Numbers to Names: How to Get a Grip on Mass Probation · 2016. 3. 18. · • 6 Full-Time Advisors (4worked with probation students) UConn CLAS ASC Scholastic Probation Outreach •

Numbers to Names:

Getting a Grip on Mass Probation

Bevin A. Goodniss and Joseph M. Tinnel

Academic Services Center

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

University of Connecticut

Presented at the 2016 NACADA Region 1 Conference

March 9, 2016

Portland, Maine

University of Connecticut

• Ranked among the Top 20 Public Universities in the Nation – U.S. World & News Report (2015)

• Connecticut’s Public Flagship University

• Land Grant & Sea Grant College, Space Grant Consortium Institution

• Undergraduate Population: 22,973

• Main Campus (Storrs): 18,395

• Regional Campuses (Avery Point, Hartford, Stamford, Torrington, Waterbury): 4,578

Source: University of Connecticut Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness



Advising in CLASDepartmental Advising – Assigned Advisor

• Staff

• Faculty

CLAS Academic Services Center – Supplemental Advisors

• Act as a resource for CLAS faculty and staff advisors, through training and

outreach

• Act on behalf of the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to

resolve undergraduate education issues

• Encourage student learning and development through advising and

orientation programs

CLAS Advising Structure

Academic Services Center 5 Advisors

Biological Sciences 4 Advisors

Chemistry 1 Advisor

Communication 2 Advisors

Economics 1 Advisor

English 1 Advisor

Environmental Science/Studies 1 Advisor

History 1 Advisor

Human Development & Family Studies 1 Advisor

Political Science 1 Advisor

Psychology 2 Advisors

20 Full-Time Staff Advisors

388 Faculty Advisors

UConn’s Probation DefinitionGood Standing:

• Earning both a semester and cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or above

Probation:

• Students who have earned 0-23 credits and who have earned less than a 1.8 semester grade point average

• Students who have earned 24 credits or more (considered to be third semester or higher) and who have earned less than a 2.0 semester grade point average or cumulative grade point average

Subject to Dismissal:

• Students who have two consecutive semesters on scholastic probation

Fall 2010 OutreachUConn CLAS ASC Office Structure

• 1 Director

• 4 Full-Time Advisors

University Scholastic Probation Outreach

• Registrar’s Office e-mailed all students on Scholastic Probation, notifying them

of their status

UConn CLAS ASC Scholastic Probation Outreach

• N/A


• 1 Director

• 1 Assistant Director



• Restricted students on scholastic probation to 14 or fewer credits

• E-Mailed students to inform them of credit restriction, outlined probation

policies, and encouraged students to meet with their departmental advisor, or

with an advisor in the CLAS ASC


• 1 Director





• E-Mailed students to inform them of credit restriction, outlined probation policies,

and encouraged students to meet with their departmental advisor, or with an

advisor in the CLAS ASC

• E-Mailed students a list of personal and academic support services and included

CLAS ASC created academic worksheets

Intrusive Advising

“Intrusive advising is a direct response to an identified academic crisis…It is a

process of identifying students at crisis points and giving them the message,

you have this problem; here is a help-service. An intrusive/proactive approach

includes questioning and probing students regarding their life outside the

classroom.” (Earl, 1987)

Intrusive advising “incorporates intervention strategies that allow the adviser to

become an active part of the student's life, which, in turn, helps the student to

stay motivated.” (Glennen, 1995; Heisserer & Parette, 2002)


• 1 Director


• 6 Full-Time Advisors (3 worked with probation students)



• Placed ASC enrollment hold on student’s accounts after 10th day of classes

• Required mandatory 30-minute individual probation meeting with CLAS ASC advisor

• Created probation worksheet

• Created online skills for success modules


• 1 Director


• 6 Full-Time Advisors (4worked with probation students)



• Placed ASC enrollment hold on student’s accounts after 10th day of classes

• Required mandatory individual probation meeting with CLAS ASC advisor

• Identify seniors as different group

• Most ASC advisors moved from 30-minute appointment to 1 hour


• 1 Director


• 5 Full-Time Advisors – (All work with Probation students)


• Restrict students on scholastic probation to 14 or fewer credits

• Place ASC enrollment hold on student’s accounts after 10th day of classes

• Require mandatory probation meeting with CLAS ASC advisor

• Identify seniors as different group

• Began offering group probation meetings

• Expanded Skills for Success

% Students Subject to Dismissal

Numbers to Names

“Intrusive advising is described as having a

more personal than professional approach.”

