“Are We Advising for Student Retention or Do We Really Want Students to Persist?” 

Presenter:  Deborah R. Hull, Texas A&M University

This session is designed for experienced and novice advisors to gain a better understanding of the impact of words on our thoughts about and actions with students.  By use of a PowerPoint presentation, hand-outs, discussion, and humor, participants will come away with an appreciation for how they communicate academic expectations to their students.

The presenter is the former Director of Academic Advising Training and Professional Development at Arizona State University where she previously served as a ‘front line’ academic advisor in the ASU College of Nursing for 12+ years.  She holds a Doctor of Education degree in Higher and Adult Education with her research focused on Academic Advising, Counseling, and Career Choices.

“The College Level Examination Program (CLEP):  Targeted Approaches that Work!” 

Presenter:  Pamela A. Kerouac, College Board

Take a closer look at practical ways to integrate the College Level Examination Program as an effective strategy for strengthening articulation, supporting seamless transfer and persistence, and expanding opportunities for ALL students, including adults and military veterans.  This session will provide an overview of CLEP and present targeted approaches to increase student access, improve success, and expedite student progress to degree completion.

CLEP is highly successful in Texas, evidenced by 13,580 students taking 16,359 CLEP exams in 2007-08.  Advisors will learn how to utilize CLEP as an exemplary practice to build students’ academic momentum.  Advisors will also learn how to identify potential CLEP candidates.  Key information will focus on the integration of CLEP advising to 1) assess prior learning for adult learners and career changers, 2) strengthen articulation and transfer of CLEP credit for veterans returning to college, 3) provide cost and time-saving solutions for increased college tuition and textbook challenges, and 4) promote college credit opportunities for heritage speakers and first generation students.  Power Point presentation notes, brochures, and advising toolkits are provided.  Discussion is encouraged; providing opportunity for participants to describe actions that work and to share institution specific highlights.

“I am Advisor-Hear me Roar!  The Benefits of an Advising Forum at Multi-site Colleges and Universities!” 

Presenters:  Teresa Renee Esparza and Jim Boullosa, Austin Community College

Austin Community College is a shared governance organization that consists of seven campuses, each with its own Student Services department. Advisors from the multiple campuses meet quarterly in an Advising Forum which serves the following purposes:

1) To be informed of changes to the 180 programs ACC offers through faculty presentations and networking with program representatives.

2) To discuss current opportunities available to ACC advisors.

3) To provide open cross-campus communication to share effective practices and address concerns.

4) To allow for a democratic decision making process which advisor feedback is gathered and shared with the college.

This presentation will provide:

1) The history of Austin Community College’s Advising Forum, its development and information on creating an Advising Forum.

2) A breakdown of the organization and structure of the forum.

3) An in-detail discussion on the above mentioned purposes of the forum, including examples of topics covered and outcomes of the forum.

“Advising Issues for Transfer Students with Technical [AAS] Degrees.” 

Presenter:  Doug Ullrich, Sam Houston State University

Students transferring to 4-year institutions with Associates of Applied Science degrees usually have unique advising issues.  Many of these students have full time jobs, families and other obligations that create advising complications.  The Bachelors of Applied Arts and Sciences program at Sam Houston State University was created specifically to meet the needs of these non-traditional students.  During this presentation we will discuss the multitude of AAS degrees offered and the opportunities students with AAS degrees have when transferring into the BAAS program. 

“Café Con Leche: Y Tu Mama Tambien (Finding ways to better serve Latino students through a practitioner as research model)”

Presenter:  Michael R. DeLeon, Texas A&M University

For the majority of my professional work life, I have been assisting Texas A&M with issues of access and inclusion. In my current role, I recruit students for Academic Scholarship programs housed in Honors Program and advise them once on campus. Previously, I recruited students regionally in Dallas/Ft. Worth. Although I have rarely discussed these issues with other practitioners away from campus, I feel an obligation as a staff member of color to revisit the issues dealing with educational pipeline access and the largest demographic paradigm shift ever to occur in the western hemisphere—the exponential growth of the Latina/o population. In this presentation, I will also address the issue of self identity, or the concept of what makes a person Latino, and—within the context of advising at Texas institutions of higher learning—discuss the best practice/pathways to grant inclusion to Latina/o students. In an era of change, I would like to take a look in to the mirror to see how well practitioners are providing access to and working for the inclusion of Latino students in Texas. I also want to ask myself, my university, and others: Are we truly changing that which has historically been unchanging?

