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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Transitioning to a New Shared Advising Model


Research shows that aligning a student to an academic pathway and keeping them on a pathway is key to student retention and completion.  Our shared advising philosophy is that all students will receive accurate, timely, and consistent advisement across the College, based upon the Pathways concept as embedded within the Schools at MCC.  The model is flexible enough to support multiple ways for students to be advised, depending on their circumstances, needs, and preferences.  Services should be sustainable and include provisions for clear communication, training, and regular assessment.

All MCC students will have a pathway code in BANNER.  The Pathway code is intended for both student and advisor to clearly see their academic interest. 

How is that different from a student’s program?

Program – matches officially approved curriculum and is used for graduation requirements

Major – additional informational about path and embedded in program.  This includes:

*       2+2 – student is on track to transfer to a specific 4-year institution and is following the path pre-approved by that college.

*       TS01 –student is placed into and should be taking TRS 100.  Special attention is required to plan all non-credit courses with pathway.

*       ES01 – student is placed into ESL 120 or 130.  Student is studying English as a foreign language and special attention should be paid to readiness for language and text intensive courses.

Pathway – is the key to good advising. 

*       Tells us more about the interests of a Liberal Arts student
*       Tells us if the student plans for a degree but does not yet have the required prerequisites
*       Tells us if the student did not get accepted into a competitive admissions program but plans to reapply
*       Tells us if a student plans to transfer to another college but didn’t get accepted into a 2+2 but may plan to reapply to transfer without the guarantee

LAS Pathways –.  SEE ATTACHED CHART

*       Tells us more about the interests of a Liberal Arts student. 
*       All students with non-specific majors or programs need to select a pathway



Student Services and Academic Services have been working on developing a Shared Advising Model.  While we are almost complete with the document,  which will be communicated in detail within the next month, we wanted to share the underlying commitments now and share what work is underway to align our processes with the model.  Building this infrastructure is underway, with Academic departments working on advising plans for their pathway students which will to be submitted to their dean and School leadership by the end of the term.  These plans will form the basis of the subsequent decisions about needed updates to college processes.  Student Success Networks will review all School plans. 

During the transition to this new model, students may see their pathway in the BANNER system and reach out to departments for advisement.  Walk-in students will be seen as usual by the advisement centers at each campus.  Advisement plans for LAS pathway students will be completed in January by the Specialists working with Faculty Liaisons, advisors, chairs, and deans.

Andrea C. Wade and Lloyd A. Holmes
Academic Services/ Student Services
11/04/2016


Attachments:
icon LAS Pathways.pdf