Advising Tools in Technology 2006 NACADA Annual Conference

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Advising Tools in Technology2006 NACADA Annual
Conference

• presented by Nancy DeLaet code 52
• Southern Utah University

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Initial Advising Experience

• No real precedent existed for college-level
  advising
• 900 advising load
• 40 programs
• 6 different catalogs
• 2-day orientation
• 1 worried advisor

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Catalog Confusion
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Taa Daa!! The Advising Spreadsheet (on CD!)
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But why was I still so swamped?

• These spreadsheets were available to every
  student to use, but why should they?
• Homework assignment was created to be completed
  before an appointment could be scheduled.

The Pre-Advising Research Survey Form (on CD!)
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Advising as Teaching

• Academic advising is a process of teaching
  students how to become responsible consumers of
  their own educations. Its also a process that
  involves teaching students how to make viable
  decisions.
• Juliet Kaufmann (Noel-Levitz) 1997

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Advising as Teaching

• Advising is a process in which advisor and
  advisee enter a dynamic relationship respectful
  of the students concerns. Ideally, the advisor
  serves as teacher and guide in an interactive
  partnership aimed at enhancing the students
  self-awareness and fulfillment.
• OBanion, T. 1972

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Resulting Advising Goal

• Academic advising goes beyond the clerical
  functions of scheduling classes and preparing
  degree plans. Good academic advising assists
  students in clarifying personal and career goals,
  developing consistent education goals and
  evaluating the progress toward established goals.
  Academic advising utilizes the resources of the
  university and refers students to the appropriate
  academic support services. It is a
  decision-making process in which the sharing of
  information between student and advisor promotes
  responsible and appropriate choices and
  facilitates a successful academic experience.
• Western New Mexico University as retrieved on
  07/16/06
• www.wnmu.edu/admin/forums/AdvisingTaskForce/
  /01Feb19Minutes.htm

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Expand the Possibilities

• Guide Sheets
• (on CD!)
• Online Access
• www.suu.edu/ciet/programs.html
• iFolder
• Other Ideas

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Interactive Opportunity

• Role-Playing Exercise
• Blank Templates (on CD!)
• Group Discussion
• Customization

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I see a million students a day!

• How can I know for sure? (or at least have a
  better way to track contacts?)
• Is there a way to assist in assessment efforts?
• How can I showcase just how busy I am?
• Is there a quick and efficient way to collect
  data?

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Advisor Loads

• Research is limited
• CAS standards do not fully address
• The standards provide no quantitative
  insightsOff the record, however, many experts
  in the field of academic advising suggest that a
  target advisor load for full-time advisors should
  be 300/1, and...for full-time instructional
  staff20/1.
• Habley, W.R. 2004 as retrieved on 1/21/04
• www.nacada.ksu.edu/Clearinghouse/AdvisingIssues
  /advisorload.htm

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The Advising Log Sheet (on CD!)

• How does it work?
• Gather data each month, term, year, etc.
• Create graphic representations (on CD!) for
  supervisor, colleagues, etc.

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Contact Graphs (on CD!)

• College of CIET
• Totals of Student-Contacts with the Academic
  Advisor 7/1/05 12/31/05

• Student any person enrolled, soon to be enrolled
  and/or interested in enrolling in CIET
• Daily Average based on a 22-day month
• Weekly Average based on a 4.4-week month
• Monthly Average based on data collected from
  July 1, 2005 December 31, 2005 (6 mos.)
• Appt/Walk-in any student who physically met
  with the advisor in an office-type setting
• -Mail electronic correspondence from and/or to a
  student
• -Phone-Call incoming (audible) and/or outgoing
  voice-mail message or live conversation with a
  student
• -Other standard mail, FAX, etc.
• Students who only needed quick information,
  i.e. requiring less than a moments attention,
  are not included in calculated totals
• Calculated averages do NOT take into account
  holidays, sick leave, non-contract days or
  absences due to SUU travel.

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Monthly Graph (on CD!)
July 2005
Aug 2005
Sept 2005
Oct 2005
Nov 2005
Dec 2005
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Weekly Graph
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Final Questions/Comments