“Summer Leadership Institute-Academic Leadership Alliance Program.”

Presenters:  Rosendo Villagran, Willie Johnson, South Texas College

South Texas College recently invited 17 Education professionals from diverse backgrounds to participate in a Summer Leadership Program. These interns represented school districts from the Rio Grande Valley. They are teachers or counselors at their respective campuses. They participated in a three week program that prepared them to be purveyors of information about what South Texas College had to offer in the respective community. These different services are available to the students at the school districts they were from. The program prepared them to offer insight about the different vocational, technical certificate and degree programs, in addition to the academic degree programs that South Texas College offers. It also provided the opportunity to interact with student services personnel. Furthermore, they developed ideas and activities to expand the college bound program at their schools. The academy also provided the interns with the time to develop ways of challenging their students in the classroom not just in the enrollment process.                

“Helping Probation Students Help Themselves:  Using Self-Assessments” 

Presenters:  Kimberly Kilpatrick, Lori Pinon, and Steve Penoyer, University of Texas at El Paso. 

The Academic Advising Center at the University of Texas at El Paso has created valuable tools used to assist probation students.  Self-assessment serves to provide students and their advisors a means to identify specific issues that contributed to student's probation status.  Students often do not recognize the influence they have on their academic performance.  When students' grades slip downward resulting in probation status, they will often place blame on external sources, rather than taking personal responsibility.  Advisors can facilitate students in identifying internal, controllable factors and assist students in making changes to overcoming the obstacles to their success.

Self-assessment allows for students to recognize specific issues that impact academic success.  Students have issues in areas such as study skills, time management, or personal matters.  Probation students meet with their assigned advisor at a minimum of three times per semester.  Self-assessment serves as a tool for both the student and advisor in that there is focus on those particular problem areas that the student has identified.  Advisors assist students in understanding not only their problems, but also their goals and the methods for achieving them.  Regular advising appointments allow for the students to monitor and reflect on their progress.

“Developing services for laid off workers” 

Presenters:  Jeremy Thomas and Jennifer Baldauf, Angelina College 

With a downturn in today’s economy, there are many individuals who have found themselves unemployed and looking for ways to reeducate or retrain themselves.  Angelina College has begun to reach out to those individuals.  The closing of the Citation foundry will be used as an example of programs that are being developed and how we as advisors can contribute to the effort.

“Train & Retain:  A Successful Advising Center Shares Its Secrets.” 

Presenters:  Leslie Thornhill and Sarah Gnospelius, Bauer College of Business, University of Houston – Main Campus

Advising Supervisors and Professionals:  According to the International Association of Administrative Professionals, 8 out of the top 10 reasons why employees leave are CONTROLLABLE - they are reasons that exist within the workplace that can be controlled and improved upon by quality training and management!  As supervisors, we are charged with the important task of training (and retaining) quality advisors.  Many of us have experienced both the challenge of figuring out just what to do when a new advisor shows up (and how to keep them recharged and rejuvenated for their work), and the defeat of poor advisor retention.  To improve and retain, we must ask the questions, “Why?” and “What can we do about it?”

Learn how a successful advising office with a long history of retaining skilled and experienced advisors uses a detailed training model (created in-house, specifically for advisors!) to get their new advisors off to a great start!  Learn valuable HR information, as well as helpful hints on how to engage your other, more experienced advisors to manage up to 90% of this difficult training process for you!

“Decentralized Advising:  Why the Advisors-in-Residence Program Works for Retention”  Presenter:  Linda L. Solis, St. Phillip’s College

Several models exist for providing academic advising for college students. Some models work better than others depending on the nature of the student population they serve. This presentation will discuss how a grant-funded retention-related advising program at an urban community college with a diverse population works best as a decentralized model. Statistics demonstrating the effectiveness of the Advisors-in-Residence program at St. Philip’s College in San Antonio will be discussed as well as the challenges faced in using the decentralized model of advising.

