Advising Transfer and Veteran Students Toward Degree CompletionA discussion of cross-campus collaboration at small colleges

Cassie Hall, RegistrarStephanie Pung, Transfer CoordinatorCarroll College, Helena, MT

Carroll College

•Helena, MT•Catholic, Liberal Arts•Tuition (14-15): $28,670•40 majors offered•Largest programs: health sciences,

nursing, business, anthrozoology, psychology, biology, pre-professional (pre-med, pre-vet, pre-PT)

Student Population #s

Enrollment: 1,407 undergraduates

Incoming first-year, transfer students (fall 2014):•Male/Female: 38%/62%•Catholic/Other: 60%/40%•Montana/Out-of-State: 45%/55%• International students: 24•Average high school GPA: 3.59•Average college GPA: 3.36•Average ACT score: 25

Transfer Student Trends

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

2014-2015

0102030405060708090

100

fallspringtotal

Veteran Student Trends

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

2014-2015

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

fallspringtotal

Transfer & Veteran Student Profiles•Average age: 23 (31% were 26+)•Popular majors: anthrozoology, biology,

business, health sciences, pre-education, pre-nursing, psychology

•Median transfer credit: 49 semester credits

Guiding Values/Best Practices

•NACADA Core Values•AACRAO “Core Values for Building

Transfer Student Success”•Best Practices for Veteran Students

NACADA Core Values1. Advisors are responsible to the individuals they

advise.2. Advisors are responsible for involving others, when

appropriate, in the advising process.3. Advisors are responsible to their institutions.4. Advisors are responsible to higher education.5. Advisors are responsible to their educational

community.6. Advisors are responsible to their professional

practices and for themselves personally.

NACADA. (2005). NACADA statement of core values of academic advising. Retrieved from the NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources Web site:

http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Clearinghouse/View-Articles/Core-values-of-academic-advising.aspx

AACRAO Transfer Conference Selected “Core Values for Building Transfer Student Success”

• Establish networks, externally and internally.• Share and learn from the efforts of others.• Be intentional about recruiting transfer students.• Bring student leaders on board.• Create first-year programming for transfer students.• Connect transfer students to organizations.• Create programs and services that promote success.• Encourage curriculum alignment.

Poisel, M. A. (2013, July). “Today’s College Students: Core Values for Building Transfer Student Success.” Executive Summaries of Selected Sessions (pp. 7-8). Tucson, AZ: AACRAO Transfer Conference.

Best Practices for Veteran Students• Dedicate a space for veteran students.• Engage in events and activities that demonstrate and

reflect veteran awareness and a military friendly culture.

• Provide a central point of contact for your veteran student population.

• Collaborate with key community stakeholders and veteran related service providers to maximize support delivery efficiency and enhance communication through community partnerships.

• Coordinate and offer veterans the opportunity to participate in community service projects.

Compiled by Brandy Keely, Carroll College Veterans Services Coordinator

Ideas for Future

•Transfer/Non-traditional Student Orientation

•Peer Mentorship Program•Transfer “Alpha” Course•Individualized Advising Plans

Transfer/Non-Traditional Student Orientation•Communicating the value•Educating the campus•Engaging students who have a variety of

needs•Promoting a Peer Mentorship Program

•Hurdles: campus culture (new student = freshman student)

Peer Mentorship Program

•Reaching out and retaining non-traditional students, particularly Veterans

•Failed attempt forming a credit-based program

•Currently: working with students to form a student-run club

•Hurdles: establishing student leadership, connecting students on a small campus

Transfer “Alpha” Course

•Optional (or required?) 1 credit course•Blending existing courses

▫Freshman Seminar Course (Alpha), Student Success course, and Career Exploration course

▫Financial Literacy

•Hurdles: Creating something new, earning buy-in from faculty and students, workloads

Individual Advising Plans• Merge transfer credit evaluations…

▫Based on Core Curriculum and catalog requirements for intended major

• And four-year plans for each major…▫Currently geared toward entering freshmen

• To create personalized advising plan based on transfer credit and remaining degree requirements

• Hurdles: Time, technology, balancing guidance with empowering students

Round Table Discussion

•Share successful initiatives for transfer/veteran/non-traditional students?

•Share failed initiatives, and why?•Share hurdles you face… and those you

overcame, and how?•Share other questions/ideas with group