Research Synopsis

RESEARCH SYNOPSIS

UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF ACADEMIC

ADVISORS TO COLLEGIATE UNDERCLASSMEN:

A CONCEPTUALIZATION AND IMPERICAL INVESTIGATION

OF STUDENT INVOLVEMENT AND INTERACTION WITH

COLLEGIATE ACADEMIC ADVISORS

OLIVIA GRUNTKOWSKI BRADLEY STILLINGS NICHOLAS WITHEM

MAX FRADKIN

SPRING 2014

KENT STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | MARKETING

MARKETING RESEARCH DR. WILLIAM HOWELL

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Our group would like to greatly thank the cooperation and assistance of

Steven Antalvari, Advising Director - Kent State University. His role is to

Throughout the market research process, Mr. Antalvari was available and

willing to meet with our group to discuss research goals, survey topics and

research schedules. His help was extremely beneficial and crucial in the data

collection process, as well as the final completion of our research.

Appreciation is also given to the undergraduate student body of Kent State

University for their participation in this research.

UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF ACADEMIC

ADVISORS TO COLLEGIATE UNDERCLASSMEN:

A CONCEPTUALIZATION AND IMPERICAL INVESTIGATION

OF STUDENT INVOLVEMENT AND INTERACTION WITH

COLLEGIATE ACADEMIC ADVISORS

ABSTRACT

This research synopsis offers a comprehensive overview of the data

collected within our research conducted throughout the spring semester of

2014, exploring the importance of academic advisors throughout the

collegiate experience of underclassmen students attending Kent State

University. Through the use of online surveys distributed through Kent State

University’s Gmail server, in-person interviews with underclassmen

students, as well as the guidance from our contact, Mr. Antalvari, our group

planned to collect data relevant to the research topic: the importance of

academic advisors to collegiate underclassmen.

Beginning in the fall semester of 2014, Mr. Antalvari began a new advising

system yielding more personal relationships with the students early on in

their collegiate experiences to better gauge students’ future goals and career

plans. His goal is to ensure that Kent State University students feel as though

their academic advisor is aiding them in a positive way, and bettering their

progress towards their degree completion.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Introduction

2 Research Agenda

3 Methodology

4 Body of Research

5 Conclusions and Future Research

______________________________________________________

1 INTRODUCTION

This research explores and summarizes the importance of academic

advisors in the collegiate experiences of undergraduate students at Kent

State University. Our thesis presents a comprehensive theoretical and

empirical study into the relevance of academic advisors within the Kent

State University community.

Within our study, participation will be needed from our contact, Mr.

Steven Antalvari, Director of Advising, as well as the voluntary participation

from the Kent State University undergraduate community. In this study, we

will investigate the importance of academic advisors within regards to the

undergraduate collegiate experience, seen from the perspective of current

Kent State University students. These students will play the sole role in the

collection of the data in this study, seeing as they are frontline targets for the

market in which we plan to study.

As stated earlier, our segmented target market for this research is

undergraduate students attending Kent State University – more specifically,

students within their freshman or sophomore year. We are approaching this

audience not only because they are the most likely to require help from

academic advisors, but also because Mr. Antalvari’s new advising plan will

be implemented to their class. The opinions of students within junior and

senior class ranks are not as important, yet not overlooked. The responses

will act as a guide for future references of Mr. Antalvari and will also aide in

the “tweaking” aspects of finalizing the advising initiative.

Internet surveys will be distributed to the Kent State University

students, ensuring ease and accessibility to the survey itself. Our group

recognizes the need for convenience within this generation and is taking into

consideration the time period in which the surveys will be distributed. Being

so late in the semester, a low-involvement survey lasting under ten (10)

minutes would yield the highest number of student responses.

The body of research will contain a detailed description of the survey,

including all questions asked to the subjects. An overview of commonalities

seen within the survey responses will be represented, as well as recognition

of ‘stand-out’ responses needing more specific and detailed attention. We

will then analyze this data and comprise it into a finalized assumption to

present to Mr. Antalvari, gauging the target audience’s positions on the

subject matter, better allowing Mr. Antalvari to cater to the needs of the

underclassmen undergraduates included in the new initiative.