“WebCT:  How to Create a More Effective Advising Center” 

Presenters:  Kimberley Rolf and Naomi Craven, University of Texas at San Antonio

As students are introduced to new technology and use it to expand their learning horizons and communicate in innovative ways, the advising community can also integrate technological advances into their practices to create a more effective advising center. The COSUAC has implemented WebCT across the advising curriculum, using it with a range of different populations as an outreach tool, a teaching tool, an advising tool, and a training tool. We have targeted specific student populations, including probation students, graduation seniors, and new transfers, and found WebCT to be an invaluable way of communicating information and providing tasks that help our students to succeed academically. WebCT has also been incorporated into Advisor Training, resulting in a more accessible and streamlined training process. The new communicative opportunities and educational functions provided by WebCT have undoubtedly enabled the COSUAC to become a more effective advising center, enhancing both our office experience, and the experience of our student population.

“Freshman Focus:  Reaching Out Early to Raise Freshman to New Heights.” 

Presenters:  Temple Clark and Ashley Ransom, Texas State University – San Marcos

Your first day on campus: free from the clutches of mom and dad.

You feel excited, eager, and anxious—ready to see why everyone says college is rad.

But wait, where is the library?  Who’s financial aid?  When is your first class?

If you arrive late, will you need to present a hall pass?

Who do you go to answer all of these questions and more?

An advisor of course!  Just take that first step through the advising door.

Many students experience a difficult transition between high school and college, oftentimes resulting in poor academic performance.  By reaching out to freshmen early in their academic careers, advisors can make an important and lasting connection, helping to allay student fears and concerns as well as help them feel a connection to the university.  Reaching out to students early can ultimately lead to a retention rate increase.

Through an interactive discussion about the Freshman Focus Project, participants can take with them ideas to use in their advising centers and can adapt them to meet their own institutions’ preferences and needs.

“Recharge your Advisors by Reinvigorating their Advising Interview Skills.” 

Presenters:  Yvette Morales and Chandra Bilson, Texas State University – San Marcos

Advisors utilize practical information and interviewing skills in discussing issues with their advisees during advising sessions.  To convey practical information in a meaningful way can serve as a basis for a student’s decisions, which could have a profound influence in a student’s academic life.  Therefore, effective interview skills are essential in establishing an advisor/advisee relationship and for the continued development of the advisor. An important piece in the development and training of an advisor is a clear description of the necessary content components in the training program.  The most commonly referenced approach is Wes Habley’s three major content components for effective advisor training (conceptual, informational and relational).  In our session we utilize Habley’s training components to reinvigorate an advisor’s interviewing skills.  Come join us to learn about what advisors need to understand and know about concepts, information and relationships. 

“Ready, Set, ADVISE!:  Starting the Dialogue on Issues for New Advising Professionals.” 

Presenters:  Claudia Trevino and Ashley Ransom, Texas State University – San Marcos

Taking on the responsibility of guiding students through their higher education curriculum can be a rewarding experience.  However, many obstacles present themselves on the path towards becoming a well-versed academic advisor.  This round-table discussion session will address common challenges faced by new advisors.  Such challenges include: understanding student populations, adjusting to new work settings, and understanding advisor's expectations and responsibilities. 

“Choosing the Right Business Major:  No Minor Decision.” 

Presenters:  Leslie Stvrowsky and Kenyon Wilson, Texas State University – San Marcos

Students often face uncertainty and lack the necessary information to choose a business major that is right for them.  The Academic Advising Center at the McCoy College of Business created a successful “Exploring Business Majors & Careers” presentation to help our business students choose a major.  The purpose of today’s presentation is two-fold.  The first part of our presentation will explain the format and logistics of “Exploring Business Majors & Careers” so that other academic advising centers can use this program model.   The second part of our presentation will convey the highlights of the information obtained at “Exploring Business Majors & Careers.”   Business students gained first-hand knowledge about business careers from our faculty.  They learned about possible occupations with their degrees, potential salary ranges and work settings, and strategies to prepare them for careers in their major field of study. 