(Molina and Abelman, 2000)

“This personal relationship encourages

students to be more responsible for their

academic performance.”

(Earl, 1988; Molina & Abelman, 2000)

Communication: Before the Semester Begins

• May: Automated e-mail from Registrar’s Office, informing student they’re on

probation for fall 2015 term

• July: CLAS ASC e-mails students who were placed on probation after the

Spring term, informing them of 14-credit limit restriction

• August: All advisors receive list of their students who are on probation

• August: One week prior to beginning of fall semester, CLAS ASC e-mails

students on scholastic probation, reminding them of credit restriction, and

informing them that they’ll need to meet with an ASC advisor to discuss

their standing in either an individual meeting or group setting

Communication: During the Semester

• 1st week of semester, CLAS ASC e-mails students on scholastic probation reminding

them of credit restriction, and probation meeting

• 9th day of class: Inform students who have not yet met credit restriction that they need

to drop, or we drop a class for them

• 10th day of class: Drop student from class if over 14 credit restriction

• 10th day of class: Place hold on students who have not yet met with ASC advisor

• 5th week of semester: After enrollment appointments have come out, send final

reminder to students that they need to meet with an ASC advisor before their

registration hold will be removed

Individual Probation Meeting

• Students must call the office to set up a meeting

• Students fill out front of form while in office waiting area

• Student meets with ASC advisor to:

o Review probation policies and procedures

o Review dismissal procedures

o Review probation worksheet, to discuss areas student identified as areas of difficulty

o Go over their transcript and advisement report

o Develop SMART goals that address areas of concern

• Advisor scans and files a signed copy of probation worksheet into the student note system

• Students leave with a signed copy of their probation worksheet

Group Probation Meeting

• Students may choose to attend a group meeting

• Students use electronic form to sign up

• Meetings capped at 20 students

• Students receive packet of information, including the group meeting worksheet,

their transcript, a list academic and student support resources, and a copy of the

academic calendar

• Advisor reviews probation policies and procedures, and discuss academic and

student support resources available

Group Probation Meeting• Students complete front side of probation worksheet

• Students identify three areas that they feel they may need support with, by:

o Identifying any trends on their transcript

o Recognizing academic and/or personal factors that impact their success through self-reflection

• Students identify GPA needed to be placed on good standing

• Students develop their own SMART goals for the previously identified areas they need support with

• Students turn in worksheets at the end of the session, which the advisor will evaluate later

• Student receives an electronic copy of worksheet after evaluation is complete

Dismissal Process

• If student on probation for two consecutive semesters, they are subject to

dismissal from the university

• Students have the ability to appeal this decision

• As part of the appeal, students must state whether they attended a

probation meeting, or not

• If they did, they must then state how they followed up on their SMART goals

throughout the semester

Dismissal Process

• The CLAS ASC tracks which students have attended probation meetings

• The probation worksheet becomes part of the student’s appeal, which is

viewable by all dismissal committee members

• If a student is retained, they will remain on scholastic probation for the

following semester

Future Considerations

• Transfer students

• Campus change students

• Better tracking/evaluations

• Expanding Modules

• Positive feedback for students who come off of probation

Thank you for Attending!

Bevin A. Goodniss: [email protected]

Joseph M. Tinnel: [email protected]

CLAS Academic Services Center: www.clasadvising.uconn.edu

University of Connecticut: www.uconn.edu

References• Earl, W.R. (1987, September). Intrusive advising for freshmen. Academic Advising News,

Vol. 9(3).

• Earl, W. R. (1988). Intrusive advising of freshmen in academic difficulty. NACADA Journal, 8(2), 23–27.

• Glennen, R. E., & Vowell, F. N. (Eds.). (1995). Academic advising as a comprehensive campus process. National Academic Advising Association Monograph Series, 2.

• Heisserer, D. L., & Parette, P. (2002). Advising at-risk students in college and university settings. College Student Journal, 36, 69–83Molina, A., & Abelman, R. (2000). Style over substance in interventions for at-risk students: The impact of intrusiveness. NACADA Journal, 20(2), 5–15.

• Wortham, F.B. (2014, December). Intrusive advising: At-risk students on a commuter university campus. Academic Advising Today, 37(4).

Documents

Numbers to Names: How to Get a Grip on Mass Probation · 2016. 3. 18. · • 6 Full-Time Advisors (4worked with probation students) UConn CLAS ASC Scholastic Probation Outreach •