collaborative partnerships & the benefits of merging
DESCRIPTION
The Academic Advising & Career Centre, University of Toronto Scarborough as a model of how to blend the following student services: academic advising, career counselling, study skills learning, & employment services. Presented at ACPA/NASPA Joint Meeting 2007 and NACADA 2008 National Conferences.TRANSCRIPT
Get On Board:Collaborative Partnerships & the Benefits of Merging
Laura Pasquini, Academic AdvisorFiorella Shields, Resource Centre ManagerKristen Tippin, Career CounsellorNACADA National Conference 2007Friday, October 19, 2007
Agenda
o Introductionso Learning Outcomeso The Higher Education Cycle &
Trendso Assessment of Student Needso A Culture of Collaboration
– Academic Advising & Career Centre
o Application to Your Campuso Conclusion
Learning Outcomes
o Learn successful approaches for integrating advising and career services
o Identify roles that students can play in advising and career development
o Generate ideas for implementing collaboration on your campus
The Higher Education Cycle
Meeting theChallenges in
Higher Education
Institutional Vision &Objectives
Workforce Demands &Student Career Expectations
Student Population & Experience
The Student Experience
“…Developmental counselling or advising is concerned not only with a specific personal or vocational decision but also with facilitating the student’s rational processes, environmental and interpersonal interactions, behaviour awareness, and problem-solving, decision-making, and evaluations skills.”
~CrookstonCrookston, B. B. (1994). A developmental view of academic advising as teaching. NACADA Journal, 14(2), 5-9.
Stepping UP to the Challengeo Vision
– To be a leader among the world’s best public teaching and research universities in its discovery, preservation & sharing of knowledge through its teaching and research & commitment to excellence & equity
o Priority Objectives:– outstanding & unique student experience– disciplinary, departmental & divisional collaboration – strong research experiences– relevant academic programs that impact the world around
us– equity & diversity in activities to reflect local & global
communityStepping Up: A framework for academic planning at the University of Toronto 2004-2010
Case Study Framework
Learning Reconsidered 2: A Practical Guide to Implementing a Campus-Wide
Focus on the Student
Experienceedited by Richard P.
Keeling, M.D.
Creating a Culture of Collaboration
o Start smallo Focus on real problems, not
theoretical opportunitieso Expect & manage conflictso Initiate the conversationo Identify & support champions – but
avoid over dependenceo Evaluate the outcomes
Learning Reconsidered 2, pg 72-73
Start Small - Our ShipThe Academic Advising & Career Centre (AA&CC)
Your Future Starts Now!
Note: We are the only Canadian University to offer combined Career & Academic Advising services
History & Funding Model
• Career with advising staff was accidental
• From June 2002 to June 2006 staff increased from 6 to 13 full-time positions
• Budget is a blend of student levy and operating budget funds
Our Mission Statement
The Academic Advising & Career Centre is a team of professionals who advise, counsel and coach individuals with their learning and career development. Recognizing every individual’s unique potential, we empower students to gain the knowledge, understanding and experience necessary to make informed decisions now and for the future.
Focus on Real Problems, Not Theoretical Opportunities
We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.
Albert Einstein
Navigation of the Students: Our Crew
o Academic planningo Career explorationo Improve learning &
study skillso Employment & job
resourceso Research & gather
information related to future objectives
Career Counselling
Academic Advising
Seminars/ Workshops
Study SkillsSupport
Learning Assessments
Academic Issues
DepartmentalReferrals
Resources &Tipsheets
Academic Advising
Appointments
Students
Resource Centre: Triage & Intake
• Assess student needs• Explain resources &
services• Referrals &
information• Prepare students for
future appointments
Our Junior Sailors: Student Support
How do we involve our students in our office?
Peer Counsellors● Peer Employment
Counsellors help students prepare resumes and cover letters, individually or in groups, critique job application forms and assist with interview preparation.
● Peer Study Skills Counsellors assist students, individually or in groups, with study skills including time management, taking lecture notes, effectively reading texts, and test preparation and test-writing skills.
Get Started Coaches• Lead groups of incoming first
year students throughout Get Started (summer orientation)– Assist with course selection – Lead group sessions– Provide personal experiences &
perspectives on the community and culture at UTSC.