To conclude the research, our group will take the analyzed data and

develop a plan if further investigation is needed for the thesis. If enough

information is collected to comprise an adequate response to Mr. Antalvari,

our group will conclude the research.

______________________________________________________

2 RESEARCH AGENDA

Taking into account that Internet surveys were the only means of

questioning our audience, the research agenda is of a short-lived nature, but

also extremely crucial, seeing as the responses are 100% voluntary. The

survey is to go live on the 22nd of April, 2014.

Distribution will occur through mass-email of the undergraduate roster of

students studying within the College of Business. This will allow our group

to effectively analyze a very large sample size, consisting of various types of

students, yielding a higher confidence interval.

The scheduled conclusion of the survey is for the 28th of April, 2014.

We will conclude the survey, analyze relevant data and comprise it either

into an affirmative plan of action for Mr. Antalvari or present the analyzed

data and state the research findings.

_____________________________________________________________

3 METHODOLOGY

As stated earlier, a survey will be distributed to the students through

the software SurveyGizmo. The questions presented will range from fill-in,

to multiple choices, and also the likert scale. Few questions will be required

to answer, for data collection and analyzing purposes, while others are not

required if they are not applicable to the specific student.

A copy of the survey is presented on the succeeding page.

SURVEY Importance of Academic Advisors for Undergraduate

Collegians at Kent State University SurveyGizmo

1. What class level are you? *

( ) Freshman

( ) Sophomore

( ) Junior

( ) Senior

2. Are you male or female? *

( ) Male

( ) Female

3. What is your major? * (fill-in)

4. Where do you live? *

( ) On-campus (in a residence hall or dorm room)

( ) Off-campus (in an apartment or house)

( ) I commute

5. How many credit hours are you taking this semester? * (fill-in)

6. Have you met your advisor? (if your answer is no, please answer and skip to

question #20) *

( ) Yes

( ) No

7. How many times have you met with your academic advisor thus far in the

2013-2014 year?

( ) 1-2

( ) 3-4

( ) 5-6

( ) 6 or more

8. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being least satisfied, 10 being very satisfied), how

satisfied are you with your meetings with your adviser?

( ) 1

( ) 2

( ) 3

( ) 4

( ) 5

( ) 6

( ) 7

( ) 8

( ) 9

( ) 10

9. Please explain your answer for question #8. (fill-in)

10. Has your academic advisor taken time to get to know you on a personal

level?

( ) Yes

( ) No

11. Please explain your answer to question #10.

12. Has your academic advisor met with you to your curriculum, graduation

requirements, policies, procedures, and deadlines?

( ) Yes

( ) No

13. Please explain your answer to question #12. (fill-in)

14. Has your academic advisor created a GPS plan with you? (if your answer is

no, please answer "no" and skip to question 16).

( ) Yes

( ) No

15. If you answered yes to question 14, has your academic advisor kept the GPS

updated across additional semesters?

( ) Yes

( ) No

16. Has your academic advisor taken time to understand your academic,

personal, and career goals?

( ) Yes

( ) No

17. Please explain your answer to question #16. (fill-in)

18. Has your academic advisor reviewed additional resources and appropriate

referrals to improve your collegiate experience?

( ) Yes

( ) No

19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they

made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred.

(fill-in)

20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning

the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as

detailed as possible! * (fill-in)

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1630075/Importance-of-Academic-Advisors-for-

Undergraduate-Collegians-at-Kent-State-University

_____________________________________________________________

4 BODY OF RESEARCH

As stated earlier, Kent State University was the market in which our

group chose to survey. The segmented and targeted market that we more

clearly focused on pertained to the freshman and sophomore class levels.

The goal of our research was to better understand, in the minds of

undergraduate collegiate students, the role of academic advisors in

enhancing the collegiate experience.

Our contact, Mr. Steven Antalvari, clearly stated that his goal was to

gain a better understanding of how valuable academic advisors are to

underclassmen undergraduates. He plans on using this information to better

implement the new academic advising plan with a better understanding on

important information and collective relevant data.

