The Journey from Day One to Graduation Day

Stephanie Kirylych, DirectorOffice of Academic Advising

Where We’ll Go on Our Journey

Introduction to Academic Advising• What is Academic Advising• Academic Advising Staff• Advising Through the Years

Introduction to Academics• Building the Wheelock Education• General Education• First Year Schedules

Parents and Academic Advising

What is Academic Advising?

Academic advising is a developmental process which assists students in the clarification of their life/career goals and in the development of educational plans for the realization of these goals.   It is a decision-making process by which students realize their maximum educational potential through communication and information exchanges with an advisor; it is ongoing, multifaceted, and the responsibility of both student and advisor.   The advisor serves as a facilitator of communication, a coordinator of learning experiences through course and career planning and academic progress review, and an agent of referral to other campus agencies as necessary.

David S. Crockett, Ed.   (1987). Advising Skills, Techniques and Resources: A Compilation of Materials Related to the Organization and Delivery of Advising Services.  

Shared Academic Advising Model at Wheelock College• Professional Advisors for first and sophomore years• Faculty Advisors for junior and senior years• Student Advisors for first year

Advising Through the Years

First Year• Transition to college• Major exploration• Goal setting

Sophomore Year• Academic planning• Service learning• Study abroad

Junior Year• Support during

academic internships• Career planning

Senior Year• Graduation audits• Planning for life after

Wheelock

Academics at Wheelock

Building a Wheelock Education2011-2012

General Education

Arts & Sciences or Social Work

Major

Optional Professional

Major

Other

Select a required major from:

• American Studies

• Arts

• Communications

• Humanities

• Human Development and Psychology

• Math/Science

• Social Work Professional Major

Optional Professional

Majors:

• Child Life (application required)

• Education

• Early Childhood

-Preschool-Grade 2: Inclusive Classroom Teacher**

-Birth-5: Preschool-K

-Birth-5: Infant/Toddler

• Elementary**

• Special Education**

• Juvenile Justice & Youth Advocacy

**Leads to MA Initial Licensure

Other Options:

• Minors, Certificate

• Study Abroad

• Service Learning Trips

Required of ALL students

Earning A Wheelock Degree

In order to complete an undergraduate degree at Wheelock College ALL students must:

• Complete the General Education Program

• Be certified in Basic First Aid at time of graduation

• Complete the Wheelock Literacy and

Communication Exam (WLCE)

• Earn a Minimum of 134 Credits

• Earn a Minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.0

• Complete an Arts & Sciences OR Social Work Major

General Education Categories

Foundations of Knowledge and Inquiry• First Year Seminar: Critical Thinking• English Composition (1-2 courses depending on placement exam)• Human Growth and Development (1-2 courses depending on program)• Mathematics (1-3 courses depending on program)

Ways of Knowing (One course from each category)• Creativity and the Arts• Ethics and Social Justice• Historical Perspectives• Investigations in Science and Technology• Languages and Literatures• Self and Society

Cross-Curricular• One course designated as Perspectives on Diverse Cultures• One course designated as Upper Level Writing (taken at WHEELOCK!)• Capstone Seminar (usually taken in Junior Year)• Basic First Aid and Safety Certification• Wheelock Literacy and Communication Exam (WLCE)

Human Growth & Development (4 credits)• Includes field placement 3 hours per week

English Composition (4 credits) First Year Seminar (4 credits) One General Education course (4 credits)

OR

Summer Bridge or Jumpstart (2 credits) and possibly One General Education Course (4 credits)

Equals 16-18 credits (Full time status is 12 credits)

First Year Fall Schedule

There’s No Place Like Home: Your Role!

Be available to support and encourage• Encourage your student to make as many connections as possible.• Anticipate challenges and talk about possible solutions.

Ask the right questions• What skills do you now know you need to be a better student?• Can you figure out or understand the objectives of each of your classes?• Have you been using any of the resources on campus?

Encourage students to do things for themselves• How can you help your student set goals, take ownership, and become a

more independent problem solver?

Allow students to make mistakes• Students don’t want to disappoint you and often don’t want to admit that they

are struggling.

FERPA and Academic Advising

Can I find out my student's grades, or if she/he is attending classes, handing in assignments, or going to advising appointments on a regular basis?• Communication between parents and academic advisors is complicated

because the College is required to keep student academic information confidential, under FERPA. As such, the best approach is to ask your student directly. We realize that communicating with young adults can be a challenge--often, they are not as forthcoming as we might like.

Timeline of questions• September: Tell me about your classes. Have you started field placement

yet? • October: What mid-semester grades did you receive in your classes?• November: Have you met with your advisor? What courses did you select?• December: How are you feeling about the end of the semester? Can I see

a copy of your final grades?

It’s Your Turn!