STUDENT ACADEMIC ADVISING CENTER
& CAREER SERVICES
A YEAR IN REVIEW 2013-2014
STUDENT ACADEMIC ADVISING CENTER
CAREER SERVICES
The Student Academic Advising Center (SAAC) strives to fulfill its
The Career Services Office provides a wide array of services to
mission to “provide academic advising for undeclared majors,
fulfill its mission to “provide comprehensive career/life planning
students questioning their choice of major, and students in transition
and job search services linking education and the world of work
from one major to another.” Advisers in SAAC offer students assistance
for UWSP students and alumni.” The staff in Career Services help
in the development of their educational plans, in the decision-making
students explore careers, prepare for the job search, find internships
process for selecting a major, and in the clarification of the relationship
and relevant experience, locate employment, and find/prepare for
between educational plans and career goals. SAAC also seeks to
graduate and professional studies programs. Services are provided
provide “intrusive advising” in an effort to enhance student retention
through one-on-on meetings, group presentations, career events,
and success, particularly in students’ first year. This is accomplished
classroom instruction, office website, and a resource room.
through peer advising, utilization of MAPWorks early warning system,
outreach to the campus at large, and other strategies.
Career Services also coordinates the Honors Intern program,
a program of career-orientated internships for academically-
In addition to their undeclared advising responsibilities, SAAC offers
talented UWSP students. In addition, the staff generate the
a number of services to the entire campus community, including
Follow-Up Studies of Recent Graduates, which is widely used
“alternative advising” for students questioning their current major,
by students, parents, advisers and academic departments.
advising all Associate’s Degree seekers, and administering the Prior
The office strives to develop strong connections with employers
Learning Assessment Program.
and to collaborate with faculty/staff, and they are also one of
the few offices to provide services to UWSP alumni.
A YEAR IN REVIEW: 2013-2014
HIGHLIGHTS
744
165
UNDECLARED
In 2013, consultants from NACADA conducted an
external review of academic advising and generated a
INTAKES
report outlining recommendations to enhance advising
99
MISCELLANEOUS
campus-wide. The Advising Council, comprised of
representatives throughout campus, reviewed the
report and discussed strategies to support advising.
73
ALTERNATIVES
STUDENT
SAAC collaborated with other units to host programs
including the Majors Fair (co-sponsored with SGA) and the
Commuter Student Phone-A-Thon (co-organized with SIEO).
Staff conducted numerous outreach events including
HEAD COUNT
presentations in residence halls and classes, tables in the
DUC, walk-in hours in the SAAC ofice and other locations
on campus, and expanded use of technology to reach
students (including an instant messaging system and
Facebook).
SAAC served as a resource for advising campuswide through co-sponsorship of campus-wide webinars
on “Developing Intercultural Communication Skills for
Academic Advising” and “Signiicant Conversations:
UNDECLARED: Number of oficially undeclared students
at UW-Stevens Point on the 10th day of the fall semester
INTAKES: Students who came from other majors and
The Art and Science of Communication in Transformational
Advising” and presentations on advising at the New
Faculty/Staff Seminar and Teaching and Learning
Conference.
decided to go “undeclared”
Inclusive Excellence was supported through various
MISCELLANEOUS: Current students with questions about
efforts including ofice hours in the Multicultural
Associate’s Degree requirements, academic programs,
Resource Center, presentations to multicultural student
university policies, as well as prospective students
organizations, assistance with the Leading Edge orientation
seeking information on UWSP majors/minors
program for new students with disabilities, and advising
ALTERNATIVES: Students seeking options to their current
students participating in the Mid-State Bridge and
major who are referred to departments to declare
Washington DC Stars program.
TOP MAJORS declared by undeclared students
01 02 03 04 05
06 07 08 09 10
BUSINESS
BIOLOGY
SOCIOLOGY
COMMUNICATION PSYCHOLOGY
ELEMENTARY
EDUCATION
*Family Consumer & Health Promotion-Wellness tied.
HEALTH
SCIENCE
SOCIAL
WORK
FAMILY CONSUMER SCIENCE &
HEALTH PROMOTION-WELLNESS
RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT
STUDENT ACADEMIC ADVISING CENTER
INTRUSIVE ADVISING
AUXILIARY SERVICES
SAAC, in collaboration with other units, wrote and received a U.S.
STUDENTS IN TRANSITION: SAAC sent e-mails to 70 students
Department of Education Title III Strengthening Institutions grant to
“in transition” between majors. Of those students, 22%
improve student retention and graduation rates. This grant helped SAAC to
came to SAAC as “undeclared majors,” 49% declared other
provide intrusive advising and best practices to enhance student success.
majors, and 29% were still “in transition at the end of the
The program involves initiatives that aim to enhance retention through
semester.
early and purposeful interventions, such as peer advising, engagement
PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT: An adviser met with
through technology and social media, and outreach activities. Last year,
students to discuss options for earning credit and referred
peer advisers met with 384 students in the fall to discuss advising and
them to academic departments and faculty.
registration and 277 students in the spring to share resources for major
and career exploration. The peer advisers also received 256 referrals from
SAAC advisers throughout the year to call students and follow up on a variety
ASSOCIATE DEGREE ADVISING: SAAC continues to serve
as the oficial advising home for Associate Degree seekers.
Advisers met with students to develop plans and select
of concerns.
courses that satisfy requirements and complement their
future career goals.
“
“I think that the ‘peer’ part of peer
mentoring is really beneicial. I can
usually ind something to connect
with a student about and it helps
them feel more comfortable.”