The survey was open from the dates of April 22nd, 2014 to April 28th,

2014 and we received 32 total responses. The complete responses of each

survey candidate will be found succeeding this page, followed by a general

overview of the data findings.

RESPONDENT #1 1. What class level are you? • Senior

2. Are you male or female? • Male

3. What is your major? • Fashion Merchandising

4. Where do you live? • Off-campus (in an apartment or house)

5. How many credit hours are you taking this semester? • 14

6. Have you met your advisor? (if your answer is no, please answer and skip to question #20) • Yes

7. How many times have you met with your academic advisor thus far in the 2013-2014 year? • 3-4

8. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being least satisfied, 10 being very satisfied), how satisfied are you with your meetings with your adviser? • 8

9. Please explain your answer for question #8. 10. Has your academic advisor taken time to get to know you on a personal level? • No

11. Please explain your answer to question #10. 12. Has your academic advisor met with you to your curriculum, graduation requirements, policies, procedures, and deadlines? • No

13. Please explain your answer to question #12. 14. Has your academic advisor created a GPS plan with you? (if your answer is no, please answer "no" and skip to question 16). • No

15. If you answered yes to question 14, has your academic advisor kept the GPS updated across additional semesters? 16. Has your academic advisor taken time to understand your academic, personal, and career goals? • No

17. Please explain your answer to question #16. 18. Has your academic advisor reviewed additional resources and appropriate referrals to improve your collegiate experience? • No

19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. 20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible!

RESPONDENT #2 1. What class level are you? • Freshman

2. Are you male or female? • Female

3. What is your major? • Nursing

4. Where do you live? • On-campus (in a residence hall or dorm room)





9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • Wish the adviser was more help and had more advice

10. Has your academic advisor taken time to get to know you on a personal level? • No

11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • We have not met many times, though I am sure if I would have visited more it would

have been more personal. I only visited when it was required. 12. Has your academic advisor met with you to your curriculum, graduation requirements, policies, procedures, and deadlines? • Yes

13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • Once a semester we met to plan my schedule and talk about current grades and what

was expected. 14. Has your academic advisor created a GPS plan with you? (if your answer is no, please answer "no" and skip to question 16). • Yes

15. If you answered yes to question 14, has your academic advisor kept the GPS updated across additional semesters? • Yes

16. Has your academic advisor taken time to understand your academic, personal, and career goals? • Yes

17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • During meetings we discussed what I wanted to achieve and what i needed to do that.

18. Has your academic advisor reviewed additional resources and appropriate referrals to improve your collegiate experience? • Yes

19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. • My adviser suggested different ways to raise my GPA.

20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • I wish advisers were able to help more when it came to scheduling and offer more

advice. Though, my adviser was still helpful and kind.



3. What is your major? • biology






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • Just tells me what to do

10. Has your academic advisor taken time to get to know you on a personal level? • Yes

11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • Always asks me questions about my life

12. Has your academic advisor met with you to your curriculum, graduation requirements, policies, procedures, and deadlines? • Yes

13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • yes

14. Has your academic advisor created a GPS plan with you? (if your answer is no, please answer "no" and skip to question 16). • Yes



17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • he knows I want to study abroad

18. Has your academic advisor reviewed additional resources and appropriate referrals to improve your collegiate experience? • No

19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. •

20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • Keep doing what they do, and open up more chem labs



3. What is your major? • Psychology






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • I pretty much have done everything myself and am now graduating early.


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • I'm in the LC


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. 14. Has your academic advisor created a GPS plan with you? (if your answer is no, please answer "no" and skip to question 16). • Yes

15. If you answered yes to question 14, has your academic advisor kept the GPS updated across additional semesters? • No



19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. 20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • N/A

RESPONDENT #5 1. What class level are you? • Junior


3. What is your major? • HDFS






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • The majority of my meetings are helpful but occasionally I leave there not confused.


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • We only talk about academics.

12. Has your academic advisor met with you to your curriculum, graduation requirements, policies, procedures, and deadlines? • No

13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • We have not talked about graduation.



