Acing the Advising Process

Transitioning to college can be a complex process for students to navigate on their own. CLC’s new academic advising model aims to improve the student experience with a high-touch personal connection.

A team of 25 full-time Academic Success Advisors (ASA), assigned to specialized academic fields of interest, guide students on their academic journey. ASAs help students from the first day of classes to their graduation from CLC. Students have access to their assigned ASA all year round, making sure they can get help during every step of the process. They assist in academic, transfer and career planning, along with personal, financial and resource support. “The new ASA model creates a holistic advising experience,” said Director of Advising and Retention Christine Lewis. “ASAs are meant to be a go-to person for the students until they graduate or complete their academic goal. Not every student knows what they want to do on the first day of class, and the ASAs are here to support students in their decision-making processes, helping them develop a personalized success plan and stay on track with their plan.”

Serving as the primary point of contact for students with any need, ASAs ensure students get the help they need in and out of the classroom so they can succeed. ASAs are skilled at removing the barriers students face so they stay on their learning path.

THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Students are learning to embrace the connection they can form with their assigned ASA. New student Francisco Barroso found the advising process similar to what he experienced in high school, making the transition to college easier for him.

“It was similar to talking to my high school counselor,” Barroso said. “That helped me get into my comfort zone right away. He was someone I talked to a lot over my four years of high school. I didn’t know if advising in college was going to be different, but since I’ll be talking to the same advisor when I inevitably come back for more advising, it just makes it a lot more comfortable for me.”

BENEFITS OF THE MODEL

ASAs are assigned to specific fields of study. This allows them to be specialists who can provide comprehensive guidance during academic and career planning with students.

“Having students stay with the same advisor over the entire course of their CLC career allows them to form a strong advisor-advisee relationship,” Lewis said. “Their ASA knows their assigned students personally, and they can provide them with the best support possible and ensure they accomplish their goals.”

Access to ASAs has been expanded too. ASAs are available to meet their students at all three campuses and are available virtually.

ASAs build relationships with students working proactively to keep students on track. Instead of waiting for the student to seek assistance, ASAs regularly post announcements on Canvas and send communications via the new Navigate student success software in order to stay in touch with and keep their students informed. This makes students more comfortable coming to their ASA to talk and get assistance before issues escalate. Lewis said the goal of case management is to ultimately see gains in retention and completion rates. Though it will take a few years to see the overall impact, the college is already seeing some of the positive effects the new model is having. The feedback the college has received from students so far has been positive, with many enjoying being able to create the one-on-one connection. With proactive strategies, the college is seeing increased use and demand for ASA services.

FACULTY EXPERTISE

Academic program faculty remain integral to the advising process. Faculty are the subject matter experts in their field and support ASAs in providing accurate guidance to students. ASAs regularly consult with faculty about the program curriculum pathways. The ASA and faculty partnership in the advising process ensures that students get comprehensive and up-to-date information on their academic plan. Faculty also play a significant role in mentoring and supporting students in their academic and career planning process.

Francisco Barroso

QUOTE ME!

“I turned my life around in a very serious way at CLC. The support and resources are there if you just go for it.” – Ryan Haass