~SAAC Peer Adviser
”
AWARDS
In the past few years, numerous SAAC staff have received awards from
the Wisconsin Academic Advising Association (WACADA):
● Advising Excellence Award: Julie Schneider & Carol Lanphear-Cook
● Foundation Award: Becky Konietzki
● Peer Advising Award: Cally Gordon
Recently, a SAAC adviser, Kami Weis, received the prestigious
“Outstanding Advising Award” from the National Academic Advising
Association (NACADA). Kami also served as president of the statewide
advising association, WACADA, this past year.
“
“[My adviser] listened to how I was feeling and what
my interests were, and we made a structured plan
that has inspired me to pursue a major I am excited to
graduate with!”
~SAAC Advisee
2,404
appointments SAAC advisers had with
students during fall and spring semesters.
3,096
activities that SAAC staff logged in the MAP
Works system (a web-based program to help
first-year students successfully transition to
UWSP).
64%
of students on probation who were in ‘Good
Standing’ after attending a “Back on Track”
workshop (co-sponsored by SAAC and the TLC)
AND meeting with an adviser (vs. 8% of students who did not participate in interventions)
A YEAR IN REVIEW: 2013-2014
24
PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS
Staff partnered with employers to develop programming
efforts such as a panel on job fair preparation.
Staff in SAAC and Career Services taught 4 sections
of HPW 107 classes: “Career Exploration” and “Academic
and Career Planning.”
Career Services facilitated new partnerships and
GRAD/PROF
SCHOOL
115
64
HONORS INTERN
159
18
INTERVIEWING
17 17
11
INTERNSHIPS
JOB SEARCH
OTHER
PRACTICE
INTERVIEW
CAREER
EXPLORATION
strengthened existing relationships with departments
through presentations and integration of resources such
as InterviewStream into courses.
Staff supported Inclusive Excellence efforts on campus
through facilitating presentations and sharing resources
REASONS FOR
APPOINTMENTS
with diverse groups and partnering with International
Programs to conduct four presentations on “Marketing
Your Study Abroad Experience.”
The ofice engaged in social media through the
promotion of a LinkedIn group for Career Services and
our ofice Facebook page.
234
NEW STAFF AND PROGRAMS
As a result of the Title III grant we received, Taylor Koch
INTERPRETATION OF
ASSESSMENT RESULTS
994
was hired as our Career Outreach Coordinator to provide
COVER LETTERS/
RESUMES
specialized career counseling and outreach to help
287
students achieve their academic and career goals, and
support student retention and success. The ofice also
CAREER ASSESSMENTS
TAKEN
added a staff of peer mentors to work with students, and
provide outreach through presentations and social media.
A Mentoring and Internships Coordinator, Sam Dinga,
? DID YOU KNOW?
was hired to oversee the Noel Compass Scholar Program,
The Career Services Staff conducted 188 workshops
the Honors Intern Program, and the Reaching Across
and class presentations, attended by 6,492 students.
Generations mentoring program.
A record 59 employers were in attendance at the Central
Sue Kissinger was hired as a Career Specialist working with
Wisconsin Collegiate Job Fair along with more than 300
students in Natural Resources and Sciences following Mike
students, the highest student attendance in recent years.
Pagel’s retirement after a 39 year career at UWSP.
This event was held in February and was a collaborative effort
with Mid-State Technical College, UW-Marshield and UW-
“
Marathon County.
“The job candidates that came were
prepared with resumes, well dressed,
and had done research prior to coming.
Some students had already visited
our website.
Employer @ the Central
Wisconsin Collegiate Job Fair
There were 3,330 registered UWSP users in WISCareers,
a comprehensive career and educational resource with
information on occupations, graduate schools, budgeting,
career and occupational assessments, and job seeking tools.
”
1,958 students logged into CareerPoint online system last year
and viewed a total of 24,150 jobs and internship opportunities.
Students completed 307 interviews on InterviewStream
software, a video interviewing platform where students can
practice interviews online and share those interviews with
others if they choose.
CAREER SERVICES
FOLLOW UP STUDIES OF RECENT
GRADUATES
Career Services compiled a report on the irst destination
365
employment or continued education of 2013 UWSP graduates.
We were able to amass information on 75% of graduates with
84% of those reporting they were entering the workforce or
JUNIORS
897
293
SENIORS
pursuing further schooling.
FIRST YEAR
1,816
majors reporting work
or further schooling
APPOINTMENTS
TOTAL: 1931
56%
12%
16%
employed
in field
further schooling
employed out
of field
311
SOPHOMORES
23
84%
16
ALUMNI
35
GRADUATE
STUDENTS
reported employment
or further schooling
OTHER
TOP EMPLOYERS of UWSP GRADS
HONORS INTERN PROGRAM
This program for academically-talented UWSP students
provided career-oriented on-campus internships for
110 students in 33 units across campus. In addition to
WI Department of
1 Natural Resources
6 Menards
2 Sentry Insurance
7 Target
3 Associated Bank
8 Travel Guard
receiving hourly compensation well above the minimum
wage, the participating students also received personal
mentoring and registration privileges.
AVERAGE CUMULATIVE GPA OF ALL HONORS INTERNS:
3.7
RECRUITED STUDENTS:
Average ACT of 2013-14 recruited students: 30
Average irst year college GPA: 3.8
Stevens Point Area
4 Public School District
9 Lands’ End
5 UW-Stevens Point
10 Marshfield Clinic
Student Academic Advising Center
103 Student Services Center
1108 Fremont Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Phone: 715-346-3361
Email: saac@uwsp.edu
Hours: Mon-Fri 7:45AM to 4:30PM
www.uwsp.edu/advising
Career Services
201 Student Services Center
1108 Fremont Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Phone: 715-346-3226
Email: career@uwsp.edu
Hours: Mon-Fri 7:45AM to 4:30PM
Walk-in hours: Thursdays 1PM - 4PM
www.uwsp.edu/career