How to Use and Implement the Academic Advising Syllabus

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How to Use and Implement the Academic Advising
Syllabus

• Jill Brown
• Campus Advising Network
• Western Kentucky University
• April 22, 2009

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Points to be covered

• Advising issues students deem most important
• How to design an academic
  advising syllabus
• How to use the academic
  advising syllabus
• Resources

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Why am I interested in advising?
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What issues do students deem most important in
advising?
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Summary of study performed by Smith and Allen

• Web-based survey
• February 2003
• Portland State University
• 2,193 student participants
• Rated importance of 12 advising functions

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Issues Students Deem Most Important in Advising
Smith and Allen, 2006

• 1. Accurate Information
• 2. Major Connect
• 3. How Things Work
• 4. Overall Connect
• 5. Skills, Abilities, Interests
• 6. Know as an Individual

• 7. Shared Responsibility
• 8. Referral Academic
• 9. Degree Connect
• 10. Gen Ed Connect
• 11. Referral Nonacademic
• 12. Out-of-class Connect

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Do you ever feel like you explain the same things
over and over during your advising sessions?

• Answers will vary
• It depends on who you advise
• What information do freshmen and sophomores need?
• What information do juniors, seniors, and
  graduate students need?
• Idea Worksheet - Questions 1, 2, 3

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Academic Advising Syllabus
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Academic Advising Syllabus

• Similar to a course syllabus
• What is important to include?
• Individual or Departmental Approach
• Students can access important accurate
  information

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What is important to include?

• Advisor contact information
• Advising mission statement
• Student responsibilities
• Advisor responsibilities
• Expected outcomes of advising
• Important dates/timeline
• Links to WKU websites
• TopNet How tos

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Example of an Academic Advising Syllabus

• College Approach

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South Campus Academic Advising Syllabus

• Compiled by BGCC members of the MAC Class of
  2008
• Jill Brown, Clint Haynes,
• Brenda Miller, Megan Thompson

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Academic Advising Syllabus Advisor Contact
Information
Advising Mission Statement Advising at Bowling
Green Community College involves trained
academic advisors collaborating with advisees to
determine and implement their academic plans and
future career goals, one student at a time.
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BGCC Advising Syllabus Student Responsibilities

• Schedule and attend advising appointment at least
  once a semester
• Prepare for advising appointment
• Complete and bring advising checklist
• http//www.bgcc.wku.edu/PDFiles/ACADEMIC-ADVISING-
  CHECKLIST.doc
• Print general ed or iCAP report (see TopNet how
  to section)
• Regularly check campus e-mail for correspondence
  from advisor and reply as needed
• Students should be proactive and take ownership
  of their academic endeavors
• Students will keep an accurate account of their
  grades in current courses

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BGCC Advising SyllabusAdvisor Responsibilities

• Effectively communicate accurate information and
  provide referrals to appropriate services
• Encourage students to participate in campus
  activities/organizations related to their
  interests and career goals
• Corresponds prior to registration timeframe
• Reserves adequate time for consultation during
  advising appointment
• Available to meet with advisee during scheduled
  advising hours or by appointment

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BGCC Advising SyllabusExpected Outcomes of
Advising

• Collaboration of student and advisor in selection
  of courses prior to registration
• Advisees will gain a thorough understanding of
  the importance of advising in regard to
• Course selection and requirements
• Development of a degree program
• Career options
• Discuss and establish a path toward the students
  academic goals, based on the career interests and
  academic strength of each advisee
• Establish a relationship wherein advisee feels
  comfortable approaching advisor for academic
  advice

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BGCC Advising SyllabusImportant Dates/Advising
Timeline

• Last day to register and rearrange a full time
  course load
• Last day to drop/withdraw with a W and 20 fee
• Priority registration
• And other important dates
• http//www.wku.edu/Dept/Support/AcadAffairs/Regist
  rar/acad_calendar.htm

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BGCC Advising SyllabusWhen do I register?

• Go to the Office of the Registrar Registration
  Guide
• http//www.wku.edu/Dept/Support/AcadAffairs/Regist
  rar/regguide.htm
• Click on the semester for which you want to find
  your registration date.
• Under Table of Contents find the page number for
  Advising and Registration Information
• Scroll down to the appropriate page. Under
  Priority Registration , find your registration
  date.

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BGCC Advising SyllabusLinks

• Advising Frequently Asked Questions
• http//www.bgcc.wku.edu/Advising.html
• Registration Frequently Asked Questions
• http//www.wku.edu/Dept/Support/AcadAffairs/Regist
  ration/faq.htm

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BGCC Advising SyllabusOther Helpful Links

• AdvisorTrac
• Academic Advising and Retention Center
• Campus Directory
• Career Services
• Catalog
• Counseling and Testing Center
• Financial Aid
• Site Index
• Student Disability Services

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BGCC Advising SyllabusHow To An Example

• How to run an iCAP report
• Pull up TopNet Student Services Main Menu
• Click on Student Services
• Click on iCAP (Interactive Degree Audit)
• Click on Submit an Audit

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Departmental Approach

• Discipline related information
• Major information
• Use website links
• Idea Worksheet - Question 4

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Individual Approach

• Contact information
• Appointment information
• Idea Worksheet Question 5

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How to use the academic advising syllabus
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Distribute to students

• Send it electronically
• Keep a few paper copies

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Send it electronically

• Saves paper
• Students can click on links for direct access
• Students can utilize how to instructions on
  their own

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Send it as an e-mail attachment

• To prepare for your advising appointment, you
  will need to bring a copy of your gen ed report,
  preselect some gen ed courses in the categoreis
  you lack, and review and bring a copy of the
  requirements for your major/minor if applicable.
  Use the attached academic advising syllabus to
  help accomplish the tasks.

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Student Outcomes

• Students have advising information at their
  fingertips
• Students have access to accurate information.
• Students gain an understanding of the way things
  work at the university.

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Instructor Outcomes

• Instructors can supply their advisees with
  accurate and up to date information on a variety
  of topics.
• Instructors can convey directions through How
  to instructions.

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Issues Students Deem Most Important in Advising

• 1. Accurate Information
• 2. Major Connect
• 3. How Things Work
• 4. Overall Connect
• 5. Skills, Abilities, Interests
• 6. Know as an Individual

• 7. Shared Responsibility
• 8. Referral Academic
• 9. Degree Connect
• 10. Gen Ed Connect
• 11. Referral Nonacademic
• 12. Out-of-class Connect

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Concluding Remarks

• Advisors can
• Personalize the materials presented today
• Can provide accurate information
• Students can gain knowledge of
• Advising information
• Ways to be proactive in their academic careers

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Electronic copies of the syllabi examples
provided today

• Academic Advising Retention Center Academic
  Advising Syllabus - http//www.wku.edu/advising/in
  dex.php?pageadvising-syllabus
• Bowling Green Community College Academic
  Advising Syllabus - http//www.bgcc.wku.edu/PDFile
  s/BGCC-Advising-Syllabus.doc

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Resources

• The Academic Advising and Retention Center.
  http//www.wku.edu/advising
• Bowling Green Community College. Academic
  Advising FAQ. http//www.bgcc.wku.edu/Advising.htm
  l
• NACADA National Academic Advising Association.
  http//www.nacada.ksu.edu/index.htm
• Smith, Cathleen L. Janine M. Allen. Essential
  Functions of Academic Advising What Students
  Want and Get NACADA Journal. Vol 26 (1). Spring
  2006.

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Good advising can lead to

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