Developing a better advising model at San Jacinto College
Challenge
How might we develop an advising model that combines professional advisors with major-specific faculty support to deliver a streamlined, yet customized advising experience to students?
Strategy
Ten-pronged effort:
- Located and managed professional advisors centrally (by campus)
- Organized advisers around student lifecycle (e.g., admissions advisors for new students; ed planning, counseling, and completion advisors for continuing students)
- Organized ed planners around academic or technical program
- Offered walk-in advising and pre-start advising for new students
- Integrated academic and student services (put advising office in same building as financial aid and other student services; advisors attended weekly Friday training sessions with other personnel)
- Required mandatory advising (for students at 0, 27, and 60 credit hours)
- Managed advising demand through system that placed holds on student accounts during non-peak advising times
- Implemented discipline-specific advising governance committees (faculty monitored advising quality, encouraged collaboration between advisors and faculty members)
- Developed annual planning and regular training sessions (focused on making the advising experience the same on all campuses)
- Initiated early alerts for developmental students
Outcome
Students can see an advisor on any campus and receive the same quality of advising. They experience limited, smooth “handoffs” from office-to-office due to cross-office collaboration, central location, and structure around student lifecycle. Faculty trust quality of advising, and students received the same messaging from both groups.
Ready to take action?
Institution
Enrollment
28,326
Pell Recipients
28%
Students of Color
73%
Net cost of Attendance
$7,677
