence ( )
53% 4-year graduation rate
73% 6-year graduation rate
Approximately 4% (600) on First Semester of probation during any academic year
2 semesters on probation ever
60% dismissal rate for Students on second semester probation
Goal: keep students from reaching “Continued Probation” status

4. Academic success workshops
Appreciative advising
Appreciative Advising is the intentional collaborative practice of asking positive, open-ended questions that help students optimize their educational experiences and achieve their dreams, goals, and potentials.
It is perhaps the best example of a fully student-centered approach to student development. 

5. Appreciative advising phases

6. Appreciative advising phases
Disarm – Recognizing the importance of first impressions, create a safe, welcoming environment for students.
Discover - Utilize positive open-ended questions to draw out what they enjoy doing, their strengths, and their passions.
* Dream - Help students formulate a vision of what they might become, and then assist them in developing their life and career goals.
Design – Help students devise concrete, incremental, and achievable goals
Deliver – The student follows through on their plans. The advisor is there for them when they stumble, believing in them every step of the way and helping them continue to update and refine their dreams as they go.
*Don’t Settle – The advisor challenges the student to proactively raise the student’s internal bar of self- expectation
Jennifer L. Bloom, Ed.D.
Clinical Associate Professor and Director
University of South Carolina

7. Examples of Appreciative Advising?

8. Academic success workshops
Focus on success
Academic success workshop
NOT a Probation Workshop
Every admitted student Can do Well at Appalachian
Good students go on probation for 1,001 reasons
Workshop is to help Students get going in a good direction

9. Academic success workshops
Focuses on success
Not punitive
Tips, Tricks, and tools for regaining good academic standing
Obstacles: solution focused
What are you doing well?
What could you do better?

10. Logistics: who? Students First-semester probation students
Professional staff and graduate assistants
Partner with :
Academic Advising & Orientation Center
Student Learning Center

11. Logistics: when? First two weeks of the semester
1 ASW, 5 days per week – at least 10 workshops in first 2 weeks
Third week of the semester and beyond
2 asws per week
Approximately 40 scheduled workshops each semester
Approximately 5 one-on-one workshops

12. Logistics: where? Reserve small rooms in the student union Personal
Familiar space
Neutral space

13. Logistics: how?
Students are required to participate in an Asw if they wish to register for the next semester
Workshops in first two weeks of term typically accommodate students, per workshop
We continue to offer workshops through the last week of the semester
Workshops during the semester typically accommodate 1-15 students, per workshop
Holds are placed just before early registration opens
By this time, most students have completed their Asw

14. Logistics: what? 1.5 hour workshop
Housekeeping (Welcome, swipe in, provide materials)
Positive statements on front page
Advisor contact information
University Policy
Mindset
Self evaluations/reflection Exercises
Study Skills
Resources
GPA Calculation tool

15. Students receive an email after the workshop
Thank them for coming
Include an electronic copy of the resources (with live links) contained in their packet.

16. Assessment tool
In your packet, find the Green Academic Success Workshop Evaluation

17. Assessment
416 (73%) of students indicated they learned a lot
151 (27%) of students indicated they learned a little
3 (.5%) of students indicated they learned nothing

18. Assessment
55% - 60 % of students attend the ASW within the first two weeks of classes
158 (95%) of students served in fall 16
8 (5%) of students not served in fall 16
423 (95%) of “AP” students served in spring 17
23 (5%) of “AP” students not served in spring 17

19. Institutional research assessment and planning completed a study
ASW participants’ GPAs and time to regaining good academic standing Compared to studends who did not participate in an ASW (pre Fall 2015)
Participants had higher means for term and cumulative gpas
Participants regained good academic standing more quickly
Both outcomes were statistically significant with p < .05

21. Qualitative data
DEATon: going into the workshop, I did not think it would be very helpful or informative but I was wrong because in the end, I knew where everything was.
Matthew: Before attending I thought it would be a huge waste of time, but after participating, I was very surprised to find it very helpful. I started taking notes better, creating schedules for study times, and went to office hours more often.
Sullen to involved

22. Qualitative data
Jenna: The academic workshop really put me in the direction that I’m not stupid, I just chose the wrong classes.
Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.
- Albert Einstein

23. Questions?