2009 CONFERENCE SESSIONS

Region 6

 

Refer to the pre-conference link for preconference sessions offered on May 6 th

 

2009 Conference Concurrent Sessions

 

Get the Horse before the Cart: Conducting Assessment of Adviser Needs     NBCC Credit

Terry Musser

 

  Needs assessment is a systematic way of determining the current status of an organization. When someone decides to save time by eliminating this task, money and human resources are often wasted on implementing inappropriate or unnecessary solutions. A needs assessment can be proactive (i.e. to determine the possible cause or solution to decreased retention) or reactive (i.e. before there are negative indicators or identified problems).   This workshop demonstrates the use of needs assessment using a case study conducted at Penn State with faculty and staff advisers. The process of developing and implementing this needs assessment will be shared and discussed as well as the results. Participants will brainstorm possible needs assessment methods/programs for their own institutional settings.

 

 

From Combat to College: Research on the Mental Health of Returning Veterans   NBCC Credit

Nicole Lovald and Carlie Gebauer

 

  As combat veterans are returning to colleges in record numbers are you equipped with the information, skills, and resources to support them in their academic pursuits? This presentation will cover new research on veteran needs as they reintegrate to society and academic institutions. Learn more about what you can do to assist with their re-entry and transition following a deployment to a combat environment. Participants in this session will gain an understanding of the mental health needs of returning veterans and will be provided with strategies that you can use in your work with student veterans.

 

 

Advising Upgrade: Installing Technology into Everyday Advising

Josh Nichols

 

  How can advisors match the Net Generation’s momentum through the use of technology? The challenges include not only advisors’ unfamiliarity with technological options that are second-nature to Net Gen students but also Neomillennial students’ preference for the speed and convenience of technology over the traditional methods of advising. This is not to suggest the elimination of face-to-face advising; the mission is to translate traditional advising methods to a language more easily understood by Net Gen students through the technology that is so much a part of their lives. You will leave with a plan to integrate technology with your current advising methods, methods to maximize your time, and a better understanding of how to speak the language of the net generation.

 

 

Scaling the Sophomore Slump: Initiatives to Facilitate Major/Career Exploration for Second Year Students                       NBCC Credit

Katelyn Romsa, Sara Granberg-Rademacker, and Gretchen Stahl

 

  Sophomore is the new freshman. After decades of focusing efforts on first-year student retention, institutions are increasingly realizing that sophomores may be a population more vulnerable to attrition than their first-year counterparts. Undecided (or “choosing & changing”) sophomores may be particularly at-risk, as they search for an academic home. This session will focus on “sophomore-slump” related issues as they pertain to major/career exploration.

 

 

Freshmen Survival Skills – 101

Tracey Hammell

  Many freshmen enter college with the idea that they are prepared for success. However many find themselves lacking in time management, study skills, increased anxiety about their new environment, and they struggle finding the support through faculty, staff and students that they need to be successful. Helping students overcome these transitions is something that we all strive for during the fall term. This presentation will discuss a pilot program that was developed to help freshmen students in science, engineering and technology majors ease their freshmen transition. The presentation will provide an outline of a successful low budget pilot program and ideas on how to structure a similar program at other institutions.

 

 

Networking Learning Communities in Engineering: Development of Common Outcome Objectives for First-Year Students

Kristin Mauro

 

  The purpose of this presentation describes the formation and operation of networked learning communities within a college of engineering at a large, Midwestern university. Individual coordinators from the thirteen individual learning communities in the college met over the course of a year with the objective of improving student learning. Key success factors for the networked learning communities were found to be similar to factors identified in earlier studies of community networks. One of the first formal activities of the networked engineering learning communities was the development of common learning outcomes and the assessment of those outcomes. As a result, we see that students are more engaged in the learning community but they are also being retained at a higher level than in semesters when the learning community was not a part of the required curriculum.