“AIM to Chat with Meebo:  Logging into Academic Advising.” 

Presenters:  Marissa Saenz, Lisa Marie Coppoletta and Matthew Haynes, Texas State University – San Marcos

Whether we realize it or not, we use technology to communicate everyday in the work place, sending emails, making phone calls, posting information to the web. This session is intended to help advisors redirect our personal practices of online communication to better appeal to the student body and provide alternative methods of support for fellow advisors.

This session will employ PowerPoint slides, handouts, and video clips to exhibit one advising center’s creative approach to employing available technology. Our hope is to:

1. Cleanse away pre-conceived notions of technology use in advising.
2. Exfoliate your mind of fears associated with incorporating technology into your advising practice.
3. Revitalize your advising process through the integration of a chat client, online social networking hub, and display of digital media.

Through discussion we hope to share ideas and encourage each other in our technological endeavors.

“Piecing Together the Advising Puzzle with a Unified Advising System.” 

Presenters:  Laura Scott, Sharon Achor and Margaret Lemon, Baylor University 

To improve academic advising across campus, Baylor University has recently developed a new Unified Advising System (UAS).  The stated goal of the system is “to bring the advising community together to one central web-based location, creating a more consistent and uniform experience for student advisement.”  Previously, information had been available via disparate applications throughout the university system and much or it was restricted to specific advisors.  Now, through the comprehensive online system, both professional and faculty advisors have access to secure, real-time information regarding their advisees:  a student’s academic profile, contact information, advising history, registration information, permits/waivers, degree audits, and transcripts.  With Baylor’s split model of advising, such information is critical for a handoff from professional advisor to departmental advisor.  As advisors document each advising experience and list recommended courses, subsequent advisors may view this advising history.  Since the Unified Advising System has rejuvenated the advising practices at Baylor, we would like to share details regarding the development and successful implementation of this system.

“Leaders of the Pack:  Renewing your relationship with students based on a situational model of leadership.” 

Presenters:  Christine Pike and Arin Ely, Texas State University – San Marcos

Leadership is a dialogue in which “leaders breathe life into the hopes and dreams of others and enable them to see the exciting possibilities that the future holds” (Kouzes & Posner, 1995, p. 11).  Just as leaders influence followers in order to meet shared group goals and needs (Hackman and Johnson, 2004), academic advisors guide students’ personal, academic, and career goals.  To effectively guide students toward these goals, advisors, as leaders, must adapt their approach and power uses according to the diverse range of advisee interests, goals, and levels of maturity.

This presentation will take a fresh look at how adapting leadership techniques and power can produce an exemplary advisor/advisee relationship. During this presentation, we will define the leader/follower relationship as it relates to academic advising.  Participants will then have the opportunity to analyze their power styles and use a situational model of leadership as an interactive guide to discover which sources of power are most effective in different situations.  The presentation will conclude with how participants can model the “five fundamental practices of exemplary leadership” through their restored approach to advising.

“Closing the Gaps-Advising Students in Applied Baccalaureate Degree Programs.” 

Presenter: Gaynell Green, Texas A&M University-Texarkana

Traditionally, the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) was considered a terminal degree not designed for transfer to a university. In recent years, unconventional baccalaureate “inverted transfer degrees” or “capstone programs” have emerged to articulate with the community college Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science degree programs with little loss, if any, transfer credit. More than 25 Texas public institutions now offer some configuration of the Bachelor of Applied Science or Bachelor of Applied Technology degree and have entered articulation agreements with community colleges to provide a seamless transition for students. These new curricular opportunities are a significant academic breakthrough for a previously underserved population of students, and an enrollment booster for community colleges and universities.  Advising will play a critical role in preparing these students to transition from an applied program to an academic program. Will this new population of transfer students be different in their learning style or academic perceptions? How can two-year and four-year institutions collaborate to promote retention and student success?

“When You Are No Longer 19 and Still Have to Take Freshman English:  A New Look at Advising Non-Traditional Students.” 

