MCC Daily Tribune

Advising Explained

For the past five years MCC has been engaged in Guided Pathways which recommends colleges provide students with more structured pathways that offer clearer programs of study, embedded supports, and more easily understood connections from MCC to transfer or work. Based on the Pathways concept, MCC created the seven Schools at MCC and developed a shared advisement model that was endorsed by all the Vice Presidents. One of the key overall goals for redesigning advising at MCC was for all students to be assigned an advisor with expertise in their chosen pathway.

In 2017, MCC created the Integrated Advising Board (IAB) to make recommendations on the individual tasks of remodeling our advising efforts at the College. IAB co-chairs (one from Student Services and one from Academic Services) were selected and board membership chosen to represent a wide cross-section of the MCC community. Through the work of the board, MCC established an integrated advising model that connects students with an advisor who has expertise in their pathway. New students are assigned to a professional advisor, while continuing students are assigned to a faculty advisor based on Pathway. These assignments were implemented for the fall 2018 semester and more than 90% of our current students now have an advisor. Other IAB projects included establishing roles, defining advisement and student support, developing training, creating a student satisfaction survey and advising checklists, and establishing protocol for advising notes.

Students were notified of their assigned advisor's name and contact information by email. The message emphasized the importance of having a connection with someone who can assist them with their goals and provide support as they move toward completion of their degree or certificate. In addition, students received directions on how to use Starfish to schedule an appointment with their assigned advisor. Once assigned, an advisor's name and contact information appears on the student's Degree Works worksheet.

Advisement and Transfer Services and Student Services Downtown are responsible for assisting new, transfer, readmit and undeclared students. However, all students can visit the Advisement Centers and receive assistance with changing their major; adding, dropping, or withdrawing from courses; troubleshooting Financial Aid Course Eligibility issues; registering for courses; and discussing strategies to be successful in college. The Advisement and Transfer Services office at the Brighton Campus has 14 full-time and 5 part-time staff members with over 230 years of combined service at MCC! Eight members have worked at MCC for at least 20 years. Overall, the department had 23,216 student contacts last year. Student Services Downtown has one academic advisor and had 3,364 student contacts last year.

We are student advocates and help students at the start of their MCC journey through the successful completion of their educational goals. My thanks to the IAB members (listed in the February 2018 Schools newsletter, page 3) for their important work.

Christine Casalinuovo-Adams
Enrollment Management
02/14/2019