The NVC Student Success Team has been exploring new approaches to help make improvements in the enrollment and advising process for First Time in College (FTiC) students. Student Success and Developmental Education Faculty leaders worked together to coordinate a New Student Orientation (NSO), Developmental Education Advising and FTiC Advising Sessions.
Students testing into Developmental Education are receiving one-on-one, post-assessment advising through the new Readiness Center located in Cypress Campus Center, room 126. Students are advised on their placement exams, provided accelerated pathway information and are registered for refresher courses in Math and INRW. Students are closely monitored and supported throughout their development.
Beginning with fall 2014 registration, FTiC students will be able to complete the NSO and FTiC advising on the same day. The NSO program provides an overview of the college experience at NVC to include the value of completing an associate degree at NVC. It is a great support for incoming students and provides them with a personal point of contact to assist them through their intake process.
The FTiC advising session includes all of the important advising information a new students needs to have a successful start to their first semester. Students leave the session having completed a degree planning process via Alamo GPS and registration in SDEV/EDUC and other courses. Students will also receive an advising syllabus that will emphasize the need for ongoing advising support and guide them as they accumulate earned hours. This supports the NVC advising initiative to ensure that every FTiC student has a working degree plan by the end of their first semester at NVC with direction for future semesters.
“The new and enhanced advising initiatives are helping students receive more personalized support,” said Debi Gaitan, vice president of Student Success. “We are focusing on creating a better advising support system for our students so they understand the certificate/degree planning and registration process and have a clearer educational plan. It is our goal to move from a general advising model to an intrusive model that allows all of our students to receive timely advising support.”
To further support student completion, the Workforce and academic discipline chairs receive a list of students who complete the FTiC advising session. This information includes names, contact information, program, major and catalog year. This will help each discipline to identify students seeking particular certificates and degrees for strategic outreach and departmental planning.
“Another extremely exciting initiative that has been growing and formalizing for several semesters is our faculty advising initiatives,” Debi added. “We have faculty from all of our disciplines in support of advising. Students are able to visit with faculty advisors to receive degree/certificate planning support, transfer advising and career advice. Our students are engaged with our faculty and are receiving personal support and direction that they need.”