 

 

GRADES: GPA Realtime ADvising and Estimating System: Electronic Tools for Advising

Trinh "Fred" Carpenter

 

  Metropolitan State University, a commuter based institution based in the Twin Cities region, seeks to provide as much information as possible to students through advising to maintain satisfactory academic progress, including computing GPA and completion rates. This information is communicated by multiple means including personal, electronic, and hard copy.   To assist advisors in their ability to track student progress, a new electronic tool, GRADES, enables advisors to not only monitor the status of a student but to also forecast outcomes based on a path of action. The forecasting capability of GRADES aids the advisor in providing strategic academic planning.

 

 

First-Generation College Student Advising Interest Group

Susan Anderson and Judy Vopava

  Want diversity? Then define what a First-Generation College Student looks like. Some are 18 years old; many are in their 30’s. Some are high achievers, some are returning to higher education, some are tired of dead-end jobs, some are fresh out of high school and away from home for the first time. Being the first in the family to do anything is a heady, exciting, scary proposition; but entering the confusing arena of a college education is a complex venture best not undertaken alone. One thing is clear -- these students need the help of a good advisor! Come join the First-Generation College Student Interest Group as we explore the issues and answers best suited for these students.

 

 

Constructing the Capstone Course: Helping Advisees Prepare for Life after Graduation

Melissa Vosen

 

  Constructing the Capstone Course: Helping Advisees Prepare for Life after Graduation At NDSU, seniors graduating with a Bachelor of University Studies must enroll in University Studies 489, a one credit capstone course. This presentation will demonstrate how a senior capstone course, even for students with different backgrounds and goals, can help bring senior advisees together and prepare them for life after graduation. In this session, I will share lesson plans on how to help graduating seniors reflect on their college experience, articulate their career goals, and prepare for life after NDSU. University Studies 489 asks advisees to work together collaboratively, exploring and pursuing options for employment and/or graduate school. The lesson plans that will be shared are easily adaptable and can be used in any classroom, regardless of the subject.

 

 

Speed Majoring: Review Your Matches for Free

Dani Kvanvig-Bohnsack

  Active learning is what I had in mind when I decided to design the career and major exploration event “Speed Majoring: Review Your Matches for Free.” Because I work almost entirely with undecided students in my first-year experience course, I wanted the career/major exploration portion of the course to be useful, yet fun. After reading about a similar event at another institution and talking with the event’s coordinator, I decided to try something new. My “something new” was a spinoff of speed dating. In this session, I will summarize the details of the “Speed Majoring” event and provide all the materials that I used to create the event. Participants are encouraged to provide feedback and share other innovative advising activities and events.

 

 

Building Critical Skills for a Knowledge Society

Sue Zurn and Kathleen Stompro

 

  How do we really help students prepare for an ever-changing future? How do we help student understand the value of their education and how to successfully transfer liberal arts skills (analyzing, negotiating, teamwork, research) to the workplace? In today’s competitive job market, students who are able to identify and articulate skills attained through a liberal arts education and an experiential learning experience can increase opportunities for employment. This session will highlight strategies for helping students identify and market their skills and will provide a model for successful cooperative education and internship experiences.

 

 

Advising First Year Students: Partnerships, Peer Educators, and Academic Programming in the Residence Halls

Elizabeth Kalinowski and Julia Roland

  A large part of the advising profession is providing information to students about campus life, policies and student responsibilities. Beginning in the Fall of 2008, the Academic Resource Office at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) started an outreach program for first year students living in the Residence Halls. We partnered with Orientation and Transitions and Housing to provide relevant academic programming for students on their individual floors. Peer Advisors presented important information to students on High School vs. College, College Survival, Advising and Registration, and Finals. Our presentation will describe the program implemented at MSUM and the students’ initial response to the program.

 

 

Student-Athletes: Privileged or Pressed?

Casey Peterson , Kelli Layman and Jessica Osebold

  We will take a broad look at the culture of college athletics and its impact on the student-athlete academic experience. The role of the advisor in assisting student-athletes will be the central component of the conversation. We will also explore myths, realities, and "privileges" that surround this group of students. This is a flexible, discussion-based session led by academic support professionals. We will provide viewpoints from the roles of coach, academic support professionals, and counselor. The discussion is meant to be applicable to advisors at all NCAA and NAIA membership levels.    

