Advising at IWU: Findings from Focus-Group Discussions
Submission Type
Event
Faculty Advisor
Amanda Vicary
Expected Graduation Date
2018
Location
Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Start Date
4-21-2018 2:00 PM
End Date
4-21-2018 3:00 PM
Disciplines
Education
Abstract
Advising is an important component to students’ satisfaction and success. In an effort to better understand students’ perceptions of advising at Illinois Wesleyan University, six focus groups were conducted. The groups consisted of randomly selected sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Analyses of the sessions revealed five main themes: the level of desire for personal relationships with advisors, importance of advisors’ knowledge of gen-ed requirements, importance of advisors’ knowledge of minor requirements, importance of student preparedness for advising sessions, and the structure of the advising process. Although overall satisfaction with advising was high, by making slight adjustments to current policy and offering guidance to advisors on how to best support students, we believe that the path can be paved for an even more satisfactory, collaborative relationship between students and advisors.
Advising at IWU: Findings from Focus-Group Discussions
Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Advising is an important component to students’ satisfaction and success. In an effort to better understand students’ perceptions of advising at Illinois Wesleyan University, six focus groups were conducted. The groups consisted of randomly selected sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Analyses of the sessions revealed five main themes: the level of desire for personal relationships with advisors, importance of advisors’ knowledge of gen-ed requirements, importance of advisors’ knowledge of minor requirements, importance of student preparedness for advising sessions, and the structure of the advising process. Although overall satisfaction with advising was high, by making slight adjustments to current policy and offering guidance to advisors on how to best support students, we believe that the path can be paved for an even more satisfactory, collaborative relationship between students and advisors.