16. Has your academic advisor taken time to understand your academic, personal, and career goals? • No

17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • We only talk about scheduling classes.


19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. 20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • Academic advisors have been very helpful to me.



3. What is your major? • Advertising and public relations.


5. How many credit hours are you taking this semester? • 15.




9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • She answers all my questions, but she's a Comm advisor. Because of that, it's hard to

work between the journalism school and the communication school. My advisor helps me make it work.


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • She always asks personal (not too personal questions about my life. She has so many

people to keep track of and she remembers me. 12. Has your academic advisor met with you to your curriculum, graduation requirements, policies, procedures, and deadlines? • Yes

13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • I'm not sure this needs explaining. We meet and discuss.




17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • She keeps the classes I take in mind with career aspirations.


19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred.

• She told me who to contact when I wanted to move to Kent. She helped me decide to join a sorority.

20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • My advisor is Lorie Hopp. She's awesome!



3. What is your major? • Geology






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. 10. Has your academic advisor taken time to get to know you on a personal level? • Yes

11. Please explain your answer to question #10. 12. Has your academic advisor met with you to your curriculum, graduation requirements, policies, procedures, and deadlines? • Yes








3. What is your major? • IHS: healthcare administration






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • She helps me to make sure that I'm on track to graduate.


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. •


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. •




17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • She always asks where I see myself after I graduate and what my plans are.


19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. 20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • n/a



3. What is your major? • Integrated health studies



6. Have you met your advisor? (if your answer is no, please answer and skip to question #20) • No

7. How many times have you met with your academic advisor thus far in the 2013-2014 year? 8. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being least satisfied, 10 being very satisfied), how satisfied are you with your meetings with your adviser? 9. Please explain your answer for question #8. 10. Has your academic advisor taken time to get to know you on a personal level? 11. Please explain your answer to question #10. 12. Has your academic advisor met with you to your curriculum, graduation requirements, policies, procedures, and deadlines? 13. Please explain your answer to question #12. 14. Has your academic advisor created a GPS plan with you? (if your answer is no, please answer "no" and skip to question 16). 15. If you answered yes to question 14, has your academic advisor kept the GPS updated across additional semesters? 16. Has your academic advisor taken time to understand your academic, personal, and career goals? 17. Please explain your answer to question #16. 18. Has your academic advisor reviewed additional resources and appropriate referrals to improve your collegiate experience? 19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. 20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • It is so hard to meet with advisors because they are so busy and the time slots are

always full



3. What is your major? • marketing






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • I was in a learning community freshman year and got to work closely with my advisor up

until this year. She knew a lot about me and my situation and was very helpful 10. Has your academic advisor taken time to get to know you on a personal level? • No

11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • My advisor I've had up til Junior year got a new job so she left Kent, and I've only met

my current advisor once for 5 minutes. 12. Has your academic advisor met with you to your curriculum, graduation requirements, policies, procedures, and deadlines? • No

13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • I feel alone and don't know what to do for graduation




17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • she knew I loved Disney and wanted to go back down and eventually work for the

company again, she would always ask how I was doing and things were going 18. Has your academic advisor reviewed additional resources and appropriate referrals to improve your collegiate experience? • No


20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • i feel like most advisors (with an exception of mine for the first few years here) don't

really care about how successful you are, they're just there because it's their job and they have to be.

RESPONDENT #11 1. What class level are you? • Sophomore


3. What is your major? • Accounting and Finance

4. Where do you live? • I commute





9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • They always schedule me for classes that I cannot get into, then when I email them

about it they say there's nothing that they can do. 10. Has your academic advisor taken time to get to know you on a personal level? • No

11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • I have met with a different academic advisor every semester


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • I will graduate on time, but I had to mess around to switch required classes from one

semester to another because they schedule me before I can get in. 14. Has your academic advisor created a GPS plan with you? (if your answer is no, please answer "no" and skip to question 16). • Yes



17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • I have a different one every time and they basically just tell me what classes I should

take in general 18. Has your academic advisor reviewed additional resources and appropriate referrals to improve your collegiate experience? • No


• They haven't told me about any resources 20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • I have yet to meet with a good advisor in the College of Business



3. What is your major? • Visual Journalism






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • Sometimes I still feel a little lost with my major and what all it entails. I've switched my

major several times and I feel like that could have been prevented if I understood what each major was.


