when it's time to change your tune: advising students out of a major aisha torrey-sawyer, m.ed...
TRANSCRIPT
When it's time to change your tune: Advising
students out of a major
Aisha Torrey-Sawyer, M.EdDirector, Neeley Academic Advising Center
Zoranna Jones, M.S.Director, Academic Resource Center
Texas Christian University
Business – Application process
Nursing – Direct Entry
Academic Standards
Family and Friends Prestige Money, power and success Social and cultural influences Recommendations of teacher or mentor Career exploration
Why Students Select Certain Majors?
Astin’s I-E-O Model and Theory of Involvement * 1. Inputs – demographics, student background,
previous experiences 2. Environment – range of experiences
encountered during college 3. Outcomes – characteristics, knowledge,
attitudes, beliefs, values, etc. that exist after college
*http://studentaffairs.webs.com/collegeimpact.htm#133605314
Theory
Why students may need to select another major:
Unable to continue in the current major
Not happy with the major but unsure of other major options
Approaches and Tools to Guide Students to Select Another Major
Poor Academics
Meet with student Determine cause of poor academic performance
Identify students methods
Discuss why the student chose this major, what are the desired outcomes
Determine a student action planParent/student or spouse/student meeting (remember FERPA)
HomeworkTimeline
Follow-up meetingAssess, discuss new information, and assist student with change of major request
Unable to Continue in Current Major
Meet with student Determine the reason the student wants to change their major
Discuss why the student chose this major, what are the desired outcomes, what are other areas of interest, what classes do they enjoy
Determine a student action planHomeworkTips for students to talk to parents/spouse – May be VERY
pertinent if they have been influential in selecting the major
Follow-up meeting (repeat if necessary) Timeline, assess, and discuss new information, meet with parents if
needed, assist student with change of major request
Not Happy with the Major but Unsure of Other Major Options
Initiate the conversation
Ask stimulating, open-ended questions
Develop a realistic plan incorporating campus resources
Follow-up
Your Role as the Advisor
Progression letters - require the meeting
Academic holds applied
Invite the student to come in to meet
Referrals from other Faculty/Staff
Initiating the Conversation
How did you become interested in this major? What other majors have you explored? Why? Are you enjoying the courses you are taking? If you could do any type of work, what would it
be? In this major you will have to do ____, can you do
that? In this profession you will have to do ___, can you
do that ?
Questions to Stimulate Thought
Homework Career services Interviews with professionals in other areas of interest Research other academic departments Research other areas and their degree requirements Counseling center Academic Services Parent conversation Timeline on completion of homework
Follow-up (repeat if needed) Assess and discuss new information Assist student with change of major request Meet with parent/spouse if needed
Develop a Plan
As an audience do you have any scenarios where you can apply this streamlined process?
Do you have any success stories you would like to share?
Scenarios
Aisha Torrey-Sawyer, M.Ed Director, Neeley Academic Advising Center
Zoranna Jones, M.S. Director, Academic Resource Center
Questions?