Entering its third year, the Advising 360 program will continue in its pilot form this fall, interim Dean of the College Inge-Lise Ameer said.
A full cycle of students, 100 members of the Class of 2016, have completed the program, which continues until students declare their major sophomore year and receive a major faculty advisor.
“So far the assessment has been strong, but we’re not sure yet about the next step,” Ameer said.
Ameer said Advising 360 has involved collaboration among faculty, residential life staff and undergraduate advisors.
The program, launched in 2012, matches students with a faculty advisor for freshman and sophomore year. The faculty advisor works with each student’s undergraduate advisor and community director to provide more intensive advising.
According to assistant dean of first-year students John Pfister, student “return rates” — the number of students who return to see their dean after an initial visit — have typically increased under the pilot program. Before the program, only two of five freshman advisees would continue to seek his advice through the end of the school year, Pfister said. Out of 10 students assigned to him under Advising 360, however, he said seven or eight remained engaged all year.
Erin Czerwinski ’17, Cassidy McDermott ’17 and Hayley Hoverter ’17 all participated in the program as residents of one of the Cohen Hall floors involved in the program. Czerwinski and McDermott said they met with their advisors once or twice a term. Hoverter said she met with her advisor twice, and hopes to meet with her this term. All three said they converse frequently with their advisors via email.
During the program’s first few years, the deans hoped to identify its strengths and weaknesses, Pfister said. Now, the program is running more efficiently, he said, noting that it has become more conscious of student needs.
With two years completed, some improvements have been made, Pfister said, including changes to paperwork and training, closer attention to faculty feedback and targeted briefings about pre-health, athletics and Greek life for advisors, he said. The program has also emphasized a wholistic approach to advising, rather than just academics.
Czerwinski said her advisor spoke with her about physical education courses and adjusting to Hanover’s cold weather — the sophomore is from Florida. McDermott said her advisor organized a lunch with all of his advisees at the end of each term at the Orient restaurant.
One hundred residents of Bissell and Cohen residence halls will participate in the program this year, Pfister said.
Incoming advisors may initially lack the familiarity with student life that veteran advisors have developed, Pfister said, but ultimately they strengthen the program with fresh ideas and diverse perspectives.
Professors who remain with the program have shared tips with faculty new to the program, Pfister said.
“I love getting new blood, a new perspective, new eyes on the system to help us tweak some things,” he said.
Hoverter said that having a faculty advisor who knows other professors as an incoming freshman was helpful.
While Pfister said he did not know of plans to implement Advising 360 beyond its current pilot phase, he believes other advising services will adopt parts of its model, like the advisor training system, team-oriented approach and openness to “advising as career development.”
McDermott said she liked having an advisor sophomore year who knows her academic history.
“Just because you’re not a freshman doesn’t mean you know what you’re doing and what your plans are,” McDermott said.
Taylor Malmsheimer and Madison Pauly contributed reporting.
