Academic AdvisingDana Hebreard, Julie Yonker, Brian Cawley, Thea Brophy, Meredith Segur, Phil Stegink

“we believe a Calvin education can guide students aspiring to the transformational work of renewing this broken world”Calvin College’s Vision Statement

What is distinctive about Calvin College’s Academic Advising?

Survey our Peer Institutions

• How do we know what is distinctive?

• Who does the advising?

• What is the reporting structure?

• What are the objectives of advising?

• Is there advisor training and/or evaluation?

Advising Survey of 21 Peer Institutions

3

Staff = Advising administrators

Results Conclusions

• Quality advising is more important in larger peer institutions than smaller as evidenced by:• Advisor training• Advisor evaluation

• Dedicated advising days were evident in both large and small institutions, although not evident at every institution

• Most institutions do not evaluate their advisors• Some institutions offer advisor training• Calvin is unique among the larger institutions because the

academic advising reporting structure is in the academic division • Tied into the Educational Framework• Tied into the Curriculum

The Calvin distinctives with respect to advising center on Education as a key word:

• Advising is (should be) an opportunity for student learning, • Evaluation of advisors provides feedback to help improve,• Advisor training provides education. • Institutions of Calvin’s size don’t tend to do as much faculty advising, they enlist professional advisors.

Advising Research – Student Success• “cultural navigators (advisors) also act as translators,

coaches, and guides. Cultural navigators know something about the culture-how it operates, how to get things done, how to be part of it and feel a sense of belonging. They share that information with students, help them adjust to college life, and make themselves available as trusted go-to resources whenever possible.” • (Strayhorn, 2015 p. 59)

Student Success• “Institutional conditions that intentionally support

student persistence towards graduation include clear expectations, positive support, academic advising, involvement/engagement, and student learning.” • (Vincent Tinto – Taking Student Involvement Seriously)  

Student Success• “Students who get the most out of college, grow the

most academically and are happiest organize their time to include activities with faculty members.”  • (Richard Light, Making the Most out of College, 2001)

Strategic Plan & Educational FrameworkAll College Goals

“What are the enduring characteristics or qualities of thinking, doing, and being that mark a Calvin graduate?”

Strategic Plan & Educational FrameworkAll College Goals

“What are the enduring characteristics or qualities of thinking, doing, and being that mark a Calvin graduate?”

All College Goals – LearningStudent Advising comments

• Prof. ABC has been my only advisor since I was still a freshman (I am a Junior now). I am so grateful for his presence in my life. He has been such an encouraging and realistic person/advisor/professor for me. He knows my progress, my struggles, and he also gives excellent advice. He's been a role model for me to always do my best in pursuing my studies.

•

Prof ABC has helped me to make better choices regarding classes and plans than I would have otherwise, and she takes a holistic approach to helping students.

Practical Advising Learning Tips• Discuss the benefits of the core curriculum and liberal

arts, especially if there is an attitude of wanting to get core classes “out of the way”

• Discuss how a core class relates to their major and/or career interest

• Get to know advisees’ interests and passions and suggest courses - or possible minors - that may be helpful

• Encourage advisees to take advantage of free coaching and tutoring resources in the  academic services office

All College Goals – FaithStudent Advising comments

• Professor ABC is a wonderful individual overall as well as a great advisor. She has offered prayer and support through challenges and always offers a smile and a hug. She is very compassionate and stays connected. Her love of helping others and love for Christ is very apparent. She is one of the reasons I love Calvin.

• Prof ABC is always genuinely interested in what I am up to around campus, and she encourages me to consider all of the options ahead of me. She is always willing to take the time to sit down with me and chat. It is very much appreciated, I can tell that she truly cares.

Practical Advising Faith Tips• Pray with and/or for your advisees

• Welcome faith questions, concerns, struggles, doubts from your advisees

• Be willing to share your faith journey with your advisees

• Help advisees who might come to Calvin from different faith backgrounds understand the reformed perspective

All College Goals – CitizenshipStudent Advising comments

• I am studying abroad this semester and she has been nothing but helpful and understanding the whole time. She was willing to work out a registration nightmare with me entirely through email, and always gives prompt, thoughtful replies (it's important to note that I usually meet with her in person and talk at length, but this semester I use email because I'm on the other side of the globe at the moment). She genuinely cares about my education and life plans. I'm pretty self-organized as far as planning which classes to take what semester and year, so I guess I can't speak for her helpfulness in those areas because I haven't needed it, but overall she is an excellent advisor!

Practical Advising Citizenship Tips• Encourage advisees to participate in international off-

campus semester or interim; if not possible, help advisees identify other ways to develop intercultural knowledge (through core classes, student organizations, UnLearn week, etc.)

• Get involved in local opportunities through service learning and/or connect with mentors through the campus ministry office program

• Encourage advisees to be good campus citizens, involved in dorm & campus leadership/activities, active class participants, encouragers of classmates, etc.

All College Goals – VocationStudent Advising comments

• Prof. ABC is very caring and knowledgeable about the courses I need for my major. When I had a specific opportunity come up, he took into account my personal interests and personality, as well as personal growth and helped me weigh the pros and cons, advising for it. He calmed my anxiety from a daunting career path many times, but also did not cover up the realities I may face in certain courses or life choices. I really appreciated how open and receptive he was to me just stopping by or emailing. He is a wonderful advisor with a great sense of humor, who truly cares for his students.

• She is a wonderful advisor who clearly cares for her students. She has helped open so many doors for me and has helped me think through my vocational calling.

Practical Advising Vocation Tips• Refer your advisees to Career Development if they are

having trouble identifying their gifts or interests

• Inquire at every advising appointment: • “tell me what you are thinking career-wise at the moment”, • “what are you doing to investigate the career more thoroughly”• “how have you discerned that career could be a good fit for

you”

• Ask (suggest) about their plans for internships, research, or other experiential education opportunities

Overall College Advising Scores, F-2014

• All College Goal – Vocation

• Helps me understand why required courses are important for my professional development and future plans.

• Considers my personal abilities, talents, and interests when advising me about courses or programs of study or future plans.

• Gives good advice about setting long-range goals.

• Helps me consider my vocational development

Advising - Retention

• College focus 2015-2016 on retention

• Vocation Exploration Programs• Institutions had greater retention rates than nonparticipating

institutions, • Recent grads of vocation exploration programs:

• reported substantially higher life satisfaction scores one year after college

• agreed that “since graduating from college, I have drawn upon vocational discernment and reflection to guide my decisions”, 72.4% (Clydesdale, 2015).

• Academic Advising Committee is examining how advising fits with retention.

Moving Forward – Advising Best Practices• Ask advising committee member advisors for tips or

assistance• Brian Cawley, Dana Hebreard, Phil Stegink, Thea Brophy, Julie

Yonker

• Moodle advising site has numerous resources.

• Lunch & Learn in April, 2016