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • We only talk about academic subjects.


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • They are very helpful with scheduling.




17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • I feel like when I switched my major I was still lost on what I was doing.


19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. • No additional resources have been provided.

20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • I just wish that when I was unsure of my major I would have learned about all of my

options. I feel like I was swayed into choosing the wrong major because my advisor knew more about a certain major.



3. What is your major? • Integrated Science






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • My adviser is super bubbly and makes me feel extremely comfortable. Also if I have a

question she always gets me an answer even if that means emailing me on a different day.


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • I don't see her enough for her to really get to know me well.


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • She's like a second mom when it comes to grades. She wants me to do well!!




17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • She knows I want to be the best teacher I can be and she also is aware that I want to

graduate in a timely manner. 18. Has your academic advisor reviewed additional resources and appropriate referrals to improve your collegiate experience? • Yes


• I didn't pass the reading portion of the Praxis so she told me about the on campus option.

20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • I enjoy going to see my adviser. It's really no hassle to go there so that's really nice.



3. What is your major? • Spanish Literature, Culture and Translation






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • She has literally no knowledge at all whatsoever about my major. She relies 110% on my

faculty advisor. Not only that but she does not have really any input on what she feels would good minors or classes in general to take. She also mislead me into thinking I was finished with Kent Core, which I am not. She also does not remember my name.


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • I am in the Learning Community for the College of Arts and Sciences. It has been very

easy for her to get to know me due to her close proximity, however she still does not remember who I am or my major. In fact she has introduced me by the wrong name to the dean. However she does know me well other than that.


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • One semester my advisor did not turn in paperwork in a timely fashion, therefore the

entire learning community was locked out of their registration for classes. 14. Has your academic advisor created a GPS plan with you? (if your answer is no, please answer "no" and skip to question 16). • No



17. Please explain your answer to question #16. 18. Has your academic advisor reviewed additional resources and appropriate referrals to improve your collegiate experience?

• No 19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. • My advisor was unable to point me in the direction of anyone including a faculty advisor

to help me figure out classes/ a career path. I had to seek out my faculty advisor through the department.

20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • I think that for the Learning Community, for it to flourish, should have multiple

advisors. The current advisor is not knowledgeable of programs other than science programs and it can be very frustrating.



3. What is your major? • Exploratory






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • They have helped greatly, but I still leave with un answered questions


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • They have never asked me anything un related to Kent.


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • She has told me what is needed to graduate and how to stay on track.

14. Has your academic advisor created a GPS plan with you? (if your answer is no, please answer "no" and skip to question 16). • No


17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • I'm exploratory, so they haven't helped much.


19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. • I didn't even know of anything that could be reffered to me...

20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • They have been very polite, but not the most helpful



3. What is your major? • psychology






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • She really helps me figure out what classes to take


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • She asks about my life


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • Graduation




17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • Talking about graduate school


19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. • References to grad schools

20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • None



3. What is your major? • IHS






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • she is very helpful and answers all of my questions!


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • all we have talked about was school related things


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • yes we talk about my roadmap and what my graduation requiremts are




17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • when we met last we had a long talk about what i wanted to do after college


19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. • she helps me to make sure im taking the right classes and makes sure im staying on

track each semester

20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • i wish my academic advisors building was closer



3. What is your major? • Exercise Science






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • My honors college advisor is amazing, but my regular advisor for my major is jus okay.


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • My honors college advisor has taken a lot of time to get to know me.


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • we have talked about class requirements




17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • they both know what my career goals are



• as mentioned above, my honors college advisor is very involved with my schedule and makes sure to be available whenever I need her. My EHHS advisor sometimes just talks about the required information and I am out of her office within 5 minutes.



3. What is your major? • Marketing






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • Very Helpful


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • We just discuss school and that's it.


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • He has met with me.




