Advising Changes New CLASS Advisor The Advising Center is pleased to welcome Jennifer Novy who joined our team in January of 2013. Jennifer came to the Center with extensive higher education experience including knowledge gained from her time spent in CSU’s All-in-One office. Jennifer replaced Dr. Sandra Ezekiel who retired in September of 2012. Jennifer’s caseload consists of all majors offered in the School of Communication; but like all CLASS advisors, she is able to assist students with university and college (general education) requirements regardless of the student’s CLASS major.
Student Success Specialists In fall 2012 semester, a major change was implemented in the structure of freshmen advising. The Office of Undergraduate Studies hired four, full-time student success specialists. The specialists were housed in the University Advising Office and assigned to assist incoming freshmen who placed into remedial English (ENG99 or 100) and/or remedial math (MTH87). The specialists, who had advisee caseloads of 100-150 students, began working with their assigned freshmen at orientation, and continued through fall and spring semesters until the students earned passing grades in the remedial course(s) and earned 20 credits. Success specialists then transitioned students to the appropriate advising office, whether college or program. Created as a way to help with freshman persistence to the second year, specialists used intrusive advising techniques, such as multiple outreach by phone, email and text, to ensure the students were attending class, completing homework and taking advantage of CSU’s academic assistance. By targeting this high-risk group, specialists were charged with retention through the first year by providing intrusive advising, workshops and mentoring to enhance academic success. The smaller caseloads equated to more contact and follow up with each advisee. Fall semester 2012 began with 221 CLASS students assigned to student success specialists. At the completion of spring semester 2013, 60 CLASS students with declared majors were eligible for transition to the CLASS Advising Center. Additional outreach was completed by the CLASS Advising Center via letter and email welcoming them and requesting they schedule an advising appointment. The program has expanded for the 20132014 academic year in both the number of student success specialists and the scope of advisees. Undergraduate Studies created a First Year Advising Center with seven success specialists who will advise all first time freshmen. The exceptions to centralized freshmen advising are students in the Honors and Scholars Program, athletes and those participating in the TRiO/SSS program.
Freshman Foundations With the start of the 2012-2013 orientation season the implementation of Freshman Foundations began. Created by the Office of University Studies with assistance from each college, freshmen students attending orientation were encouraged to register for a cluster of predetermined classes based on the students’ need for remedial English and/or math courses. Each cluster included English, math and general education courses appropriate for each declared major. The program’s intent was to maximize student success and retention of the remedial subset of incoming students. Freshman Foundations were then expanded for the 2013-2014 orientation season to include all incoming freshmen. A goal of 75% freshman enrollment into a foundation cluster has been set for the current orientation season.
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