Providing reliable and accurate academic advising for all undergraduate students
Objective
Accessible Advising For All Undergraduates
To encourage all undergraduates to use advising services, whether mandatory or not, the SAM Center will offer advising year round at time convenient for all students.
Indicator
Number Of Students Being Advised Not Under Mandatory Advisement
If the number of students not under mandatory advisement who choose to be advised is large, this is an indication that the SAM Center has contributed to an environment that students value in seeking advisement.
Criterion
60% Of Students Not Under Mandatory Advising Seek Advising
Having more than a majority of these students voluntarily pursue advising indicates that the university has created a culture that encourages students to seek professional input in planning their academic schedule
Finding
Advising Data For Students Not Under Mandatory Advising
In the fall, 2008 semester, 13,622 students were advised for the spring semester. 7,628 were mandated to be advised, whereas 5,144 were not under mandatory advisement. Therefore, students feel they are benefited by academic advising. Complete numbers for the those being advised for the fall are not complete until Aug. 31.
Action
Work Toward Centralized All Advising
Due to the expertise and consistency of the advisors and their advising at the SAM Center, other areas of the university that historically advised their own majors have turned over the advising to the SAM Center. The College of Education has been the most recent entity to utilize the knowledge of the SAM Center advisors.
Objective
Mandatory Advising For Probationary Students
Readvise students on probation to plan the best course of action to return to good standing by the end of the next semester and to avoid suspension
Indicator
More Students Returning To Good Standing Than Being Suspended
If the number of students who are readvised follow the advice of the academic advisor either return to good standing or improve their overall grade point averages by the end of the next semester, this indicates that the practice of readvising probationary students helps students succeed.
Criterion
At Least 50% Of Probationary Students Return To Good Standing And At Least 65% Improve Their Overall Grade Point Averages.
If over half the students return to good standing, this will have direct impact on retention. If more students improve their overall grade point averages by taking the advice of advisors, then this information will be helpful to the Deans when they meet with suspended students for re-admittance on probation.
Finding
Data On Probationary Students For Fall Semesters
The most accurate indicator of the success of this program is to compare the overall grade point averages of the probationary students at the end of the fall semester with their overall grade point averages at the end of the spring semester, both for improvement and the following of advice. Data indicates that fewer students were suspended in the spring, 2009, semester than in previous spring semesters; however, the number of students returning to good standing were fewer than the spring, 2008.
Goal
Provide Effective Academic Support Programs
To provide academic support programs to students across the spectrum of ability and performance
Objective
First Alert
The First Alert Program will provide quality academic advice and assistance to students identified by their professors as being "at risk" in their classes.
Indicator
Number Of Referrals By Professors
Professors have the opportunity to refer students to the First Alert program who are not performing well on tests and quizzes or who are not attending class.
Criterion
Students Do Not Fail Course For Which They Were Referred.
If the student does not fail the course, either by passing the class or, in some instances when the referral is late in the semester, drops the course, then the student is likely to have a more successful semester.
Finding
Data On Students Referred To First Alert Program For Academic Year 2008-09
Data indicates that 79.9% of the students referred by professors to the First Alert program were successful.
Action
Use By More Professors.
Although there is continuous growth in the number of professors who refer students to First Alert, more diversified means of communication are alerting the faculty to the success of the First Alert program to encourage more referrals from them.
Objective
Monitored Academic Progress (MAP)
The MAP program will provide quality academic advice and assistance to students who are re-admitted by their respective deans as probationary students, following their suspension.
Indicator
Students Returning To Good Standing Or Improving Their Overall Grade Point Averages By The End Of The Semester.
If the students improve their overall grade point averages by the end of the probationary semester, whether they returned to good standing or not, then the individual programs designed for them were effective and the likelihood of their continuance is high.
Criterion
50% Of These Probationary Students Improved Their Grade Point Averages.
If half the students on individualized programs were successful in improving their grade point averages, then their continuance at the university is highly likely, even though some may not have returned to good standing.
Finding
Data Of Students Referred By Deans To The MAP Program In Spring, 2009
Data indicate that 34.4% of these students returned to good standing and 61.7% improved their overall grade point averages.
Finding
Data On Students Referred By Deans To The MAP Program For Fall, 2009
Data reveal that in the fall semester 41.6% of students in MAP program returned to good standing and 74.3% improved their overall grade point averages.
Action
Requirement To Refer Students To MAP Program
Although the Deans currently have the choice of referring students to the MAP Program, the Executive Director of the Student Advising and Mentoring Center has met with the Council of Deans to encourage an even greater use of this successful program to help even more students.