ARKANSAS NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE Academic Advising Handbook 2011-2012 Table of Contents I. Academic Advising ........................................................... Pages 3-5 II. Academic & Advisement Policies and Information ....... Pages 8-21 III. The Academic Advising Process ....................................Pages 23-30 IV. The Advising Session .....................................................Pages 32-36 V. The Admission/ Registration Process ...........................Pages 38-40 VI. Student Resource Directory ..........................................Pages 42-43 VII. Technology in Advising & Registration Process ...........Pages 45-54 VIII. Financial Aid Guidelines ...............................................Pages 56-60 IX. Business Office Guidelines ...........................................Pages 62-63 X. Degree Plans, Program Requirements & Tips for Advisement ........................................................ Page 64 XI. Appendix ......................................................................Pages 66-72 1 I. Academic Advising Pages 3 – 5 Academic Advising Mission Statement Advising Goals Advising Student Outcomes Definitions of Advising Advising Principles Advisor Role and Responsibilities Advisee Role and Responsibilities 2 I. Academic Advising Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC) Academic Advising Mission Statement Arkansas Northeastern College academic advising mission is to provide academic resources and support services to students to define, plan, and achieve their educational, career, and life goals. Academic Advising Goals Basic to the development of an effective institutional advising program is determining what should be the goals of the advising program. Arkansas Northeastern College has established the following goal statements:  To educate students to consider and clarify their educational goals  To teach students to evaluate or reevaluate their progress toward establishing goals and educational plans  To support students in developing an educational plan and selection of courses consistent with the student’s goals and objectives  To provide accurate information about institutional policies, procedures, resources, and programs  To make referrals to resources within and outside of the College as appropriate  To empower and encourage students to be self-directed learners Advising Outcomes As a result of successful academic advising the ANC student will:  Clarify his/her educational goals  Evaluate or reevaluate his/her progress toward establishing goals and educational plans  Develop an educational plan and select courses consistent with his/her goals and objectives  Receive accurate information regarding institutional policies, procedures, resources, and programs  Obtain needed referrals to resources within and outside of the College as appropriate  Demonstrate behaviors consistent with a self-directed learner Definition of Advising Advising is a developmental process, which assists students in the clarification of their life/career goals and in the development of educational plans for the realization of these goals. It is a decision-making process which assists students in realizing their maximum educational potential through communication and information exchanges with an advisor; it is ongoing, multi-faceted, and the responsibility of both student and advisor. The advisor serves as a 3 facilitator of communication, a coordinator of learning experiences through course and career planning and program progress review, and an agent of referral to other campus services as necessary. David S. Crockett (July, 1998, Modes and Models for Designing and Implementing a Successful Advising Program, National Conference on Student Retention). The following are all excerpts from the Noel-Levitz Participant Book/Resource Guide (1997). Introduction and Foundation, Academic Advising for Student Success and Retention. Iowa City, Iowa: USA Group Noel-Levitz.  Academic advising is a planning process that helps students to approach their education in an organized and meaningful way. Advising brings together all of the major dynamics in a student’s life. Edward “Chip” Anderson. (Noel-Levitz, 1997, p. 1 & 3.)  Academic advising is a process of teaching students how to become responsible consumers of their own educations. It’s also a process that involves teaching students how to make viable academic decisions. Juliet Kaufmann (Noel-Levitz, 1997, p. 1 & 3.)  Advising is a process of giving students guidance, support and encouragement. (Noel- Levitz, 1997, p. 3.)  Advising is a process of helping students diminish the confusion that comes with a new environment, clarify their goals and get the most out of their education. (Noel-Levitz, 1997, p. 3.) Advising Principles Arkansas Northeastern College encourages two general principles regarding academic advising. (1) Developmental Academic Advising A systematic process based on a close student-advisor relationship intended to aid students in achieving educational, career, and personal goals through the utilization of the full range of institutional and community resources. Developmental advising relationships focus on identifying and accomplishing life goals, acquiring skills and attitudes that promote intellectual and personal growth, and sharing concerns for each other and for the academic community. (2) Advising as an Extension of Teaching Extends the opportunity for faculty to apply their teaching skills in a one-on-one setting. Similar to classroom application, advising encourages self-reliance by helping students make informed decisions, set realistic goals, and apply critical thinking, learning and life management skills. Advisor Role and Responsibilities  Help students define and develop realistic educational career goals.  Assist students in planning a program consistent with their abilities and interests.  Monitor progress toward educational/career goals. 4  Discuss linkages and relationships between instructional program and occupation/career.  Inform students of the nature of the advisor/student relationship.  Interpret and provide rationale for instructional policies, procedures, and requirements.  Approve all designated educational transactions (e.g., schedule, drops and adds, withdrawals, change of major, graduation requirements).  Maintain an advising file for each student.  Assist students in identifying career opportunities.  Refer students to other sources when educational, attitudinal, attendance, financial, employment, or other personal problems require intervention by other professionals.  Designate and post hours available for advising.  Proactively contact advisees on a regular basis.  Inform students of special services available for remediation, academic assistance, and to meet other needs. Advisee Role and Responsibilities  Clarify their personal values, abilities, interests, and goals.  