Destination Success: Group Advising

1
Destination Success Group Advising

• J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
• Office of Student Affairs/ Student Access Centers
• Presenters
• Altrice L. Smith, M.Ed., Debbie Holmes, M.S.

2
Agenda
1. JSRCC Advising Background
2. Definition of Group Advising
3. Group Advising Process
4. Components of Group Advising
5. Mock Group Advising Session
6. Forms Used
7. Data/Evaluation Results
8. Question and Answer
3
JSRCC Advising Background

• J. Sargeant Reynolds Community college has
  approximately 4000 new students each fall.
• Most new students
• recent high school graduates
• employees seeking additional training
• adult learners, etc.
• JSRCC is composed of three campuses, with a
  Student Access Center on each, which is the first
  point of contact for new students.

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JSRCC Advising Background

• Student Access Centers have a total of 9 fulltime
  Academic Advisors to Advise
• 4000 new students
• along with any returning non curricular students.
• Peak registration- July to mid August
• long lines which can result in wait times of two
  hours or more.
• Student volume limited number of Advisors does
  not allow students to receive the quantity or
  quality of information that encourages a smooth
  transition into the college.

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JSRCC Advising Background

• Challenge Improve advising services provided
  to new students while utilizing current Advisors
  within Student Access Centers.

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JSRCC Advising Background

• Solution Two First Year Initiatives- Group
  Advising and SOAR (Student Orientation Advising
  and Registration)
• Students have a designated time and place to meet
  an advisor who has
• already reviewed their plan of study
• interpreted their placement test results
• completed an advising form with suggested courses
• Encourages student use of advising services.
• Provide a formal introduction to the college.

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JSRCC Advising Background

• Group Advising
• Students Receive
• First Year Survival Information through a
  PowerPoint Presentation
• Test Scores and Recommend Courses based on
  Program
• Information on the Importance of First Year
  Advising at JSRCC
• Payment Deadlines/ FACTS/Financial Aid
• Hands on Tutorial on Using SIS to Register and
  Pay
• JSRCC Learning Environment Principles
• Attendance Policy/Return to Title IV Information

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Definition of Group Advising

• Group Advising is an advising initiative designed
  to transition new students into the college.
• New students are advised in two hour sessions
  conducted on campus in computer labs.
• Groups of 15-20 students participate.
• Students receive their Placement Test Results and
  recommended courses (based on their current
  academic program) for their First Semester!

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Student Process Diagram
1 week in Advance
Day of Group Advising
Students register for Group Advising online and
set JSRCC password
Student registers for classes during Group
Advising session using SIS System
Student receives Next Steps Instructions
Student Takes COMPASS Placement Test
Student Applies to the College
Student attends Group Advising session
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Advisor Process Diagram
The Day of Group Advising
1 Week in Advance
Advisors review test scores and complete Advising
forms
Advisors collect resource material for session
Advisors contact student, inform them of blocks
to registration
Advisors review the list for blocks to
registration
Advisors are sent an electronic list of students
Advisors facilitate Group Advising session
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Mock Advising Session

• Welcome
• Advising at JSRCC
• News You Can Use
• JSR Survival Information www.reynolds.edu/orientat
  ion/firstyear/default.html
• College Literature- Catalog and Schedule
• Class Selection and Payment

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Advising Forms

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Advising
Form Student Name _______________________________
____ Empl_____________________ Term___________ AC
ADEMIC PROGRAM PROGRAM PLAN____________________
Date__________ DEPT NAME
_______________________ DEPT. LOCATION
DTC_______________PRC _________________
WC______________
OFFICE USE ONLY Residency In-State/Out of
State Service Indicator(s)___________ ___________
________________
RECOMMENDED COURSES Based on Compass Test Scores
and Program Requirements Prerequisite
Courses General Education Courses Writing
______________________ English_________________
______ Reading ______________________ Math
________________________ Math ____________________
____ Computer Literacy______________ Biology
______________________ College Success Skills
SDV 100 or SDV 107 SDV 107 is for
Teacher Prep Program only. Chemistry
____________________ Program Specific
Courses Electives Notes to Student __________
___________ ___________________ ________________
________________ _____________________ __________
_________ ________________________________ ______
_______________ ___________________ ____________
____________________ _____________________ ______
_____________ ________________________________ W
ORKSHOPS STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES Recommended
by Compass Placement Test and Advisor Tutoring __
___ Time Management _____ Math
Success _____ Career Discovery _____ Note
taking _____ Critical Thinking _____ Adults
Dilemma _____ Test Taking _____ Financial Aid
Process _____ Stress Management _____ Succeeding
in College _____ Reading Comp. _____ Student
Signature_________________________________________
___ Date_____________ Advisor
Signature_________________________________________
___ Date_____________
Total Credits _____ _____
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Advising Forms- First Year Advising Agreement

