Notes from the ALOHA CANADA SESSION

Region 8-9 Conference

Honolulu, HI      March 2006

PowerPoint presentation used during session

Warm Fronts:

• UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY - this Spring will be the first offering of podcasting - not intended to replace the class, but more of a supplementary resource available to students. Lethbridge College also plans to have this in place for Winter 2007 for some classes.
• ONTARIO & BC - Common Student Application System - seems to be working well. AB still waiting for this.
• BC-CAMPUS-online - more programs offered in collaboration with schools in an on-line format.

Issues:

• Students attending out of country - There has been an increase in the number of students attending USA . May be because of Alberta 's strong economy - parents now have the funds to send their children to US schools.
• Some Institutions/colleagues - won't respond to advisor inquiries. (e.g., related to an Optometry program). Perhaps the Canada list started by Ron O'Neill may begin to address this issue. We as advisors need to guess about advising and we should be avoiding that. To steer clear of being sued, you need to direct students to the Institution they want to attend as that school may not communicate with advisors. Stress that students are responsible to ensure they will meet all academic requirements.
• Transfer Credit -
• Transfer credit only evaluated in province - difficult to advise inter-province transfer. What role can we as Advisors play in understanding transfer between provinces? This is a concept to take back to our institutions and see what other perspectives there are. As we become more global is nice to have a better understanding of out of province institutions.
• Schools only evaluate after student applies.
• Would be nice to see transfer evaluations done for at least 1 st province to the east & 1 st province to the west.

Melting Patterns:

• THOMPSON RIVER - Have made arrangements to go into local High Schools in the fall term and do an orientation during the lunch hour on what students need to consider. The advisors also speak to all guidance counselors at this time. The advisors then go back in Feb-Mar and have a 20 minute appointments with every student planning on coming to their school.

The advisors hold a guidance counselor conference every year where they go over changes to their programs so that everyone is well informed. The Educational Liaison Association of Alberta also does this in the fall. Are advisors attending these? How do we communicate more effectively with our high school counsellors?

Priority is given to grade 11 students with a 75+% average.

TRU also have an Advisor Hotline that counsellors can phone; whichever advisor is on their office day will answer these calls.

• UCFV (Abbotsford) - just got approval for Dental Hygiene for 06FL - program has the same requirements as VCC.

Canada List Serve Newsletter Ideas:

Ideas from other areas about what they are doing with International Students

• How do we make these students successful - our cultures are really different
• These students typically come in with Degrees from their home country yet based on their English placement tests they are required to Upgrade - how do we get them to see that they need help as they can't write essays and understand language?
• LOW GPA'S - Is it ethical to allow students with low GPA's (especially Int. students) to continue on so we can take their money? Their parents are willing to pay for them to continue to be here. Causes a big money issue if you loose an International student
• Recognition on Campus - How is your institution celebrating Advising Success?
• New Programs - What is new in our nation for programming. Who has something 'hot' to offer?

University foundation for credit gave credit for ESL when they reach a certain level they can take some University Transfer classes off a specific list in which that students without a strong English foundation could be successful.

• Designed for domestic & foreign students
• Gives credential at the end showing combination of ESL & UT classes
• Bridge out courses

Send Natasha your successes & questions for the newsletter:

• Natasha, you should put the dancing moose on the newsletter.

Submit ideas for 2008's Regional Conference :

• Victoria
• Jasper - transportation issue?
• Banff - transportation issue?