17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • Just discuss school


19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. 20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • Advisor is very helpful









9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • She's great and helpful


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • Where I was from etc


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • Scheduling




17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • We spoke about them at our last meeting


19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. • Minors and career opportunities

20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • They all seem to know what they are talking about and very helpful



3. What is your major? • Political Science






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • They were very rushed and didn't seem to care about the student they were dealing with; just

wanted to get to the next student. 10. Has your academic advisor taken time to get to know you on a personal level? • No

11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • I've met with him multiple times this semester and every time he asks me the same questions

and doesn't pay attention to meeting me or the answers. 12. Has your academic advisor met with you to your curriculum, graduation requirements, policies, procedures, and deadlines? • Yes

13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • I want to graduate on time.




17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • He doesn't seem interested.


19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. • N/A

20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible!



3. What is your major? • Fashion Design/Merchandising






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • Able to help me figure out which classes to take but they were not helpful when figuring

times etc. 10. Has your academic advisor taken time to get to know you on a personal level? • No

11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • Not really, just asking how are you and similar small talk


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • To discuss classes




17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • Asked which industry I wanted to focus on.



20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • I feel that they are helpful to an extent but do not help more than the minimum



3. What is your major? • Public Health






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • Not helpful.


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • n/a


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • I have gotten emails, no personal contact.




19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. • the college of public health could do much more

20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible!

• I feel like if you do not like your advisor, there would be no personal contact - and that was okay for me because i could figure out things on my own. There are some people, however, that need more help and a nicer advisor would have been better!



3. What is your major? • Hospitality Management






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • I feel as though they do not help me as much as I would like them too.


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • There are so many students that I feel like there is not enough time to get to know them all.


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • They help me determine what classes I need to take for graduation.





19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. 20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • I wish they spent more time helping students on a personal level and what there needs are.



3. What is your major? • public health






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • The advisors that I have met with, my major used to be pre nursing, seem to not know

much and just spit stats at me. They had to ask other people for the real answers and didn't help me figure out what to do when I was confused. I hate going.


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • I didn't like her so I didn't let her.


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • We didn't really talk about that




17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • She hated me like I hated her


19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. • She saw I was struggling and didn't do anything to help

20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • I hate going to my advisor



3. What is your major? • Human Development and Family Studies






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • My advisor is so helpful with keeping me on track to graduate. She answers my stupid

questions and has continued to help me with all my occupation ideas. 10. Has your academic advisor taken time to get to know you on a personal level? • Yes

11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • When I meet with my advisor she makes me feel like we're friends because she cares

about my future as much as I do. 12. Has your academic advisor met with you to your curriculum, graduation requirements, policies, procedures, and deadlines? • Yes

13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • We always go over what classes I should take the following semester, and what classes I

can take if any of them are filled. 14. Has your academic advisor created a GPS plan with you? (if your answer is no, please answer "no" and skip to question 16). • Yes



17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • We always talk about the future because she can suggest classes that I would have to

take to see if that is something I would want to do. 18. Has your academic advisor reviewed additional resources and appropriate referrals to improve your collegiate experience? • No

19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. 20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • Kellye Stillwagon is awesome!



3. What is your major? • Marketing




7. How many times have you met with your academic advisor thus far in the 2013-2014 year? 8. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being least satisfied, 10 being very satisfied), how satisfied are you with your meetings with your adviser? • 3

9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • Don't know any courses and what its about


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • Met them once.


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. 14. Has your academic advisor created a GPS plan with you? (if your answer is no, please answer "no" and skip to question 16). • No






3. What is your major? • International Relations






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • I go in a lot so they know me and are very helpful for me.


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • The dean of my major knows me well and seems to really care.


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • Since I am abroad she met with me a lot to make sure I was on track.


15. If you answered yes to question 14, has your academic advisor kept the GPS updated across additional semesters? 16. Has your academic advisor taken time to understand your academic, personal, and career goals? • Yes

17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • Everyone in the arts and sciences college is very knowledgeable.


19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. 20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • The college of arts and sciences advisers rock!