• First Year Advising Agreement
• J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
• Definition of First Year Advising
• A collaborative process for assisting/empowering
  first-year students in making informed
  educational/career/life decisions
• -Adapted from NACADA Professional Development
  Task Force Definition, Jan. 26-27, 2002
• First Year Advising at JSRCC is designed to
  provide a developmental process through which
  students clarify academic, curricular and career
  goals, while receiving institutional support that
  will encourage academic success.
• Responsibility of the Advisor
• Provide you with information that will enable you
  to make sound decisions concerning your
  education.
• Assist you in confirmation of curricular choice.
• Monitor the academic progress of first-year
  students.
• Make appropriate referrals to on and off campus
  resources.
• Make contact with students who are referred by
  early alerts.
• Contact you after midterm grades.
• Develop a relationship with you that are the
  responsibility of both the advisor and the
  student with the goal of encouraging student
  success.

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The Survey Shows!!!

• Upon initiating Group Advising we began
  collecting data on
• The impact of Group Advising on Student Retention
• Student Satisfaction with Group Advising

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Student Survey Summer 2007

• 98 Believed Group Advising was Beneficial

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Student Survey Summer 2007

• 98 Believed the Information will help them be
  successful at College

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Student Survey Summer 2007

• 98 believed the Advisor was well informed about
  the College

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Student Survey Summer 2007

• 98 have a good understanding of what to expect
  while attending JSRCC

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Data

• Summer 2005- 521 students
• Summer 2006- 437 students
• Summer 2007- 298 students
• Summer 2005 Data GPA Fall 2005- Spring 2006
  Retention
• Participated in Group Advising 2.061 72.4
• Did not participate in Group Advising 2.038 55.9
  Significant at .05
• Summer 2005 and 2007 student evaluations reported
  a 98 Student Satisfaction with Group Advising!
• Starting Summer 2006, JSRCC enhanced the Student
  Orientation Advising and Registration (SOAR)
  program which accounts for lower numbers of
  students registered for Group Advising Only.

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Summer 2007 Student Comments

• BEST ASPECTS OF GROUP ADVISING
• Kelly was very informal, and excited to be there
  to help us, along with her helper Ashley. Kelly
  knowing her job and enjoying being able to help
  was such a blessing to me. I really enjoyed
  advising, and got a lot of questions answered
• Altrice was able to answer easy questions that
  would have taken a good deal of time to find on
  the web site. She also provided a good deal of
  other introductory information.
• helps you meet new people
• it was a small group and they got to help
  everybody out
• The best aspects of group advising is the fact
  you feel less pressured about asking questions
• Knowing what to do for your first semester in a
  new college.
• The group advising gets you comfortable with
  college life
• Allows us to brainstorm as a team.
• Nicole is so knowledgeable and helpful. She takes
  her time to be sure everyone understands
  completely. She obviously has a passion for the
  educational process.
• Questions that you may not think of other may
  have and ask, a very beneficial aspect to a
  group.
• It goes very smoothly and it's time efficient

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Summer 2007 Student Comments

• IMPROVEMENTS TO GROUP ADVISING
• I just need a little more information, more of a
  one-on-one discussion.
• For long distance commuting students, a better
  meeting time would be beneficial.
• spend a little more time on the payment and such
  aspect of the college
• Having less people in the advising session to
  have more 1 on 1 time.
• OTHER COMMENTS
• This was a very good meeting which i gained alot
  more understanding how everything works.
  Thanks!!!!
• If everyone is as easy to deal with as Nicole my
  college experience will be great one! Please
  thank her for me.
• Ms. Altrice really helped and explained a lot of
  things that my advisors at a four year college
  did not explain to me.

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Questions?
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Contact Information

• Altrice L. Smith, M.Ed.
• Counselor for Student Success
• 804-523-5358
• alsmith_at_reynolds.edu
• Debbie Holmes, M.S.
• 804-523-5368
• Coordinator, Student Access Center, PRC,
  dholmes_at_reynolds.edu