Presenters: Ashley M. Hulme and Sheryl R. Gage, Texas State University – San Marcos

As an academic advisor, how do you interact with a student that is old enough to be your mother or has two kids in tow?  When facing the challenge of advising non-traditional students, advisors need to rejuvenate their approach when relating to these adult students.  The special issues that adult students face are full-time employment, family obligations, commuters to the college campus, and being veterans of the armed forces. During this interactive presentation, real life profiles will be examined and proposed solutions will be discussed.  Additionally, we will strategize on the methods by which advisors can meet non-traditional students’ expectations. By gaining an awareness of the obstacles a non-traditional student encounters returning to school, advisors will be better prepared to support the adult student in achieving academic success.

“Bringing back the basics:  A multi-faceted approach to assist students on probation and conditionally admitted freshmen.” 

Presenters:  Paul Hopkinson, Roel Martinez, Janet Hemingway and Maribel Tostado, St. Edwards University

Working with at-risk students presents many challenges.  Learn how St. Edward’s University’s 1-credit hour Effective College Learning course goes beyond the traditional study skills format to provide students with the necessary tools to be successful not only during their college years but also in their future careers.  By working individually with each student, we are able to personalize and promote the concepts introduced in class that will assist these students in achieving their academic and career goals.

This presentation will focus on two different populations with a similar goal in mind: academic success.  The Effective College Learning course is required for students on academic probation and for conditionally admitted freshmen.  Through a system which utilizes 1:1 academic counseling meetings, close collaboration with other offices on campus such as Undergraduate Admissions and Academic Enrichment and Tutoring, and class presentations which focus on the revision of basic principles of student success: Time Management, Note-taking, Motivation, Goal Setting and Self-Accountability, we will highlight various approaches that get the probation students back on track and help the conditionally admitted freshmen stay on track during their first semester.

“Start Right, Finish Strong:  Bridging the gap for community college students transferring to University of Houston.” 

Presenter:  Lizetta Frederick, University of Houston

Students transitioning from associate to bachelor programs are confronted with many issues that complicate the process.  University of Houston has instituted a Transfer Advising Program that builds a bridge between these programs to ease the process.  Advisors representing specific academic colleges work with community college students early in their academic careers providing pre-admission advising to assist with planning that will allow the students to complete an associate degree and provide the appropriate base for the bachelor degree of their choice.

“The Multi-faceted Challenges of Advising the Student-Athlete.” 

Presenters:  Gretchen Flowers Wiggins, Helen Gore-Laird, Lateki Lewis and Lori M. Selzer, University of Houston

The adviser, the counselor, the retention specialist, the time manager, the tutor, and the confidante, are all roles played by the advisers in the Athletics Department at the University of Houston.  This employee may be commonly referred to as an “athletic adviser”.  This proposal will be presented in the form of a round table discussion and will share with other advisers just what some of the things we do to guide the student-athlete from the first summer out of high school to his/her college graduation. 

We have been very successful in affecting a significant increase in graduation rates as compared to the general student population.  The different mechanisms and tools we use in planning how to address day-to-day issues will be covered.  Areas included will be:  academic issues of scheduling, tracking, dropping classes, etc.  Recruitment, study hall, tutoring, time management, the core curriculum, transitioning from high school, classroom etiquette, social issues, life skills, goal setting, careers, and of course graduation and retention are other areas where our focus.  While we all deal with each of these areas, we go a step further and adapt special considerations depending on the sport, the season, the traveling schedule, etc.

And lastly we add to these challenges the guidelines that we must maintain in accordance with the NCAA.  We are finding that while the NCAA guidelines have become more stringent, we are superseding University requirements for good academic standing and thus our athletes are graduating in increased numbers.

“I Got the Job! Now What?” 

Presenters:  Marissa Saenz, Temple Clark and Katie Palmer, Texas State University-San Marcos

Entering a new profession is invigorating, yet stressful. You are faced with the challenge of learning new job duties, adapting to a new environment, navigating available resources, and connecting to peers and advisees. This session is meant to provide guidance and support to new advisors and reinvigorate experienced advisors through a refreshing dialogue based on real life scenarios encountered by advisors during their first year on the job. We will identify frequently asked questions, provide examples of unexpected situations, and make suggestions for handling difficult circumstances, in order to cleanse away blemishes experienced within the job and to promote advising bliss.