Advising Using Today's Technology: Lost and Found in Florida

Connie Eggers

  The Millennials we assist in our educational settings have much to teach us about how they communicate, learn and connect to information, people and ideas. Let's jump aboard! Web 2.0? RSS? YouTube? Yes! You too can stop feeling as if you are lost in the fast paced world of technology and begin to use emerging technologies in your advising programs. Information gathered through attendance at the February 2009 NACADA Technology Seminar, "Advising 2.0:Utilizing Technology Effectively for Campus-wide Advising" will be highlighted through discussion and demonstration. As time allows, participants may share how they are currently utilizing technology in their work with students.

 

 

Get Real - Making Advising Better than Reality TV

Chrystal Stanley and Michelle Laughlin

  Want a fun way to introduce old material? Looking for a way to get that information out to a diverse group of students effectively? Tired of student’s eyes glazing over when you’re presenting? Are you a fan of Reality TV?  

In this session, you will learn to use pop culture to present critical study skills, adjustment, and exploration information to students. Presenters will discuss the positives and negatives associated with non-credit, non-required seminars to address study skills and adjustment issues. Current research and literature will be discussed. Additionally, ideas and examples of programs will be provided along with a model for across-campus collaboration.

 

 

Stressing your Noodle? Try Moodle!

Lisa Kittelson

  Do you feel crunched for time during advising appointments? Do you wish that students came more prepared for the advising appointment? Do you find programmatic advising taking up a large portion of your advising appointment? Come explore how a pre-advisement online module might help you when advising. The purpose of this workshop is to look at the impact of integrating a pre-advisement module with advising appointments. This interactive session, will provide an opportunity to start brainstorming, look briefly at the process of development using an online course management system, explore the impact of utilizing the pre-advisement module, and discuss student feedback.

 

Vocation: Exploring Purpose, Calling, Hard-wiring, etc.           NBCC Credit

Jay Thoreson and Kelly Meyer

  The method of helping students explore career paths based on personality, skills, interests, and values has long been the standard of career counseling. Recently, with the financial encouragement of such groups as the Lilly Foundation and the popularity of purpose oriented books within the marketplace, the concept of “vocation” or a “calling” has entered the conversation as a renewed focus at many private and public institutions. Understanding how to approach this topic and engage a student may be uncomfortable; however, avoiding this critical issue because of our discomfort may be doing our students a great disservice.   This hands-on session is designed to help the advisor explore their own sense of vocation and also provide them with practical tools to help students examine their own calling.

 

 

What if I don’t feel Like a Mastermind? Working with Students who Need More than You Can Provide                       NBCC Credit

Heidi Frie

  Have you ever had an uneasy feeling after an advising session with a student? Have you ever been left wondering what was really going on? Advisors often meet with students who are concerning for one reason or another. They have academic, career or personal concerns that need more attention than an advisor can provide. This session will help outline ways to recognize when a student needs assistance beyond advising. Skills to successfully respond to and refer students who need additional assistance will also be presented.

 

 

Was the Semester an SOS?

Kristi Bitz, Greta Kyllo and Neil Race

 

  In an effort to increase retention, Mayville State University ( Mayville , ND ) tried a radical approach. All freshmen were enrolled in a revamped freshman seminar class. The instructors for the course also served as the students’ advisors. The presenters will discuss the set-up of the class, experiences of instructors and students, feedback from student and instructor surveys, and success rates, and plans for future classes.

 

 

On the Bookshelf: Influential Works for Advising and Student Affairs

Nicole Letawsky Shultz

 

  Wouldn’t we all love to have more time to read the current literature in our field, or information outside of our field that can be useful for our professional practice or personal development? Influential works and current literature from within and outside of the academic advising and student affairs field will be discussed with the intent to engage participants in the practical application of the material.

