explore. discover. decide. sonalized e. center for exploratory studies exemplary practice for...

Explore. Discover. Decide.sonalized e

Center for Exploratory Studies

• Exemplary practice for undecided students (National Academic Advising Association)

• Exploratory Studies - largest UC “major” at 1695– Up 245 bacc. as of Fall 2013 (plus 386 at regionals – new program)

• Advise Exploratory Studies & major-changers

• “Just stick to the gen. ed. and pick a career” is poor but well-intended advice

What Matters

• Early, intentional academic exploration

• Individual, personalized attention• Course selection• Structure and coordination of process

and information• Accessible comparative tools• Timeframe matters – a year or less

CES Advising Model

• Specially trained professional advisors focus on teaching academic and career pathways

• Relationship development with assigned advisors – highly personalized, one-on-one

• Mandatory-to-intrusive advising• Blackboard advising organizations and social

media• Student satisfaction at 93% + high quality

perception• Caseload management• Increasing student retention & enrollments

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100

200

300

400

500

600

700

03A 05A 07A 09A 11A 12F

Exploratory Freshman Enrollment

EXPL Chosen Total

EXPL Referred Total

Total Enrolled

*Collegiate Restructuring

50.0%

55.0%

60.0%

65.0%

70.0%

75.0%

80.0%

85.0%

90.0%

03A 05A 07A 09A* 11A 12F

FT/FT Exploratory Student Retention

A&S Overall

EXPL Chosen vs. A&S Overall

EXPL Referred vs. A&S Overall

UC Exploration Process• Pre-orientation surveys & tailored orientation process

• In-depth conversation with advisor (intake)

• Personality styles, career interests, abilities and career values assessessed

• Major interests assessment• Academic proficiencies assessed• Common patterns identified• Majors investigated more in-depth (curriculum, faculty

and requirements)• Experiential investigation

Exploration Resources• Variety of interest-centered learning communities

and freshman seminars (not “University 101”)

• Discovering UC Course• Accessible web tools

– UC’s “What Can I Do With My Major?” site– MyPlan – assessments plus career research results &

database– Academic program descriptions & curriculum guides– Exploration “Toolbox”

• Experiential learning components– Service learning– Academic internships– Connections to program faculty & exploration courses– Connections to academic clubs/organizations

Course Schedule Samples

Openly ExploringENGL 1001 or Freshman SeminarDiscovering UC or HumanitiesSocial Science or History(1-2 courses of identified interest areas)

Business InterestENGL 1001ECON 1001, Intro. To MicroeconomicsCOMM 2081, Business CommunicationMATH 1044, Applied Calculus IMGMT 1053, Business Foundations

Nursing InterestENGL 1001BIOL2001C, Anatomy & PhysiologyCHEM 1020, Intro. To Chem. & Biochem.CHEM 1020L, LabSOC 1001, Intro. To Sociology

Engineering InterestENGL 1001CHEM 1040, General Chemistry ICHEM 1040L, LabENED 1020, Engineering FoundationsENED 1090, Engineering Models I

Shared Commitment

Contact Information

Tara Stopfel WardenProvostal Liason for Advising

(513)556-5890Tara.Warden@uc.edu

Allison Logan, Ph.D.Director, Center for Exploratory Studies

(513)556-6538Allison.Logan@uc.edu