Enhancing Academic Advisement Using the First-Year Seminar

1. Enhancing Academic Advisement Using the First-Year Seminar Dr. Mark L. Campbell – Chair Academic Services Department Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania The ROCK

2. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania • One of fourteen universities in the State System of Higher Education • Over 7,200 undergraduates and about 800 graduate students • Over 60 degree programs in four colleges • 600-acre campus located 50 miles north of Pittsburgh in rural Western Pennsylvania • All first-year students reside on campus.

3. Characteristics of Undergraduates • 96% are Pennsylvania residents. • 70% are from the ten counties surrounding the Pittsburgh area. • 67% are low-income and/or first-generation. • 6% are students of color. • Education and Exercise Science are the largest academic majors.

4. Academic Services Department • Academic Advisement Center • FYRST Seminar course • Orientation and Learning Community Clusters (LCC) • Exploratory (Undeclared) Student Program • Tutorial Center & Supplemental Instruction • State and Federal (TRIO) grant programs for academically at-risk students

5. First-Year Studies (FYRST) Seminar • FYRST Seminar is based upon the First Year Experience model. • 97% of first-year students are enrolled in FYRST Seminar. • FYRST Seminar is a one-credit, letter-graded course that meets 15 times/term. • Some FYRST Seminars meet weekly for the entire term; others are “front-loaded.” • There is no common syllabus, but faculty members are strongly encouraged to cover a list of common topics.

6. FYRST Seminar & Academic Advisement • “Borrowed” faculty on one-credit overload teach most FYRST Seminars. • All FYRST Seminars meet through mid-November (spring registration). • All FYRST faculty members are approved by Academic Services and attend a mandatory two-day professional development workshop in May. • When possible, students are assigned to their FYRST instructors as academic advisees. • Many FYRST Seminars are major-specific and/or linked to other classes.

7. FYRST Seminar and Learning Community Clusters (LCC) • 75% of first-year students are enrolled in a Learning Community Cluster. • Learning Community Clusters consist of College Writing, FYRST Seminar, and a Liberal Studies or major content course. • Learning Community Clusters are based upon academic majors or topical themes. • The instructor of the content course often teaches the FYRST Seminar. • Collaboration among LCC faculty is encouraged though not required.

8. New Student Orientation • Attendance is required of all first-year students. • One-day programs held in March, April, and June • Parallel sessions for students and parents • Deans’ sessions highlight academic expectations. • Faculty advisors explain degree requirements and develop/adjust schedules. • Course schedules are created in advance using students’ preferences.

9. Goals of New Student Orientation • Connect students with the Slippery Rock University campus • Create awareness of responsibilities and roles in the academic advisement process • Explain academic requirements and policies • Familiarize students with campus services, programs, and organizations • Assist parents in understanding the transition from high school to college

10. Relating Orientation to FYRST Seminar • Weekend Of Welcome (WOW) for first-year student move-in • Programming to address academic, technological, and social topics • Involvement of academic advisors and FYRST Seminar faculty • Introduction to ROCK-e, the weekly e-mail updates to students and parents • Future plans – small group discussions of a “summer reading assignment”

11. Advisement Information in FYRST Seminar • Roles of the academic advisor and advisee • Early academic alert – Student Attendance, Performance, & Adjustment (SAPA) Report • Mid-Term Grades for all first-year students • Liberal Studies Program and Major Progression • Pre-registration session to explain Degree Audit Report System (DARS) • Individual registration/scheduling appointments with academic advisees.

12. Major-Specific Academic Advisement Information in FYRST Seminar • Quality Point Average (QPA) requirements by major – many are 2.5 and higher • Expectations of departments/colleges – behavior, community service, ... • Exploration of internship opportunities • Complements major departments’ “Intro” classes • Example – Education: QPA of 3.0, certification tests, moral character policy, ...

13. Special FYRST Seminar / Learning Community Cluster Arrangements • Frederick Douglass Community of Scholars • Non-Learning Community Cluster FYRST Seminars – “free standing” • Annual FYRST Seminar Trip to London, UK, during Winter Break • FYRST Seminar sections for at-risk students (including those who are eligible for TRIO or state grant programs)

14. Peer Helping in Orientation &FYRST Seminar • Upper-class peer helpers/leaders facilitate discussions and guide activities. • Peer helpers do not teach or advise. They mentor and model. • Students studying in the academic major are the most relevant and successful role models. • Peer helping involves careful selection and thorough training.

15. Local Evaluation of FYRST Seminar & Academic Advisement • Student Survey of Course Effectiveness • Student Opinion of Academic Advising • Annual survey of FYRST Seminar faculty • Experimental and longitudinal research on student outcomes like persistence and achievement • Focus groups of FYRST Seminar students and FYRST Seminar faculty instructors

16. Use of National Instruments in Evaluation & Assessment • National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) • Faculty Survey of Student Engagement (FSSE) • Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) • First Year Initiative Survey (FYI)

17. FYRST Seminar & Learning Community Evaluation Results • Statistically significant increases in student persistence – especially 1st to 2nd year • Statistically significant increases in quality point averages and credit hours earned • Increases in student satisfaction with academic advisement • Increases in student usage of campus services and participation in organizations

18. Factors Enhancing the Academic Advisement/FYRST Seminar Link • Strong administrative support • Availability of auxiliary budget to augment institutional commitment • Full-time faculty directors of Academic Advisement & FYRST Seminar AND Orientation & Learning Community Clusters • Allowing others to “own” FYRST Seminar • Collaboration with Division of Student Life

19. Future Directions for Advisement/FYRST Seminar/LCC • Non-faculty as academic advisors and instructors of FYRST Seminar • Increasing academic focus for Orientation and FYRST Seminar • Encouraging greater collaboration among Learning Community Cluster faculty • Incorporating “summer reading assignment” into programming

20. National Evaluation Instruments Cited • National Survey of Student Engagement – NSSE http://www.indiana.edu/~nsse/ • Faculty Survey of Student Engagement – FSSE http://www.indiana.edu/~nsse/fsse/index.htm • Cooperative Institutional Research Program – CIRP http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/heri/cirp.html • First Year Initiative Survey – FYI http://www.brevard.edu/fyc/fyi/

21. Contact Information Dr. Mark L. Campbell – Chair Academic Services Department B-106 Bailey Library Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA 16057-1326 Phone: (724) 738-4410 FAX: (724) 738-4497 E-mail mark.campbell@sru.edu