Presenters: Phyllis Salter, Director of Academic Advising

1. Building Connections at a Large Community College with the Successful Launch of a First Year Advising Center

2. Presenters: Phyllis Salter, Director of Academic Advising Kimberly Collins, Senior Academic Advisor Rukhi Jan, Senior Academic Advisor Latonia Peak-Brown, First Year Advising Center Coordinator & Senior Academic Advisor

3. Sinclair Community College • One campus in downtown Dayton, OH until 5 years ago… • Now Sinclair has 4 additional locations: • Englewood Learning Center • Huber Heights Learning Center • Preble County Learning Center • Courseview Campus (Mason, OH/Warren County)

4. Demographics All Campus Locations Downtown Dayton Campus Enrollment 16,100 student 8,503 FTE Gender 55% Female 45% Male Ethnicity 62% Caucasian 18% African American 6% Other 14% Not Reported Age 79% 17-39 years 21% 17-19 30% 20-24 13% 25-29 15% 30-39 • Enrollment • 23,565 student* • 12,909 FTE • *23% are new students • Gender • 59% Female • 41% Male • Ethnicity • 63% Caucasian • 16% African American • 6% Other • 15% Not Reported • Age • 74% 17-39 years • 20% 17-19 • 26% 20-24 • 13% 25-29 • 15% 30-39

5. Sinclair Organizational Chart

6. First Year Advising Center (FYAC) • Stemmed from action project focused on the experience of entering students (the AQIP First Year Experience Project) • Based on findings by the Higher Learning Commission and SENSE, Survey of Entering Student Engagement • Student perceptions – difficult to immediately engage with college due to Sinclair’s large size and diversity of student body • Unclear pathways • Little is mandatory – much is up to student (students don’t do options) • Poor student tracking of goals • Differences in student success for those who participated in orientation and advising • Entering students require more meaningful and engaging contact with professional staff or faculty • Sinclair converting from quarter to semester system Fall 2012 • AQIP First Year Experience Project began January 2011 and was comprised of 3 teams working in the following areas: New Student Orientation, Gatekeeper Courses, and Academic Advising

8. FYAC Preparation for Launch • Sub committees formed: • Training • Week 1: Getting to know the college departments & resources • Week 2: Degree & certificate programs • Week 3: Online advising tools & resources • Week 4: Academic advising concepts, processes and procedures • Advising Resources • Session Content • Logistics • Smooth transition from Enrollment Services (placement testing) • Determined case management approach • New Academic Advisors started 7-5-11 • FYAC opened to see students 8-8-11

9. Who is the FYAC student? • New to Sinclair • New to college (no transfer hours) • Has completed less than 12 credit hours

10. Hi! What does a student experience?

11. Sally Sinclair’s Steps to Start • Completes the ACCUPLACER Placement Test • Enrollment Aides schedule two appointments through a shared calendar: • New Student Orientation • One-hour appointment to meet with an academic advisor in the FYAC

12. Sally’s First Appointment • Signed in to the student tracking system: Q-flow • Assigned advisor will review any challenges/concerns listed by Sally through SSP (Student Success Plan) software • Educational goals with be confirmed and/or discuss a visit to Career Services for career counseling • Review ACCUPLACER placement test results and make course recommendations • A MAP (My Academic Plan) will be created for 2-3 terms • Create SSP Action Plan (includes any referrals in addition to Financial Aid info and Registration dates) • Teach students how to access their MAP and register online

13. Sally starts classes and now has questions… • A 30-minute follow-up appointment is scheduled • Review/update MAP to ensure Sally is on plan • Confirm educational goals and discuss other majors Sally may be considering • Discuss concerns and progress as needed • Review referrals and update Action Plan as needed

14. Software Used • Q-flow • Signed in to the student tracking system: Q-flow • SSP (Student Success Plan) • Assigned advisor will review any challenges/concerns listed by Sally through SSP (Student Success Plan) software • Create SSP Action Plan (includes any referrals in addition to Financial Aid info and Registration dates) • MAP (My Academic Plan) Maker • A MAP (My Academic Plan) will be created for 2-3 terms

15. FYAC Numbers

16. FYAC Future Plans • AQIP Project Recommendations… • Build unified connected mandatory pathway system between Enrollment Services, New Student Orientation and First Year Advising Center • Mandatory Orientation and Mandatory Academic Advising for all new degree and certificate seeking students • Continue systematic and comprehensive approach to sharing content and academic program information • Use MAP & SSP software to document case notes, course progression and referrals • Develop case management with assigned advisors. • Centralized schedule • Expansion of space and staff  • Current status of AQIP Project

17. Thank You! Presenters: Phyllis Salter – phyllis.salter@sinclair.edu Kimberly Collins - kimberly.collins7973@sinclair.edu Rukhi Jan – rukhi.jan@sinclair.edu Latonia Peak-Brown – latonia.peakbrown@sinclair.edu