3. What is your major? • Justice studies






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • They never actually help me when I need help


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • He just skips straight to the climax and doesn't get to know the real me


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • I don't think my advisors care if I ever graduate



17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • My advisors are worthless


19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. 20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • Kent's academic advisor need to improve their attitudes towards students



3. What is your major? • Psychology






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • Of the two times I have been to meet with my adviser, they are helpful but only to a

point. They answer my questions but do not give me any extra information that might be beneficial, or really guide me into what classes I need to take when. Also, I think it would be helpful if they knew some information about studying abroad so that when they are asked questions about it they don't only say "you need to meet with this person, because I don't know anything about studying abroad"/


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • He usually asks how I am and how my semester is going. But that is all





17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • No questions about what I want to do in the future have come up


19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. • I honestly do not know of any possible resources they could have referred me to other

than a tutor but by the time I have to go see my adviser, it is halfway through the semseter

20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • I feel like I only go to the academic adviser to only schedule for my classes, since it is a

requirement. I feel that this is the main and sometimes only reason why people go to their adviser.









9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • She's very knowledgable and is very helpful with any questions I have.


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. • In FYE she learned a lot about us and took the time to learn about us individually.


13. Please explain your answer to question #12. • She tells me exactly what I need to take and when I need to take it.




17. Please explain your answer to question #16. • She knows exactly what I want to do with my future


19. Please explain your answer to question #18, and include the resources they made available to you, or resources you would have liked to have been referred. 20. Use this space to provide any additional comments or critiques concerning the involvement of academic advisors in your collegiate experience. Please be as detailed as possible! • I really have enjoyed my academic advisor and couldn't ask for a better one.



3. What is your major? • Interpersonal Communications






9. Please explain your answer for question #8. • never any availiable slot open if you want to schedule for within the month


11. Please explain your answer to question #10. 12. Has your academic advisor met with you to your curriculum, graduation requirements, policies, procedures, and deadlines? • Yes




17. Please explain your answer to question #16. 18. Has your academic advisor reviewed additional resources and appropriate referrals to improve your collegiate experience? • Yes


Overall, the responses prove to be very insightful. When rationalizing

the data for question #8 reading, “On a scale of 1-10 (1 being least satisfied,

10 being very satisfied), how satisfied are you with your meetings with your

adviser?” the responses shifted, generally, in a positive direction with about

one third of the entire sample size stating that their satisfaction rate lied

between 6 and 10 on the rating scale. The segmented market of freshmen

and sophomores also proved to shift positively, with 10 responses between 6

and 10 and only 5 responses lying between 1 and 5.

The answers given to question 8 divided the already segmented

market into two categories: underclassmen students who were generally

unsatisfied with their advising experience, and underclassmen students who

were generally dissatisfied with their advising experience. Their response to

question 8 validated this division, and we will further explain.

Though there seemed to be no general pattern in those either satisfied

or least satisfied, of those 15 freshmen or sophomore responses, 3 of the

satisfied responses arose from the College of Nursing. Their responses were

generally the same, stating things such as “I really enjoyed my academic

advisor and couldn’t ask for a better one,” to “I wish advisers were able to

help more when it came to scheduling and offer more advice. Though, my

adviser was still helpful and kind.” This information is helpful not only in

that the additional comments offer both critiques, but positive criticisms, but

also that the positive responses generally resonated from one college, and

there were no responses from the College of Nursing in the dissatisfied

range.

Question #20, allowing the respondents to provide comments or

critiques, proved to be very influential in highlighting excellent advisors

seen by our target market. Comments such as “Kellye Stillwagon is

awesome!” by respondent #26, a sophomore Human Development and

Family Studies major, also respondent #31, a freshman Nursing major stated

“I really have enjoyed my academic advisor and couldn’t ask for a better

one.”

