Variety is the Spice of Life: A Comprehensive Support Program for Undeclared Students

1
Variety is the Spice of Life A Comprehensive
Support Program for Undeclared Students

• David I. Henriques
• Asst. Dean, School of Academic Programs
  Services
• Shippensburg University
• NACADA 10/20/06

2
Shippensburg University

• One of the 14 state universities in PASSHE
• Recognized in top 100 by Kiplinger's US News
• National Collegiate Scouting Association ranks
  Ship 12th in DII.
• Highest 4-year graduation in PASSHE _at_ 46

• Largest undeclared program _at_ 1,000 students
• 4-year graduation rate exceeds 41 (undeclared)
• Approximately 40 of first-year students
• Staff includes myself, 5 GAs and 60 volunteer
  faculty advisors

3
Shippensburg University

• Office of Undeclared Students
• Philosophy Intrusive Developmental Advising
• Increase success in first semester
• Front load services
• Students must declare a major by the middle of
  their 3rd semester (extension)
• Faculty, staff and administrators serve as
  advisors
• Communicative

4
Shippensburg University

• Program for Undeclared
• Placement Testing
• New Student Intake (90)
• Linked with advisors
• Database
• Fall schedule review
• MAP Series
• PACES
• Group Advising Meetings
• Guidebook

• Frequent contacts/information
• Advising/Scheduling newsletter
• Checking in postcards
• Dept. Advising Meetings
• Web resources
• 4 year advising plans
• What can I do with a major in
• Transcript Review

5
Shippensburg University

• Placement Testing
• 4-5 months before classes begin
• Debriefing as advising
• talk about majors

6
Shippensburg University

• 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 Scheduling considerations
• Maintain database for departmental connections

7
Shippensburg University

• Print Resources
• Guidebook
• MAP Series
• 1 (June), 2 (Sept.), 3 (Dec.), 4 (May), 5
  (Aug.).
• Advising Newsletter (August)
• Scheduling Newsletter (October and March)
• Check-in postcard and e-mail

8
Shippensburg University

• PACES
• A first-year, non-credit first year seminar.
• Voluntary 50 minutes a week
• Sign-up offered during new student in-take
• Taught by faculty, graduate assistants, and me
• Linked to advisor when possible
• Content includes career development and student
  transitional issues
• 25 sign-up class

9
Shippensburg University

• Website www.ship.edu/aps
• Web resources (career, major selection, study
  skills, etc)
• Curriculum sheets for each major
• 4-year scheduling templates for each major
• Links to each major (department)

10
Shippensburg University

• Transcript Review
• Each summer, we review each undeclared students
  transcript
• 2 graduate assistants and myself
• Remind them to declare and when
• Remind them of what they still need to do to
  declare.
• Find errors
• Have them come in for a meeting
• Congratulate them for doing well
• Inquire about students who did not schedule

11
Shippensburg University

• Summary
• 18 month program
• Intrusive developmental philosophy
• Communicative
• 4-year graduation in excess of 41
• www.ship.edu/aps
• dihenr_at_ship.edu