 

 

Minding Health, Mastering Stress                 NBCC Credit

Jen nifer Endres and Danielle Tisinger

 

  Have you ever had one of those days when the thought of having one more thing on your "to do" list will send you permanently to la-la land? Have you seen students in a similar situation? Stress is a constant for student services professionals. This session will address not only our personal stress, but also that of our students and what happens when the two collide. Learning the "why" behind stress-reduction techniques will help determine which strategy is most appropriate in a given situation, increasing your effectiveness with your students. Join us for a brief lesson in biopsychology and come away with new techniques and a wealth of knowledge to help you not only tame your personal stress demons, but also those of your students.

 

Teaching When Teaching isn’t Your Gig – Approaches to Working Outside the Normal Realm of Your Position

Jessica Kuecker Grotjohn and Nicole Letawsky Shultz

 

  Working in student services can provide individuals with infinitely diverse work experiences. Often we are asked to wear different hats which may include teaching, event planning, program management, etc. Managing it all may be increasingly challenging given the current state of our global economy and higher education trends of increased enrollment and decreased resources. Facilitators will present different methods of thinking outside the box, the value of peer review, as well as share a current time management plan, when managing time and the necessary steps to be able to “do it all”.

 

 

BusAd 101: Bringing First Year International Students to Their Fullest Potential

Deb Noll

  An orientation class is required for students entering business majors. BusAd 101 is a 1/2 credit course required in the first semester. Traditionally international students are merged into any section without regard for language skills, understanding of expectations, or content comprehension. It’s not working for many international students who either failed or dropped the course. For the spring 2009 our college dedicated one section to the first 60 international students who registered with all remaining international students going into the traditional sections.   Discussion will include the content of the BusAd 101 class, technology that is used, and the adaptation of the forms used in the students' assignments. Discussion of a survey evaluating the effectiveness of this delivery method, student reactions, and student/advisor interaction the first weeks of their semester.

 

 

The Many Faces of Community and Technical College Students

Terisa Ames-Ohnstad and Kate Johnson

 

  A student panel discussion made up of ELL, first generation, non-traditional age, on-line, students of color, and single parent students who attend a community and technical college. Discussion will address best advising practices from the students' point of view and experiences. Time will be allotted for questions from session participants.   Purpose is to shed some light on the tailored needs and experiences of specific student populations who enroll in community and technical colleges. Objective is for session participants to gain a wider view and appreciation in serving specific populations.

 

 

Getting to Know the Online Learner: Tips on Preparing Advisors for the Future

Rebecca Graetz and Leane Perius

  Principles of face-to-face advising cannot be transferred seamlessly into the world of online education. Not only is the delivery method for online education different from campus-based classes, but online students are a diverse group that have different needs compared to more traditional campus students. It is clear that in order to effectively support new online students we have to adjust our advising techniques and tools. This presentation will examine the contrasts between campus and online learners, share online advising tools that help support the online learner, and open up discussion as to how advisors can become better prepared for the online education boom.

 

 

When Smart Students Fail: Emotional Intelligence and Academic Success     NBCC Credit

Deborah Seaburg

 

  Advisors see many students who are capable of succeeding in college, but whose difficulties with time and stress management, establishing relationships, or making wise decisions adversely affects academic success. Evidence suggests strong Emotional Intelligence (EI) is an important factor in college success and student persistence. Self-awareness, interpersonal effectiveness, adaptability, stress tolerance, and optimism are EI skills that impact successful functioning in school. In particular, the first year of college is a transitional time when these skills can make the difference between success and failure. This session reviews research supporting the relationships between EI and academic performance and first year success. Programs and activities to enhance student emotional intelligence will be demonstrated.

Writing for NACADA: The NACADA Journal, Academic Advising Today, and the Clearinghouse

Charlie Nutt  

  There are man opportunities to write for NACADA. Authors from the ranks of advising practitioners, faculty advisors, researchers, and theorists appear in NACADA publications. While NACADA publishes books, video-dvd-cds, and brochures, the primary focus in this session will be to describe the purpose, content, writing guidelines, and acceptance process for the NACADA Journal, Academic Advising Today and the Clearinghouse. Whatever your interests in professional writing, this session will help you understand the writing opportunities within NACADA.