“WHAT FACULTY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ACADEMIC ADVISING AT HOWARD

UNIVERSITY”

MELANIE CARTER, PH.D.

ASSOCIATE PROVOST FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES AND ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

September 2016

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THE OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES

• The mission of the Office of Undergraduate Studies (OUS) is to support the successful matriculation of undergraduate students by offering academic support services and programs that will result in improved persistence, retention, and graduation rates.

• Three Units:– The Center for Academic Excellence– The Office of Honors and Scholar Development– The Office of Career Services

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THE CENTER FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

The Center for Academic Excellence offers an array of comprehensive services and programs that support and enrich the undergraduate academic experience– Academic Advising Services– New Student Orientation– Transfer Student Support Services– Summer Bridge Program– Mathematics Support Services

Dr. Terri Wright, Executive Director

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HONORS AND SCHOLAR DEVELOPMENT

The Office of Honors & Scholar Development supports college and discipline-based honor society programs; serves as a clearinghouse for fellowship and scholarship opportunities; identifies prestigious scholarship and award opportunities for undergraduate students; and works with students and faculty to encourage and acknowledge high scholastic achievement among undergraduates.• Honors Programming and Outreach• National Merit Award Information, Advising, and Support• Scholarship Enrichment Institute• Honors Ambassadors

Dr. Kari Miller, Director

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OFFICE OF CAREER SERVICES

The Office of Career Services is the university’s comprehensive center for career advice, counseling, and support. Through innovate partnerships with employers, OCS provides dynamic programs and services that educate and empower students and alumni to chart successful career paths with skill and confidence.

• Bison Career Link• Individual Career Counseling and Resource Library• Annual Career Fairs• Junior Experiential Learning (J.E.L.) Program• Graduation, Readiness, Options, Work (G.R.O.W.)

Ms. Jozanne Douglas, Director

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FALL 2016 PROJECTED ENROLLMENT

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FTIC PROFILE (FALL 2016)

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CAE ADVISING POPULATION, SPRING 2016

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“Good advising may be the single most underestimated characteristic of a successful college experience.”

R.J. Light (2001). Making the most of college. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

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WHAT IS ACADEMIC ADVISING

Academic advising focuses on helping students to develop and follow an appropriate plan for fulfilling degree requirements. This process includes: understanding degree requirements and university academic and academic support policies and procedures. Effective academic advising promotes student self-efficacy, informed and proactive decision-making, and academically-focused behaviors that result in timely degree

completion.

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HOWARD UNIVERSITY ADVISING MODEL

• The Howard University Advising model is an integrated and collaborative approach that minimizes artificial barriers that separate faculty advisers and staff academic advisers, and places emphasis on transformational rather than transaction advising. As depicted below, students are at the center of “advising circles” that offer holistic support throughout their academic journeys.

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“ADVISING CIRCLES”

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CENTER FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

ADVISERS/STUDENT SUCCESS COUNSELORS

• Are trained student success counselors who work collaboratively with assigned schools/colleges’ professional advisers and faculty

• Offer specialized retention counseling for HU scholarship recipients, conditionally admitted students, and students experiencing academic difficulty

• Utilize an integrated Student Retention System to monitor and track student academic performance

• Employ targeted, high impact approaches for improving retention: frequent communication, systemized review of academic performance; intrusive counseling techniques, and the development of individual academic success plans

• Coordinate within OUS, Student Affairs, and Schools/Colleges comprehensive “wrap-around” services that support consistent academic progress

• Engage “Early Alert” Systems that will facilitate strategic intervention and support by faculty, academic support and student services

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SCHOOL/COLLEGE PROFESSIONAL ACADEMIC

ADVISERS

• Are trained professional academic advisers who work within a single School or College• Serve as a resource to faculty advisers• Responsible for administrative processes that support advising including registration,

academic petitions, and related matters• Monitor student progression toward degree attainment • Identify students who are academically at-risk and develop plans for achieving regular

status• Oversee the degree audit process with students • Conduct the graduation clearance process and other School/College required degree

completion process• Identify students who are eligible for School-Based and/or University Honors Programs• Collaborate with the Office of Undergraduate Studies to identify resources and

programs that support student success

*Specific duties of professional and faculty academic advisers are determined by the respecitve deans, department chairs or their designees.

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FACULTY ADVISERS

• Are full-time faculty who advise undergraduate students on major and professional requirements

• Work collaboratively with School/College academic advisers to identify and address issues that impede academic progress and/or degree attainment

• Mentor students to identify and achieve professional and academic goals

• Identify and facilitate research opportunities for undergraduates

• Collaborate with the Office of Undergraduate Studies to identify resources and programs that support student success

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FACULTY ADVISING AND STUDENT SUCCESS

“Frequent faculty-student contact in and out of the classroom is the most important factor in student motivation and involvement.”

(Astin, A.W., 1985)

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FACULTY ADVISING ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Advisers, Counselors, Mentors, or Coaches?

• Advising undergraduate, graduate, and professional students

• Advising Circles

• Building Advising Capacity

• Proactive, Holistic

• Focus on transformation instead of transaction

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IMPORTANT ADVISING TOOLS

• Program Schemes

• Undergraduate Academic Policies & Procedures

• School/College Academic Policies

• The University Calendar

• Bison Web Access

• Blackboard Degree Works (Degree Audit)

• Student Success Collaborative-Campus

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SERVICES: ADVISING RESOURCES

• Office of Undergraduate Studies

– OUS Website

– HU Advising Academy

– Undergraduate Academic Advising Council (UAAC)

• Office of the Registrar

– Degree Works

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STRATEGIES: BUILDING ADVISING CAPACITY

• Get to know your students to better understand their advising needs

• Familiarize yourself with program requirements• Don’t ignore “advisable” moments during classroom instruction• Communicate regularly with your students, faculty and staff

colleagues, and University offices• Meet with students before and after midterm• Submit midterm grades• Submit final grades on time• Learn about University’s resources that support student success• Seek support from your School/College Advising Staff, OUS, the

Registrar’s Office• Be Informed• Be accessible

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STUDENT SUCCESS

Advising is a key to student retention, The best way to keep students enrolled is to keep them stimulated, challenged and progressing toward a meaningful goal. The best way to do that – especially among new students – is through informed academic advising.

Edward ‘Chip’ Anderson (1997). Academic Advising for Student Success and Retention.

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ACADEMIC ADVISING RESOURCES

• National Academic Advising Association (NACADA)

• CAS Professional Standards for Higher Education

• Office of Undergraduate Studies Website

– Undergraduatestudies.howard.edu

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