Peer Advisors on the Front Line Michael Geroux & Kristen Swaney - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Peer Advisors on the Front Line Michael Geroux & Kristen Swaney Advisement Services Center

Peer Advisor Team

Why Are You Here?  Before we begin, we’d like to get a sense from the audience as to why you are attending this session? Alexa said…“What I love most about being a Peer Advisor, is that I get to work with students and help them develop their academic path. Advisors were/are so great and to be an extension of that has been a great experience! I value being able to give my input, especially because I’ve changed my major three times and am still able to graduate a semester early. I have the opportunity to encourage others to commit to their academics and do what they really want to do. That’s what my advisors did for me.”

University at Albany Demographics  Over 13,000 Undergraduate Students 735 Non-Resident aliens 2,096 Hispanic 2,235 Black or African American, non-Hispanic 6,134 White, non-Hispanic 22 American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic 1,116 Asian, non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 14 non-Hispanic 396 Two or more races, non-Hispanic 391 Race and/or ethnicity unknown 13,139 TOTAL

Advisement Services Center …By The Numbers  Full Time Advisors: 16  Advisor Caseloads Range from 300 – 350 students  UAlbany has mandatory advisement for all four years  Number of Students Advised:  Fall Semester ~5600  Spring Semester ~4800  Fall 2016 – Largest Freshman Class (~2750 )

Developmental Advising in Advisement Services  Our Promise:  Encourage Exploration, Provide a Safe Environment, Challenge Assumptions, Develop Personal Connections, Engage in Honest and Critical Conversations, Support Campus Collaboration, Provide Individualized Support and Champion Individual Dreams  What does this look like…  Before Peer Advisors  20 Minute Appointments  Academic Requirements  Class Registration Process  Quick ‘check - in’ on students’ well -being

Developmental Advising in Advisement Services  With Peer Advisors  30 Minutes with Advisor  Academic Requirements  More in-depth discussion on student experience and progression of academic goals  Future plans in regards to internships, study abroad, extracurricular involvement, etc.  New Technological Improvements:  Education Advisory Board (EAB)  College Scheduler

Advising Millennial Students  One trait of Millennials is they…  …see themselves as special, and they need individual attention, which they received throughout their childhood. (Howe & Strauss, 2000)  Peer Advisor programs can help make students feel more supported and part of the campus community.

Program History  When the program began  Spring 2012 – Pilot semester (~6 Peer Advisors)  Fall 2012 – Program taking form (6 – 8 Peer Advisors)  Spring 2017 – Program in full swing (15 Peer Advisors)  Why the program was created  Use of peer advisors to assist in academic, personal, and career advising of new freshman students has produced positive results and helped freshman in their transition to the academic community (Barman & Benson, 1981)

Program History  Roles & Responsibilities  Knowledgeable guides… “Nuts & Bolts of Advising”  Assist students with class registration process  Help students understand degree requirements  Teach students the various parts of the MyUAlbany portal Gabby says…“One of the most valuable aspects about being a Peer Advisor is the opportunity you have to have an impact on fellow undergraduate students. We all go through different experiences and to be able to share those experiences and knowledge to better the community is a blessing”

Program History  Early feedback  Pros  High – functioning work study students  Students gave honest feedback on program  Students were flexible and eager to help  Cons  Mid – semester start up  Evolving roles & responsibilities – needed more structure  Additional work without a reduction in caseload or shift in responsibilities

Progression of the Program  Spring 2014 – Transition from Kristen to Michael  ~ 8 – 10 Peer Advisors  Fall 2015 – Program became more formal with use of a nomination & application process…  Criteria  Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher  At least sophomore standing  Strong interest in helping peers

Progression of the Program  Application Process  Formal application with statement of purpose  Interview with Peer Advisor Manager and one experienced Peer Advisor  Those selected were notified at the end of the interview  Staff Retreat and Training  Team building activities  Formal training  Peer Advisor 101…overview and day -to-day functions of program  Review of Peer Advisor handbook  Walk-thru of MyUAlbany Portal

Campus Outreach  Freshman Seminar presentations  Tabling events  Various workshops  Blogging via ASC Chat Lounge  https://ualbanyadvising.wordpress.com/  Twitter (@ASCPeerAdvisors) Lizz says…“I find it extremely valuable to be able to work with both professional staff and with students alike. This offers an opportunity for self-growth as well as the outward development of the entire UAlbany community.”

Managing the Peer Advisors  What’s involved on a weekly basis  Roughly 10 – 15 hrs. / week  Constant communication with team  Checking with a start/end of shifts  Emailing important information  GroupMe app for short updates, shift coverage, etc.  Staff meetings  Meet four times a semester  Use of agenda…important items, more training, announcements, checking-in

Earning College Credit  Community and Public Service Program  Volunteer hours done in a set placement with a direct supervisor  Four course options:  RSSW190 – 35 hrs.  RSSW290 – 100 hrs.  RSSW291 – 60 hrs.  RSSW390 – 100 hrs.  http://www.albany.edu/cpsp/index.php

Earning College Credit  Peer Education Program (EAPS456 & 457)  Course sequence designed for excellent students to support the teaching, tutoring, and mentoring of students in academic and academic support offices at UAlbany.  Placed in an academic office, Peer Educators spend 6 – 8 hrs. a week interacting with and assisting their peers.  www.albany.edu/student_engagement

Data, Data, Data  Survey implemented (Fall 2015)  Important to have raw data to understand what affect the program was having  Half sheet survey filled out by Peer Advisors after helping a student  Raw Data  FA15 – 40 surveys collected  SP16 – 70 surveys collected  FA16 – 376 surveys collected  More accurate reflection of the number of students helped by Peer Advisors in a semester

Spring 2017 Team Peer Advisor Class Year Major Brittany Sophomore Public Health Danielle D. Junior Criminal Justice & Sociology Gabby Junior Psychology Diane Sophomore Criminal Justice Alexa Senior Criminal Justice Jack Sophomore Business Administration Hendrix Junior Economics Konya Sophomore Globalization Studies Olivia Sophomore Philosophy Lizz Sophomore Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security & Cybersecurity Jon Sophomore Business Administration Aubrey Junior Psychology Erica Junior Psychology & Human Development Danielle S. Junior Psychology Alison Junior Sociology

Question & Answer Session  What concerns do people have in regards to possibly implementing their own program?  Those who have a program, do you have insight to offer the audience? Danielle D. says…“As a Peer Advisor, knowing that during every shift I have the ability to make a positive impact for fellow students regarding their academic careers makes me feel extremely valuable. Students are able to rely on us as a great resource for when they have questions or concerns and being there for them and helping them is why I believe being a Peer Advisor is valuable.”

THANK YOU Michael Geroux Academic Advisor & Peer Advisor Manager (mgeroux@albany.edu) Kristen Swaney Assistant Director & Pre – Law Advisor (kswaney@albany.edu)