New Mandatory Advisement Process

After attending the NACADA conference in Chicago a few days ago, I came up with a new method to carry out my mandatory advising appointments. This is the pattern that I have been following for the last few days and it feels so much more rewarding than what I was trying to do before.

Meeting #1:
* Create index card with pertinent information
(Scholar? Person #, Major Interests, Things they've shared about themselves,
The Good News)
* Review fall 2008 schedule
(Need to resign anything?, Checkstops to resolve?)
* Tentative courses for spring 2009
(Review DARS, Reevaluate major thoughts, course schedule wizard, at least 3
tentative schedules- emailed to me)
* Check scholarship status if University Scholars student
* Statement of where they are as a student without quantitative words
* Schedule second appointment before they leave
(Give students a time frame for getting things done; feedback on this has been
positive and reinforced how essential it is)

Meeting #2:
* Review course selections
* Discuss registration process
* Show how to utilize delicious/ READY @ UB
* Read/Email feedback on statement that they wrote
* Discuss different learning styles (VARK Assessment)

I haven't had any second meetings yet, but I am sure that they will be informative to students. I like having them leave their appointment with a task, fish for their own knowledge, and then come back so that we can synthesize it together.

Using my students name often during an appointment has also put life back into my advising appointments. I really think that they are buying into what I have to say more so than previously. I also think that they view me as more of a professional when I outline goals and tasks for them to complete.

Finally, I have been following the index card method that was mentioned by Susan Kolls from Northeastern. Having a card with student information on it is so helpful to both me and the student. First, I get a chance to recollect on that student and their appointment while I am creating the card and in turn I can reference the card next time they come. I am hoping that showing them how interested I am in them as people will help us to establish a better relationship over the long term.