Question #14, reading: “Has your academic advisor created a GPS

plan with you?...” is one of the most crucial and influential within the survey

distributed. Holding the plan to their collegiate career at Kent State, a GPS

plan helps students clearly state the courses they wish to enroll and how

required courses will fit into their schedule for the remainder of their time at

Kent State. From the sample of satisfied students, only one respondent, #15,

a freshman Exploratory major, answered that her advisor had not created a

GPS plan with her. This is solely correlated to her major being undefined,

seeing as a GPS plan for exploratory majors is impossible. Though, her

answer to question 16, “Has your academic advisor taken time to understand

your academic, personal, and career goals?” she chose the answer “No,” and

clarifying that “I’m exploratory, so they haven’t helped much.” This is seen

as quite alarming, taking into account that this respondent has seen her

academic advisor 3-4 times within her freshman calendar year, and,

according to question 7 (clarification of her initial satisfaction rating of her

personal academic advisor), states “They have helped greatly, but I still

leave with unanswered questions”.

This raises a red flag, seeing as exploratory majors within the

freshman class should be seeing a lot of help from their academic advisors in

defining their specific academic and career goals. It is evident that this

student is persistent with the need to develop a career path, but there is

definitely concern with the lack of attention seen on the student’s end.

Dissatisfied respondents within the segmented market were dispersed

all over Kent State University, arising from the Fashion

Design/Merchandising program, Accounting and Finance, Public Health,

Psychology, and Justice Studies. Their general consensus laid in the general

fact that their advisors did not make an effort, in their minds, to get to know

them on a personal level. From reviewing their responses, there was also a

general commonality in saying that their academic advisor was not confident

in the advice they were giving, making the students uneasy seeing their

advisor ask for further help in offering advice. One student, respondent #30,

a freshman psychology major, clarified her rating of 4 to question 8 with,

“Of the two times I have been to meet with my adviser, they are

helpful but only to a point. They answer my questions but do not

give me any extra information that might be beneficial, or really

guide me into what classes I need to take when. Also, I think it

would be helpful if they knew some information about studying

abroad so that when they are asked questions about it they don’t

only say ‘you need to meet with this person, because I don’t

know anything about studying abroad’.”

This respondent also noted that, when meeting with her advisor, he

usually asked how her semester was going, but wouldn’t ask much more

regarding her personal life. Taking this into consideration, respondent #30

states that she has met with her advisor 1-2 times in the last academic year,

and she only visits her advisor “halfway through the semester.” Therein

where the problem may lie: unlikeliness of students to schedule

appointments with their advisors regularly.

This problem was discussed pre-research with Mr. Antalvari, noting

that the sole purpose of the new advising initiative was to mandate advising

for Kent State underclassmen, in hopes of bettering their collegiate

experience.

Overall, the study proved that the current status of Mr. Antalvari’s

newly initiated advising plan has influenced students in a positive way.

When analyzing the success rating amongst seniors and juniors that

participated in the survey, the success rate was an average of about 7.5.

Respondent #10, a senior Marketing major, states “i feel like most advisors

(with an exception of mine for the first few years here) don't really care

about how successful you are, they're just there because it's their job and

they have to be.” Another junior International Relations major attests “The

college of arts and science advisers rock!”

Altogether, the research proved to be very influential in that the

feedback about the current attitude toward Kent State University’s academic

advisors was in a positive manner. Negative connotations of academic

advisors seen within the survey were reviewed and considered in the

findings, while a vast majority of the negative comments were due to fault of

both the advisor and the student.

_____________________________________________________________

5 CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE RESEARCH

To conclude the synopsis for our research, we suggest and support

Mr. Antalvari in his efforts to better understand and improve the academic

advising experience for undergraduates at Kent State University. Our

research proved that his efforts thus far have been very influential to the

current status of undergraduates at Kent State University. We recommend

the maintenance of the current advising plan in place, and do not recognize

the need for further research.

Our additional comments include that of further implementation and

attention to detail. As stated in the body of the research, various colleges’

students claimed a lack of attention to the personal needs and career goals –

an opportunity for growth is seen here with potential interviews and

questionnaires of those specific colleges and their students.

Altogether, the research concludes that academic advising within the

undergraduate underclassmen’s collegiate experience at Kent State

University is something of great value and something needed for individual

success in Kent State’s students. Our group is confident in our findings and

wishes Mr. Antalvari great success in his endeavors to perfect the academic

advising system at Kent State University.

Documents

Research Synopsis