Seamless Transitions for Two-Year Students
The Importance of Academic Advising
Presented by:
Lynnette Enlow, Senior Academic Advisor
Cindy West, Academic Advisor
Upper Iowa University
4601 Hammersley Road
Madison, Wisconsin 53711
Seamless Transitions
UIU Global University
 Largest private university in Iowa with over 6,000 students enrolled on & off
campus
 Main campus located in Fayette, Iowa
 Correspondence degree programs
 U.S. Centers
 Online degree programs
 International Centers located in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia
 Wide diversity of academic programs and students
Seamless Transitions
UIU Global Locations
Seamless Transitions
UIU International Centers
Seamless Transition
UIU U.S. Centers
Seamless Transitions
UIU Mission Statement
Upper Iowa University provides postsecondary education to a widely diverse
student clientele, including both recent high school graduates and mature
learners. Since the educational needs of the University’s constituency vary
significantly, the University is committed to maintaining curricular flexibility to
provide for these diverse needs; it encourages lifelong learning.
The educational process at Upper Iowa University fosters a sense of personal
ethics and social responsibility, personal wellness, and understanding of the
critical and creative thinking process; and groups from various backgrounds.
Upper Iowa University’s commitment to this educational process will
prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to meet
the challenges inherent within our complex, evolving nation and world.
Seamless Transitions
UIU Overview
Upper Iowa University
Residential University (RU)
Fayette, Iowa
Extended University (EU)
Centers
Online
North Central Region
Iowa Centers
Wisconsin Centers
South Central Region
External Degree
(Correspondence)
Seamless Transitions
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UIU Wisconsin System
Focus is on partnerships with the two-year colleges in Wisconsin
Strategically placed UIU center locations
Wisconsin University system is not always a seamless transition
Competition with the Wisconsin University system and Technical school
college parallel courses
 In Wisconsin there are 13 two-year University of Wisconsin campuses, 13
four-year University of Wisconsin campuses and 16 Technical College
campuses. All are state supported.
Seamless Transitions
UIU Wisconsin Centers
Northcentral Tech. College
•Wausau
Madison Area Tech. College
•Madison
Southwest Tech. College
•Prairie du Chien
Milwaukee Area Tech. College
•Milwaukee
•Elkhorn
Gateway Tech. College
•Janesville
Blackhawk Tech. College
Seamless Transitions
UIU Madison Center
 Madison Area Technical College (MATC) – 27,000 students
 MATC functions as a community college and technical college and also
offers college parallel courses
 UIU-Madison Center has established a relationship with MATC and MATC
students to transfer to our four-year programs
 Develop the relationship with the MATC students while they are enrolled in
their two-year program
 Success is demonstrated in that 49% of our current enrollments are from
MATC students
 This is accomplished through:
 Strong Articulation Agreement
 Proximity to MATC
 PIE Model
Seamless Transitions
UIU Madison Center/Off-Sites
Tomah/Mauston
Wisconsin Tech. College
Reedsburg
Lake Mills
Madison Area Tech. College
Madison Area Tech. College
Fort Atkinson-MATC
UIU Madison Center
 MATC TRUAX Campus
 MATC Commercial Campus
 MATC Downtown Campus
Seamless Transitions
Definition
What is Seamless Transition?
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It is a transfer program that has evolved
It incorporates developmental advising
It allows the student to see the “bigger picture”
The two-year program allows the student to pursue
education for work. Seamless transition allows the
student to move to higher education and pursue
education for education.
 Seamless transition builds a bridge for a student to
further become a productive member of society.
Seamless Transition
UIU Transition Tools
 Articulation Agreement (course-to-course transfer)
 Students have access to the articulation agreement so they are aware of choices
 Students can take advantage of making course selections that will benefit them
 Generous Transfer Policy
 Maximize previous learning
 Experiential Learning, Academy credit and ACE/Military
 Advisory Council
 Made up of MATC staff, local employers, past students, UIU staff
 Act on input from council
 Ongoing Communication with MATC Student
 Weekly presence on MATC campuses
 MATC classroom presentations
 UIU Open Houses geared to the two-year transfer student
 Web Site
 Available on the MATC site on UIU
 UIU web site: www.uiu.edu/madison
Seamless Transitions
UIU Madison Benefits
UIU Madison Center’s mission is to provide a quality education by providing:
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Smaller classes / different delivery modalities
Many Faculty work in their field and bring expertise to the classroom
Balanced curriculum supporting the UIU Mission Statement
Seamless Transition is directed to new transfers, but always keeping the
needs of Non-traditional student in focus
Seamless Transitions
Prepare
UIU
Involve
PIE
Model
Execute
Involve
Prepare
Execute
The earlier we involve the 2-year student in a dialogue between advisor/student
directly increases the enrollment into our Bachelor’s program. The student sees the
relationship early in their academic program.
Seamless Transitions
UIU
Prepare:
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Mindset Planning
Build awareness of educational opportunities
Continual Presence at 2-year school
Build an alignment with instructors
Ability to work and advance
Prepare
PIE
Model
Seamless Transitions
UIU
PIE
Involve:
• Work with 2-year school advisors
• Work with Advisory Council
• Frequent interaction with students
• Classroom visits and presentations
• Strong Articulation Agreements
• Faculty and staff act as conduits
Involve
Model
Seamless Transitions
UIU
PIE
Execute:
• Academic Advising
• Evaluation of Credits
• Degree Audit / Degree Plan
• Course schedules available
• Accelerated Program
• Internship Programs
Execute
Model
Seamless Transition
UIU Benefit of PIE
 PIE Model makes transfer to a 4-year degree program seamless to the 2year student
 UIU has become a source of information and knowledge for students on
courses in their programs
 UIU provides information on the transfer policies
 UIU provides knowledge of student’s educational needs
 UIU works to maximize previous experience in and out of school.
Seamless Transitions
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Case Study
Break into groups of three
 Identify a student
 Identify a mother
 Identify an academic advisor
Each of you will be given your role play scenario. Do not share this with the members in your group. This is to
make this role-play a realistic situation.
Take a moment to review your role-play information and then begin the role-play. You may come to a natural
conclusion or not.
When the time is up ask yourself: Was a Seamless Transition demonstrated? How did you feel in your role?
Were the PIE model components demonstrated?