FRESHMAN ADVISING
INFORMATION
Winthrop University
Fall 2015
Overview
• Connect Advising with ACAD 101
• Things to Do Before Advising Begins
• The Advising Session
• Referral Resources
• Help with Advising Issues
Connect Advising with ACAD 101
• ACAD 101 Principles of the Learning Academy
• Required for first-time freshmen, who are recent high school
graduates
• Not required for transfer students
• Course facilitates adjustment to and engagement in university life
• Required text is the ACAD Planner
• Includes a strong advising component
Connect Advising with ACAD 101
• ACAD 101 students complete several advising-related
assignments:
• Print interim grades from Wingspan (October 12)
• Discuss interim grades with their ACAD instructors (October 13-15)
• Develop Interim Grade Action Plan (see ACAD Planner Pages
document)
• Complete Advisement and Registration Worksheet for Spring 2016
and get advisor’s signature (see ACAD Planner Pages document)
• Print and review degree checklist
Things to Do Before Advising Begins
• Check advisees’ interim grades this week (Oct 12-16):
• Opportunity for advisors to view advisees’ interim grades and
intervene if necessary
• Especially important for freshmen and students on academic
probation (below 2.0 cumulative GPA)
• Helps advisors identify academic difficulty early:
• Before important dates and deadlines
• When there is still time to make adjustments that can help students
protect their GPA and keep their scholarships
Things to Do Before Advising Begins
• Note important dates and deadlines:
• First day of “Second Half” of the semester classes (October 12)
• Advising for Spring 2016 (October 21 – November 3)
• Deadline to use Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) option (October 23)
• Deadline to drop a full-semester course (October 23)
• First day of “After Mid-Semester” classes (October 23)
• Spring registration begins (November 4)
• Only for seniors and other students with priority registration
Things to Do Before Advising Begins
• This week (October 12-16):
• After checking interim grades, contact all your advisees to begin
building the advising relationship.
• Send different emails based on their interim GPA:
• 2.5 or higher – remind students to schedule an appointment to meet
during the regular advising period
• 2.0-2.5 – suggest that students schedule an appointment to meet before
advising begins to discuss academic progress and options
• Below 2.0 – ask students to see you before October 23 to discuss
possible schedule adjustments
Things to Do Before Advising Begins
• This week (October 12-16) [continued]:
• Although advisees will receive different emails based on interim
grade GPA, please ask all freshmen to bring this information to
their advising appointments:
• Printed copy of interim grades from Wingspan
• Interim Grade Action Plan (see ACAD Planner Pages document)
• Advisement and Registration Worksheet (see ACAD Planner Pages
document)
• Printed degree checklist
Things to Do Before Advising Begins
• Discuss low interim grades:
• Ask questions based on the Interim Grade Discussion assignment
(see ACAD Planner Pages document)
• Encourage students to use the GPA calculator to estimate their
GPA using different options (see GPA Calculator document):
• S/U options
• Course repeat exemptions
• Different grades, etc.
Things to Do Before Advising Begins
• Discuss low interim grades (continued):
• A student may need to drop a course and may also need to
maintain full-time status (12 hours) by adding a course that begins
later in the semester.
• Remember the challenges associated with many short courses:
• Accelerated pace
• Often offered online
• If short courses are not a good option for your freshmen advisees
and/or students experiencing academic difficulty and full-time
status is not an issue, students can earn additional hours during the
summer.
The Advising Session
• Academic advising is a relationship in which students and
faculty advisors work together to plan a program of study
that properly sequences courses and supports students’
interests and career goals.
• The advising relationship is based on good
communication between students and faculty advisors.
• ACAD 101 students complete assignments that help them
begin establishing this relationship.
The Advising Session
• In one assignment, ACAD students are asked to develop a list
of questions to ask their advisors:
• Ask your advisees about these questions.
• Some students may not feel comfortable asking you questions on their
own.
• Also, ask the students questions to find out how they are really
doing:
• Many students will say they are “fine” or “good”.
• Ask them to elaborate on what “fine” or “good” means.
The Advising Session
• You can ask questions to learn more about your advisees. Their
responses may help you make good referrals.
• Here are a few examples:
• Do you work or have other responsibilities in addition to school?
• Which courses do you like most/least this semester and why?
• Do you feel like your major is a good fit for you and why?
• Why did you choose your major?
• What is it about your future career that interests you?
• Do you think you need to make any changes that will help you reach your
semester and/or future goals? If so, what are they?
Referral Resources
• ACAD 101 students have the Winthrop Student Success Phone App:
• You can download the app on iPhone or Android devices.
Referral Resources
• The app includes information that can help you make
effective referrals when advisees need additional support:
• Tutoring Services
• Academic Success Center
• Math Tutorial Center, etc.
• Directory
• Academic Advising (Student Services offices)
• Academic Excellence (Honors, McNair Scholars, etc.)
• Health & Counseling, etc.
• My Money
• LIFE Scholarship Retention
• Financial Aid, etc.
Help with Advising Issues
• If you need help with an advising issue or question, please
contact the Student Services office in your college:
• College of Arts and Sciences
• Adria Belk – 106 Kinard, Ext 2183
• College of Business Administration
• Gay Randolph – 225 Thurmond, Ext 4833
• College of Education
• Ruth Gaylor – 144 Withers, Ext 4750
• College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Anna Fredericks – 124 McLaurin, Ext 2465
Thank you!
Thank you for working with our first-year freshmen to
support their transition to college!