Advisement Services provides
many options for students

Advisement Services staff at Arkansas State University are constantly looking for better ways to serve students and meet their continually changing needs.

Director Jill Simons has worked at ASU in student services since 1997, but she has been the leader behind efforts in the Office of Advisement Services. The office was established in 2000 as an attempt to coordinate the advising efforts and practices at ASU.

"The original charge of this office was to provide an academic advising home for exploratory (undecided) students while also providing ongoing training and support for our valuable faculty advisors," Simons said. "Advising Services has since evolved to include academic assistance programs such as the Restart@statePprogram and the Early Alert Program (EAP)."

Previously when an exploratory student arrived on campus, a set of volunteer faculty advisors helped to guide those students in addition to their assigned students in their college or specific program.

Dr. Lynita Cooksey, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, served as an advisor to undecided students and said that it was more taxing on the student and faculty member.

"Students are vying for the time and attention of faculty members who have a course load, and their own students in their program to advise, so it becomes difficult to work through schedules and other demands and still give exploratory students the attention they deserve," Cooksey said. "As an advisor, you can only do your best to provide the student with support and information, and when a student hasn’t selected a major it is more difficult to connect with them. The Office of Advisement Services offers students a home to go to, full-time assistance and plenty of resources instead of being divided among other faculty across campus."

Students who use Advisement Services have three full-time advisors, two part-time advisors and a graduate student to work with. In addition to the personal advisement attention, students will also find computer programs loaded with software that focuses on career interests and other helpful resource information.

Other walk-in administrative services include assistance with changing majors and university withdrawals. Another program Simons and her staff initiated is the Restart@state Program, which provides students with a second chance after being placed on academic suspension for undesirable grades.

The program limits the number of courses students may enroll in and requires them to take a Restart Seminar, which is worth one credit hour. The seminar focuses on study skills, decision making, motivation, goal setting and time management.

Studies show that across the nation many students have to work while attending school, increasing their personal responsibilities. This often leads to poor grades, overwhelming circumstances, and for many, a lack of motivation, according to Simons.

One of the many benefits of this program for students is the added connection they get to other students and the university. By working together with the student to schedule classes and coordinating the curriculum, students can be enrolled in more than one general education class together, giving them a natural connection.

This is the fifth semester that the Restart@state Program has been in operation. Simons, who received her bachelor’s in studio art from the University of Arkansas and her master’s degree in human development and counseling, specializing in college student development from the University Rhode Island, said that on average 200 students enroll in the program each semester.

Initial findings show that approximately 50 percent of the students in the program are academically able to, and choose to, continue their education at ASU. Both Cooksey and Simons said they are very pleased with these early findings, and hope to see those numbers further improve as programs and support change to better meet the need of the student in the future.

Another program the office initiated in fall 2001 that is seeing good results is the Early Alert Program. Derek Miles, associate director of advisement services, coordinates the program, which provides faculty the ability to refer students about whom they are concerned.

"Based on faculty discretion, one may refer a student to the EAP program via the Advisement Services website. Derek coordinates the office’s efforts for each referral," Simons explained. "Students are referred for a variety of reasons which have included absenteeism, poor class performance, or a lack of study skills."

The program has expanded and now includes intervention for first-year students with a 2.2 grade point average or below at midterm.

Coming this spring, Advisement Services will pilot a program for students on academic probation. Staff members will host mini-workshops during the interim sessions for students. Their attendance is optional, but Cooksey hopes that students will see the benefits and participate.