1. Texas A&M Advisor Training and Engagement
Dawn Coleman-Glenn
Training Specialist

2. Overview: Training Specialist Position 3-Day Structured Orientation
5-Day New Advisor Training Course
Team Training Manuals
Weekly Staff Training
Employee Engagement
Future Training Concepts

3. Training Specialist Position
Specialist Background
Uniqueness
Summer/Staff Peak Assistance

4. 3-Day Structured Orientation
New Employee Manual for Orientation (NEMO)
Training Specialist Creates 3 Day Schedule
Day 1: Meets with HR, Transportation, ID Card Services, Starts Online Training, Extended Lunch with Supervisor
Days 2-3: New Employee Meets with all Directors and Specialists
Director Structure within Texas A&M Scholarships & Financial Aid
Example: Team Advising, Team Processing & Team Veterans

5. Red= Assistant Vice President
Orange= Directors
Green= Associate Directors
Blue= Assistant Directors

6. 3-Day Structured Orientation
Example:

7. Poll:
How many have a similar process involving a meet and greet orientation for new advisors?
Care to share?

8. 5-Day New Advisor Training Course
Held Monthly
For New Hires ONLY
Removed Learning Environment
Application Throughout
Personal Favorite of Training Specialist

9. 5-Day New Advisor Training Course Agenda
Introduction
Pre-Test
Module 1: Office Policies and Procedures
Purpose of Financial Aid Administrators
Scholarships & Financial Aid Teams
Customer Service Policies
Challenging People
Confidentiality
FERPA
Compliance
Code of Conduct
Audits
DAY 2
Module 2: Apply for Financial Aid
Financial Aid Process Overview
Apply for Financial Aid
FAFSA
TASFA
ISFAA
Blinn Team

10. 5-Day New Advisor Training Course Agenda
Module 3: Verify Information
Verification
Verification Groups
Document Submission
Data Retrieval Tool
Marital and Tax Filing Status
DAY 3
Module 4: Determine Financial Aid Eligibility
Determining Financial Need
Federal Methodology
EFC Hand Calculation
Financial Aid Programs
Annual Direct Loan Limits
Scholarships
Professional Judgement

11. 5-Day New Advisor Training Course Agenda
Module 5: Package Financial Aid
Packaging Overview
Packaging Parameters
Award Letters
Over Awards
DAY 5
Module 6: Student Maintains Eligibility
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Course Program of Study (CPOS)
Return of Title IV aid and Beginning Attendance
Compass (Banner 9)
Review
Post Test
Course Evaluations

12. Poll:
How many have a similar program involving a Financial Aid Overview Course for New Advisors?
Care to share?

13. Team Training Manuals
Developed by Training Specialist and Team Assistant Director
10 Days following New Advisor Training Course
Includes Formal Observations and Tasks Relevant to Individual Positions

14. Example:

15. Weekly Staff Training TS Coordinates Topics with Staff
TS is Facilitator and Occasionally Presents
Allows SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) opportunity to train staff on their area of responsibility
Occasional Team Building/Self Reflection Exercises (Staff Favorite)

16. Poll: How many have a similar process involving office
Staff Trainings?
If so, how often
Care to share?

17. Employee Engagement Facilitate and Review Staff Climate Surveys
Use data to accurately develop training material for all staff or individual teams
Spirit Committee
Allows staff become comfortable with the Training Specialist and their peers
Promotes comradery among staff

18. Future Training Concepts
Master Training Plan
Upgrading Technology
Adding Veteran’s Service Office Training to New Advisor Training Course
Talk about MTP-
Now after working through peak, discuss MTP for the department and how it will be developed with help from SME’s.
The plan start with collecting task data from each position within the department.
Showing transparent career paths for each position.
Will consist of a master task list with full completion of each staff members position within 6-12 months.
Each task will be literally signed off by the trainer and the trainer’s trainer, AKA a certifier

19. Conclusion Training Specialist Position 3-Day Structured Orientation
5-Day New Advisor Training Course
Team Training Manuals
Weekly Staff Training
Employee Engagement
Future Training Concepts

20. Questions?