Recommendation from the Academic Programs and New Initiatives Task Force:
Further develop a campus-wide advising/mentoring community (comprising faculty, administrators, support staff, and coaches) that aims to meet the growing number of diverse advising and mentoring needs of our students.
Additional explanation:
Anticipate that this would involve adding two additional staff (one administrative assistant, one professional) to the Academic Advising Center. This would also involve providing appropriate professional development for Advising Center staff and other advisers/mentors to meet the following areas of growing need: 1. disability support in light of the growing complexity and accommodations for documented needs; 2. monitoring and support of physical and psychological medical leaves and re-admissions, academic and disciplinary suspension re-admissions; 3. monitoring and support of at-risk groups including first-generation college students, ELL students, and immigrant populations; 4. articulation of the values of a liberal arts education relating to practical use for careers or further study; 5. identification and encouragement of students of promise, aiming for graduate fellowships and awards; 6.exploration of the most effective ways to register and orient new students to campus; 7. collaborative work with the vice president of enrollment management to support any specific retention initiatives.
This recommendation was placed in the Personal Growth and Development Strategic Framework Substantive Category using the language:
Further develop a campus wide advising/mentoring community that aims to meet the growing number of diverse advising and mentoring needs of all our students, including the recent work of the Men’s Leadership Initiative.
This recommendation was placed is Tier 1 and is being monitored by the Provost and Dean of the College.