Conference Schedule

8:30am-9:30am Check-in and continental breakfast

9:30am-9:50am: Welcome

10:00am-10:50am: Concurrent Session #1

Embedding Academic Advising Into Your Distance Education Program

“Good advising may be the single most underestimated characteristic of a successful college experience” (Light, 2011). With the advent of online learning, academic advising methods, standards, and pedagogy has changed, leaving educators wondering how can we utilize academic advising to impact student success in online learning environments?

This presentation will introduce advisors and administrators to opportunities for further development of academic advising services in their distance learning programs. Literature and research are beginning to address the distance learning phenomena and recognize that embedding students support programs in the virtual world allow students to explore resources and services whether taking online courses or not. By establishing advising services online, colleges and universities allow students to make a smooth transition into college life and create a sense of belonging to their institution. 

Presented by Cynthia Pascal & Kristin Shriver (NVCC)

Where Every Student Counts: Segmentation Analysis of First-Year Retention at a Small College

We are aware of traditional persistence indicators within our institutions; academic preparation, financial needs, first-generation and ethnic minority statuses, all give us insight into the attrition-risk of incoming students. Missing from our understanding of at-risk students are non-traditional potential indicators, often inaccessible to program planners due to silo systems still evident on many campuses or simply to complexity of effort-coordination and data-sharing among various institutional offices. This research conducted by an academic director of first-year programming at a small private institution combines data from offices of admissions and enrollment, financial aid, and the registrar, to examine incoming student sub-groups and risk of attrition, focusing on non-traditional indicators and the interplay of those with traditional ones. 

Presented by Carey Usher (Mary Baldwin College)

Changing an Institution’s Advising Culture: MISSION Impossible?

This session presents an example of one large public research institution’s efforts to prioritize the importance of academic advising. The MISSION model was employed in an effort to positively change the institutional culture relative to academic advising. The MISSION model was developed by the session presenter and each of its 7 steps will be discussed including: 1) examine Mission, vision and values, 2) Identify stakeholders, 3) develop Strategic Plan, 4) gather Support, 5) Implement strategic plan, 6) establish On-going assessment, and 7) Navigate the roadblocks. Session participants will have an opportunity to begin an action plan for initiating change in the institution’s advising culture.

Presented by Kimberly Brown (Virginia Tech)

11:00am-11:50am: Concurrent Session #2

University Orientation: What Do They Really Need to Know?

The first semester is important in the success of any student, especially freshman. Many times freshmen are encouraged to take university orientation courses to ensure a smooth transition from high school. If you are an advisor that teaches orientation courses, you may struggle with creating activities and learning outcomes. What topics are pertinent to their success and needs to be emphasized during the first semester? In this presentation, we will explore the components of an orientation course and discuss what students really need to know as they enter our institutions. 

Presented by Adrienne Giles (ODU)

Meeting the Diverse Needs of Today’s Community College Students

Nationwide, community colleges are faced with the challenge of upholding their mission of open admissions providing accessibility to high-quality, comprehensive, and affordable education; and embracing diversity to meet the changing needs of a today’s pluralistic society- while being held accountable for the academic success of the students. As college counselors and advisors, we play an integral role in the journey of college students. During this interactive workshop, we will discuss the diverse needs of today’s community college students, including traditional and non-traditional students, veterans, students with disabilities, first generation students, and academically under-prepared students. We will review retention models developed with the community college student in mind and will share best practices for retention programs to improve student success.

Presented by Kathy Maalouf, Crystal Stafford & Beth Callahan (Tidewater)

Make the Grade, Save Your Aid: Addressing SAP at CCBC

Federal regulations now require all financial aid recipients to maintain satisfactory academic progress in a course of study leading toward a degree or certificate. Recognizing the high stakes nature of these changes, Academic Advisement and Financial Aid Offices at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) are collaborating in the appeal process to achieve two objectives. One objective is to assure institutional compliance with the mandates. The other is to assist students to develop education (success) plans in consultation with an academic advisor that, if followed, are likely to aid the student’s reinstatement to satisfactory academic progress status within a defined period of time. High tech (technology) and high touch processes undergird this student success initiative.

Presented by Jaime Bell (Community College of Baltimore County)

12:00pm-1:15pm: Lunch and Keynote Speaker 

Univeristy of Richmond President - Ed Ayers

1:30pm-2:20pm: Concurrent Session #3

Higher Education Lockout: Examining The Low Income Student Experience

Low income students are essentially being locked out of the higher education system due to poor academic habits and lack of finances. It is during the first two years of college that low income students enter into college without appropriate finances for purchasing books, necessities, etc and are not equipped with the necessary academic skills. This study highlights the concepts and strategies carried out by the researcher and the lessons learned from examining student experiences. The data source is an academic program serving academically “at risk” low income students offered through the Office of Residence Life and Housing at Morgan State University. 

Presented by Charmaine Troy (Morgan State)

New Advising Professionals: Advising and Academic Coaching

Alexander Astin (1977, 1993) determined that the persistence or retention rate of students is greatly affected by the level of quality of their interactions with peers as well as faculty and staff. Students choose a school based on a number of factors: location, degrees offered, and overall exposure to the institution prior to enrolling. However, once enrolled, students often do not know how to navigate the system for which they are in. By creating a culture of advising, schools can work to create positive connections with faculty and staff prior to enrollment. This session will present common issues faced by new advising professionals in the paradigm shift and discuss ways to improve outcomes.

Presented by Cynthia Pascal (NVCC)

Summer Advising: Using Peer Advisors & Online Resources to Prepare Your Incoming Class

Finding ways to advise a large class of incoming students while the majority of your advisors are off-campus can be challenging for any advising office. This discussion will explore ways that different universities approach supporting their incoming class before the semester begins. 

Specific topics discussed will include: Moving from print media to an online format for up-to-date communication with new students. Creating and expanding a peer advising program for personal connections with new students. Trial and error experiences with other social media formats: blogs, Facebook, Twitter etc. Information provided will be based on the experiences of an advising office at a private, liberal-arts institution, and a small and  a large public university.

Presented by Lindsey Love (University of Richmond), Jade Barricelli (George Mason University) & Melinda Anderson (William & Mary)

2:30pm-3:00pm Closing Remarks

*Continental Breakfast and Lunch included in registration fee