• Coaches help with session to develop essential university skills:– Independent Learning – Informed Decision-making – Critical Thinking
Working With Our Students
• Resource Centre Student Staff
• Student Ambassadors• Marketing Specialists• Electronic Research &
Development• Information Research
Assistants
Expect & Manage Conflicts
The world is a fine place and worth fighting for. ~Ernest Hemmingway
Smooth Sailing: How We Make It Work
o Build Your Teamo Talko Location o Defineo Plan to Plano Communicateo Shareo Purpose & goalso Professional development
Initiate The Conversation
It is important to explore outcomes of effective theories from social sciences in a practical setting, and create or enhance strong collaborative working relationships among academic and student affairs educators.
~KeelingLearning Reconsidered 2, 69
Build Your Fleet: Collaboration
Key Players:o Academic Advisory
Committeeo UTSC Council of Student
Affairso Student Affairs Advisory
Groupo Faculty, staff, & students
Methods to Initiate Conversation:o Participating in Departmental
and Committee Meetingso Engaging in resource sharing
meetingso Generating phone and email
correspondenceo Consultation with program
supervisorso Providing assistance when
approachedo Asking for help when neededo Guerilla Networking: Talk It Up
Identify & Support Champions – But Avoid Overdependence
Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream a vision.
• Muhammad Ali
Our Collaborations
Accessibility Serviceso Disability & Careers Workshop
Co-operative Educationo Employment Tutorial, Resume
Critiques & Mock InterviewsResidence Life
o Academic/Career Programming
Academic Departmentso Information Sessions with
Program Advisors
Faculty InitiativesScience Engagement :-opportunities to exercise knowledge & concepts gained in the academic classroom in the more meaningful, relevant context of their communities-course for credit
Summer Learning Institutes:-English Language Development-Math Preparedness-Research, Writing & Presenting
Maintaining Campus Partnerships
• Designate key contacts• Regular communication• Purposeful meetings• State clear objectives & goals• Combine professional development• Share project planning & updates• Develop a paper trail for the future
Evaluate the Outcomes
True genius resides in the capacity for evaluation of uncertain, hazardous, and conflicting information.
~Winston Churchill
Nautical Numbers
Canadian Undergraduate Survey Consortium [CUSC] (2006)
Learning to Work Survey (2006) Student Ambassador Program Get Started Satisfaction Survey, Part I & II Be The Change Survey (2007)
The UTSC Assessment
64666870727476788082
AACC
Employ.Skills
Canadian Undergraduate Consortium, January 2006
Evaluate: The Benefits
o Creation of Opportunities & Growtho Connected Services = Student-centredo Targeted Program Initiativeso Professional Developmento Increased Knowledge Baseo Networking & Partnershipso Informs Short & Long Term Planningo Development Based on Feedback
Drop Anchor: Final Thoughts
The holistic process of learning that places the student at the center of the learning experience demands collaboration, and collaboration demands cultural change.
» Learning Reconsidered 2
Conclusion
•Q & A
Thank You!Merci!
Gracias!
Contact Information
Laura [email protected]
Fiorella [email protected]
Kristen [email protected]
Web Site:www.utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc
University of Toronto Scarborough
Academic Advising & Career Centre
1265 Military TrailToronto, ON, CanadaM1C [email protected]
ReferencesCrookston, B. B. (1994). A developmental view of academic
advising as teaching. NACADA Journal, 14(2), 5-9.
Keeling, R. P. (2006). Learning Reconsidered 2: Implementing a Campus-Wide Focus on the Student Experience.
Raines, Claire. (2002). Generations at Work: Managing Millennials.
www.generationsatwork.com/articles/millenials.htm
Oblinger, Diana. (2003). Boomers & Gen-Xers Millennials: Understanding the New Students. Educause Review. July/August 2003.
The Canadian Workforce Statistics. From 2001 Canadian Census. http://canadaonline.about.com/cs/statistics/a/workforcestats.htm
References (con’t)
Measuring Up on the Undergraduate Experience: The National Survey of Student Engagement 2006. January 8, 2007. http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/public/Reports/NSSE.htm
University of Toronto: Stepping UP A Framework for Academic Planning 2004 to 2010 http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/plans/framework/final.htm
University of Toronto Scarborough, Office of Student Affairs & Services. Canadian Consortium [CUSC]. 2006 Graduating Students Survey Report. November 28, 2006.
From Learning to Work 2006. Report for Career Services Partners. A Special Edition Featuring Highlights of the Full Research Study. Brainstorm: September 6, 2006.
The Academic Advising & Career Centre. www.utsc.utoronto.ca/counsellingThe University of Toronto. www.utoronto.ca