How soon is too soon? Beginning
the advising process before
students begin classes
David I. Henriques
Asst. Dean, School of Academic Programs & Services
Shippensburg University
[email protected]
Monday, February 7, 2011
Choose a job you love and you will never have to
work a day in your life
-- Confucius
Overview
• One of the 14 state
universities in PASSHE
• Recognized in top 100 by
Kiplinger's & US News
• National Collegiate
Scouting Association
ranks Ship 30th in DII.
• Highest 4-year
graduation in PASSHE
• Largest undeclared
program @ 1,000
students
• 4-year graduation rate
exceeds 40% (undeclared)
• Approximately 35-40% of
first-year students
• Staff includes myself, 5
GAs and 60 volunteer
faculty advisors
Office of Placement Testing
– Philosophy: Intrusive Developmental Advising
– Increase success in first semester
– Front load services
– Communicative
– Retention Oriented (Time, $$$, Satisfaction
Graduation)
Office of Placement Testing
– 4-5 months before classes begin
– Debriefing by academic coaches
– “talk about majors”
• Good scores vs poor scores
– Why this major?
– Careerism
– Women and STEM majors
Major Exploration
• Careerism
• How many students change majors?
• When is “normal” first contact.
– Who triggers it?
• Who is first contact?
– What are the dangers?
Disconnect
• Law School-English or economics major with
political science or history or sociology or even
science
• Med. School-English major with biology or
chemistry
• Information Technology Management– Business
Information Systems with Professional Technology
Communication Studies minor
• Advertising – Marketing or Comm/Journalism or
Office of Undeclared Students
– New Student Intake (95%)
• Linked with advisors
• Database
• Fall schedule review
– MAP Series
• Advising/Scheduling
newsletter
– Web resources
• 4 year Raider Plan
templates
• 1 (June), 2 (Sept.), 3 (Dec.),
• “What can I do with a
4 (May), & 5 (Aug.).
major in…”
– Guidebook for Advising
• Faculty only serve as
Undergraduate Students advisors
Introduction
• Student intake/advisor information link
– Students complete mini “SDS”
– “Declare” initial interests: Assign Advisor
– Students complete inventory:
• Course interests
• Rating academic skills
• “Dream” major
– Special registration considerations
– Contact if mismatched
Academic Advising
• The critical link to student success
• “Good advising ma be the single most
underestimated characteristic of a successful college
experience.”
• Dr. Richard Light
• Making the most of college
Office of Undeclared Students
• Website www.ship.edu/undeclared
– Web resources (career, major selection, study
skills, etc)
– Curriculum sheets for each major
– 4-year Raider plan templates for each major
– Links to each major (department)
Shippensburg University
• Summary
– Dialogue begins months before stepping on campus
– Second major change data
– Intrusive developmental philosophy
– Communicative/Connected
– 4-year graduation in excess of 40%
– www.ship.edu/undeclared
– [email protected]