August 30, 31 – Tools (Banner, DW, Schedule Builder, SSC)
Key Takeaways
- Banner: create a personal folder with My Banner to bookmark most often used forms for easy access
- DW: Open during every advising appointment and discuss with student to increase student’s use
- SSC: Keep SSC open and use as reference for midterm grades and other information
- Schedule Builder: encourage students to use; review the User’s Guide for more information
September 27 28 – Notes in Degreeworks
Guide to Degree Works NotesKey Takeaways
- Write notes for every advising appointment with every student and any for communication that impacts their academic progress (ie if they email you about a W)
- Develop a template with the key points you want to include for each student to make the process more efficient
- Have the student review the note that you write at the end of each advising session (use of template will facilitate that); teach students how to refer to the notes that you write before they email with a question.
October 25 26 – DegreeWorks PLANS
Key Takeaways
- Lock the preloaded plan for each of your FTF so that they can claim their $750 rebate if they are eligible
- Create an Advising Plan that is active and locked. The Planner tab is being discontinued by the vendor
- Create all your financial aid and probation plans in DW
January 24 25 - I love you, but
Key Takeaways
- First-year students receive as much advice from academic advisers as they do friends and family members combined (33%)
- Establish boundaries – decline the role of therapist, but help students make appropriate connections for support
- Explore issues within an academic context and model professional behavior/conversation
February 22 23 -Financial Aid and Academic Suspension/Probation
Key Takeaways
- Advisers are both agents of the university and advocates for students. That means an advisor’s role is both maintaining the integrity of the institution and guiding students through a maze of evolving regulations.
- Academic Suspension polices are changing!As of May 2018, students must have an overall gpa of 2.0 (regardless of attempted credits) or face suspension.
- Financial Aid eligibility policies are also changing! As of May 2017, every student needs a 2.0 regardless of attempted hours. They must also have a 67% completion rate and to complete their degree within 150% of time (180 credits/120 credit degree).
- The semester before a student reaches 120 credits, a Financial Aid Degree audit is performed to make sure 12 hours are degree pursuant for the 1st degree. This process will soon be implemented across every semester.
- Students’ financial aid packages are individualized and subject to a variety of rules. If a student needs help negotiating these rules, work with your college financial aid point of contact.
- Review with your unit whether the plans for your majors are financial aid ‘friendly.’ Provide key input to your unit to help students complete their desired curricula without running afoul of aid rules and policies.