Advising & Counseling Focus Group Tuesday, February 27, 3:00 – 4:30 pm New Science Conference Room Participants: Richard Love, Mary Ann Gaster, Linda Summey, Brian Merritt, Paul Geist, Vivian Rosser, Jamee Stiffler, Lara Manton, Kassandra Lyles Communicating with Students Materials need to be available that provide counseling tips, FAQs (answers to commonly asked questions), and the college language (pre-requisite, elective, etc.) that may be unfamiliar.  Students have difficulty articulating what they want or need.  The college must improve its outreach through various avenues.  Students should be able to begin working on schedules prior to speaking with the counselor or advisor.   This expectation builds student responsibility. The website needs to be more user friendly, more personable, and include links to resources on life skills.  The site might also include a threaded discussion board for students. Interactive video stations may be a possibility for providing improved communications with those who like using technology to get answers.  Two or three computer stations could be located in Student Development Services for easy student access. Group advising sessions work well in Paralegal.  This approach allows the advisor to talk with several students at the same time.  It may also be an opportunity for the advisor to “teach” communications before students begin the semester. Life skills information and promotions for workshops, discussion boards, etc. could be posted across campus with the QEP logo. An online group discussion could occur through Blackboard (coordinated through the Distance Education Counselor). College Orientation The orientation is formally provided only on the Lee Campus.  Expanding orientation to better prepare students might include an opportunity to learn about effective communication and other life skills.  The student success initiative that Joni Pavlik began might be incorporated into the orientation.   Orientation should be proactive and interactive.  Items to include: •    Admissions requirements •    Registration •    Overview of CCCC •    Planning for graduation •    Life Skills The objectives of the life skills component in orientation must be made clear (Communicators for Success) in order for students to be aware and understand the information being shared. Extra time beyond orientation may be required to work with students individually or in small groups. A video on life skills might be developed for those waiting in SDS or in registration lines. Making the orientation mandatory for new students would be effective, but it might be difficult for our student population.  One college requires orientation and offers the 2-hour session twice during the day and once at night.  Members of the top leadership are involved in conducting the sessions. Could there be a required one-hour orientation online or traditional course (for credit) that could address life skills?  The course might be similar to the student success course (ACA 090). Many NC community colleges offer their new student orientation in an interactive, online format.  This could be an option for students, especially for distance education students. Online Communications & Workshops Online content could also be available to students to increase their understanding of the college and its processes.  Online approaches might take the form of online forums and blogs.   Success seminars could also be held, possibly each month, that supplement the information available online.  Counselors and coordinators could offer the seminars on life skills in a similar schedule as placement tests. All sessions could be advertised under a common tagline such as “The BASICS Program.” The college could develop an ACA class for life skills. Other Enhanced communication among counselors would be beneficial. Improved communication is needed between the admissions counselors, deans, advisors, and department heads.  Many times curriculum or other changes occur and the information is not dispersed appropriately and students receive inaccurate information.  The entire college community needs to communicate better if we expect students to be effective communicators.