Valuing the Student's Voice Through Assessment

Lindsay BrissetteKim Charmatz, Ph.D.

Elizabeth Higgins, Ed.D.Lynsey Thibeault

University of Southern Maine

Advising

Your Voice

We would love to hear your voice! To participate in our interactive poll- please text

USMADVISING185 to 22333

Assessment: What is it?

Assessment is a process that focuses on student learning, a process that involves reviewing and reflecting on practice as academics have always done, but in a more planned and careful way.

• Ewell, 2000

USM’s Advising Model: Pre-2010

USM’s Advising Model: 2010 - 2015

USM’s Advising Model: 2015 - present

Student Learning Outcomes

“Student learning outcomes define the goals of learning experiences; they specify what a student should be able to know, do, or value after

participating in those activities.”(Keeling, et. al, 2008)

Assessment History: Then and Now

2004• Student Learning Outcome

List• Surveys• Assessment Team

– Uneven Approach• Internal Results• Institutional

programs/initiatives guided need for assessment

Current State• Specific student Learning

outcomes • Surveys• Assessment Team with

Purpose• Results and plan are shared • Student needs drive

assessment work

Examples of Learning Outcomes

★ Students will identify first meeting discussion points

★ Students will choose topics of focus for future meetings

How Education and Student Development Theory Supports Student Voice in Advising

Empowering students to make their own choices leads to self-efficacy -William Glasser

Students participate in authentic dialogue and view themselves as change agents-Paulo Freire

Students create their own knowledge through experience-John Dewey

Self-efficacy beliefs Self-regulated learning Self-reflection-Albert Bandura

Developing autonomy and purpose-Arthur Chickering

Advising is a partnershipAdvising is teaching Student voice and action-Burns Crookston

Application of AssessmentRedesign of First Semester Meetings and

Academic Recovery

Data Informed Change

Change #1: Academic Recovery

Change #1: Academic Recovery

Before• Weekly check-ins• Highly structured• Advisor chose appropriate

resources• Advisor initiates midterm

progress check with faculty

After• Monthly check-ins• Student determines structure• Student chooses appropriate

resources• Student initiates midterm

progress check with faculty

MaximizedMinimized

Activity Fun!In your group, brainstorm ways you would like to

incorporate student voice in regards to your chosen topics

Academic Recovery- Why the Change?

• New Advising Model/ Program Expansion • Advisor Focus Group Feedback

– Can’t get students to come in– Feels punitive– Inconsistent– Unsustainable

Academic Recovery- Why the Change?

• University Wide Advising Survey– Students want advisors to “know their story”

• “Before” Data– 87 Enrolled, 54 participated (62% participation rate)– Bad News: Spring-Fall 2015 overall retention: ~45%– Silver Lining: Of those with 3-4 meetings, ~90% persisted

Academic Recovery- Results

Change #2: First Semester Meetings

Change #2: First Semester Meetings

Before• 18-point meeting checklist• Advisor-run• Goal setting minimized• Little student choice

After• 3-point meeting checklist• Student determines topics• Goal setting expanded• Mostly student choice

MaximizedMinimized

Change #2: First Semester Meetings

Before:

And this was only the first half!

Change #2: First Semester Meetings

After:

Plus:Successes

GoalsRegistration

First Semester Meetings- Why the Change?

• “Before” Data- Students voiced:– Students want a clear path to graduation– Students want more time to ask questions– Students want to talk about career

First Semester Meetings- Why the Change?

• Changes based on 2016 orientation format change– One-on-one Advising & Course Selection meetings– Reduced “summer melt” by 12%

• Advisor Focus Group Feedback

Fall 2016 First Semester Meeting• “Flipped” the meeting- structured choice

• Advisors reported richer conversations with students.

• The top Student Selected topics were topics in the advising purview:– Registration for Next Semester– Major/Minor/Core Requirements– Academic Career Goals– Graduation Timeline

First Semester Meeting: Student’s Voice

Thank You!

Lindsay Brissette- lindsay.brissette@maine.edu

Kim Charmatz, Ph.D.- kim.charmatz@maine.edu

Elizabeth Higgins, Ed.D.- bhiggins@maine.edu

Lynsey Thibeault- lynsey.thibeault@maine.edu

1 Updated 12.7.16

First Semester Meeting- Student Selected Topics Please circle the topics you’re interested in learning/ talking more about.

Together we’ll discuss action steps:

Exploring Different Majors

Your Role in Advising

Getting Involved on Campus

Immunization Records

Health Insurance

Academic Policies

Financial Aid

Tutoring/ Learning Commons

Residential Life

Honors

Disability Services Center

Other Topics:

School/ Life Balance

Registration for Next Semester

Strengths

Academic & Career Goals

JMG (Jobs for Maine Graduates)

Involvement Coaching

Trio Student Support Services

Major/ Minor/ Core Requirements

Veterans Services

Health & Counseling Services

Adding/ Dropping/ Withdrawing

MaineStreet

Conditional Admission

Transfer/ AP/ Military/ Other Credit

Transition to College

Getting Connected with Your Faculty Advisor

Study Skills/ Note Taking

Grad Timeline/ 4 Years = 30 Credits Per Year

Study Abroad

Community Engagement & Career Development

__________________________________________________________________________________

Tell me something that’s going well in your first few weeks at USM… What are your study strategies?

What are your goals for this semester?

2 Updated 12.7.16

First Semester Meeting- Advisor Selected Topics

Information you’ll need to register for next semester: Priority Registration

Wishlist/ How to Register for Classes

Let’s talk about some of the items you’ve identified on the back…

Action Steps: