Transcript Academic advising - UWI St. Augustine

Dr. Godfrey Steel, UWIACHEA Conference July 2002
‘The Challenge Of Quality for the Higher Education Administrative Professional.’
Student Advising
A Communication Perspective
from The University of the
West Indies, St. Augustine
Dr. Godfrey Steele, UWI
Dr. Godfrey Steel, UWIACHEA Conference July 2002
‘The Challenge Of Quality for the Higher Education Administrative Professional.’
Introduction
• S.T.A.R.
– Students
– Teaching
– Access
– Resources
• How UWI & tertiary-level institutions could
apply STAR to developing the student advising
programme
• Preliminary data obtained from a survey
• Comparison of the local data with findings
from another university
• About me
Dr. Godfrey Steel, UWIACHEA Conference July 2002
‘The Challenge Of Quality for the Higher Education Administrative Professional.’
Student Advising
• What is student advising?
• Student advising is a formal programme for
providing student support in the context of
tertiary education. “Academic advising is a
planning process that helps students to approach
their education in an organized and meaningful
way.”
• “Academic advising is a process of giving
students guidance, support and encouragement”
(USA Group Noel-Levitz, 1997:3)
Dr. Godfrey Steel, UWIACHEA Conference July 2002
‘The Challenge Of Quality for the Higher Education Administrative Professional.’
UCSS Study
• A study conducted at the University of Colorado
at Silver Springs in 1993 found that
communication competencies were ranked in
order of importance (Morreale et al 1993).
• Expression (items 1-5)
• Apprehension/anxiety (item 6)
• Oral/listening and interaction skills (items
7,8,9,10)
• Appropriate use of language and appropriate use
of nonverbal/body language (items 11, 12)
Dr. Godfrey Steel, UWIACHEA Conference July 2002
‘The Challenge Of Quality for the Higher Education Administrative Professional.’
UWI Study
• The preliminary findings for Mt. Hope
students indicate that in response to the
question, “What would you change most
of all about student life at UWI, if you
could do so?”, the top three replies were:
– Recreation and leisure
– Facilities
– Mt. Hope-Main Campus communication
Dr. Godfrey Steel, UWIACHEA Conference July 2002
‘The Challenge Of Quality for the Higher Education Administrative Professional.’
UWI Study (cont’d)
• In response to the question, “What
would make your experience at
UWI a better one?”, he top three
views were:
Facilities
Recreation and Leisure
Co-curricular activities
Dr. Godfrey Steel, UWIACHEA Conference July 2002
‘The Challenge Of Quality for the Higher Education Administrative Professional.’
UWI Study (cont’d)
• In response to the question,
“Please list any pleasant
experiences you had at UWI”, the
most popular replies were:
Socialization
Recreation and Leisure
Teaching
Dr. Godfrey Steel, UWIACHEA Conference July 2002
‘The Challenge Of Quality for the Higher Education Administrative Professional.’
Significance of Advising
• Student Advising at UWI is desirable
and relevant, but more research on its
implementation and achievements is
needed
• Using S.T.A.R. can help to develop an
Academic Advising Programme
• Communication competencies are sees
as useful in Academic Advising
Dr. Godfrey Steel, UWIACHEA Conference July 2002
‘The Challenge Of Quality for the Higher Education Administrative Professional.’
Next Steps
• Consider how S.T.A.R. can help you
to develop an Academic Advising
Programme
• More data are needed from faculty
to compare their views with
students’ views.