Contact and make an appointment with their advisor when required or when in need of assistance. If the student finds it impossible to keep the appointment, the student will notify the advisor and reschedule.  Become knowledgeable and adhere to institutional policies, procedures, and requirements.  Prepare for advising session and bring appropriate resources or materials.  Follow through on actions identified during each advising session.  Evaluate the advising system, when requested, in order to strengthen the advising process.  Accept final responsibility for all decisions. 5 II. Academic & Advisement Policies and Information Pages 8 – 21 Placement Remediation of Basic Skills Registration Procedures Transfer Policy Classification of Students Residency Regulations for Fee Assessment Purposes Educational Records Student Hold List Transcripts The Student’s Responsibility Credit for Courses Evening and Weekend Classes Summer Sessions Credit Transfer Course Numbering System Course Load Class Attendance No Show Policy Schedule Changes Scholastic Standards Academic Honors Good Standing Academic Probation Continued on Academic Probation Removed from Academic Probation Academic Suspension Academic Affairs Committee Petitions Committee Auditing a Course Grades Grading Scale Grade Point Average Grade Report Procedures Grade Changes Incomplete Grades Repeating Courses Academic Clemency Computer Laboratories First Year Experience (FYE) Academic & Career Enrichment (ACE) 6 Graduation (Degrees) Credit for Previous Training or Experience Institutional Assessment for Credit Credit by Examination Portfolio Development 7 II. Academic & Advisement Policies/Information Placement Students entering Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC) for the purpose of obtaining a certificate or degree are required to submit placement scores before registering. The Arkansas State Legislature established in Section 19 of Act 1052 of 1987 a testing and evaluation program for all degree or technical certificate students in the state. The Arkansas Department of Higher Education followed the established guidelines and issued cut-off scores for student placement in college level or preparatory level courses in math, English composition, and reading skills. Students may submit scores from the American College Test (ACT), the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), the ASSET Test, or the COMPASS Test, if taken within the last five (5) years. Students transferring to ANC are not required to submit test scores if they have successfully completed a college level course in English Composition, a college level math course, and made satisfactory progress in other college level courses. ANC requires ACT, SAT, ASSET, or COMPASS scores prior to enrollment in college level math, English Composition, and selected occupational courses. Students without one of these test scores at the time of registration will be required to take the COMPASS Test at ANC. Students should arrange to take the COMPASS Test before registration and may schedule the testing, at their convenience, through the Testing Center. This placement service is free to the student. Remediation of Basic Skills Arkansas Northeastern College complies with Section 19, Act 1052 of 1987, approved by the State Legislature, and requires remediation in areas profiled as deficient. The College employs a comprehensive assessment and placement program to assist each individual in realizing his or her potential and success as a student. Certificate and degree-seeking students must take the assessments; the College, furthermore, encourages all entering students to take the assessments. Assessments, in compliance with legislative mandate, are based upon any of the following: ACT, SAT, ASSET, or COMPASS. A student who is deficient in any area (mathematics, English, or reading) must enroll in and successfully complete the appropriate developmental course(s) during the first semester of enrollment. Students who require remediation must have the approval of their advisor in order to enroll in any college level course prior to completing developmental course work. Registration Procedures Students should: 1. Obtain, complete, and submit an ANC Application for Admission to the Registrar’s Office if they are a new student or a student that has not attended ANC within the 8 last academic calendar. Application forms are available in Student Services, at all extended campus centers, and on the ANC website: www.anc.edu. 2. Request final high school transcripts, GED test scores, and official college transcripts be sent to the Registrar’s Office at least two weeks before registration to ensure proper placement and academic advising. 3. Develop a schedule with their faculty advisor. New students may contact the Admissions Office for an appropriate referral based on the student’s major or area of interest. (Admissions Office: (870) 838-2948 or [email protected]. 4. Contact the Student Financial Aid Office regarding fee deferment options if receiving scholarships or grants. Appropriate award documentation maybe needed (such as external scholarship award amounts and requirements). (Financial Aid Office: (870) 762-3103.) 5. Contact the Business Office for assessment and payment of fees. Registration is completed when all fees have been paid and/or deferments are processed. 6. Obtain an ANC student ID. 7. Acknowledge that all courses listed in the schedule are subject to change or cancellation. Transfer Policy Students transferring to ANC should request official transcripts be sent to arrive in the Registrar’s Office, at least two weeks prior to registration, to ensure appropriate placement and advisement at the College. All transcripts need to be received and evaluated prior to registration. Students not submitting official transcripts by the next registration period will be placed on hold until all records are received. College transfer credit must have been earned at an accredited college or university with a grade of “C” or better. Possible transfer courses, with no ANC equivalent, will be evaluated for possible general elective credit if applicable. (Transcripts from non-accredited colleges will, in general, be evaluated on the same basis as that used by the state university of the state in which the transfer college is located.) Transfer students must be in “good” academic standing at the last institution attended. Transfer students should have a cumulative grade point average which falls within ANC’s guidelines for good academic standing. Students on academic suspension from another institution will be eligible for admission after having remained out of school for one semester. No transfer student will be admitted who is ineligible to return to the transfer institution. Students must be enrolled as certificate or degree candidates at ANC in order to have transfer credit evaluated and added to their permanent record. Grades earned in transfer courses are not calculated in the student’s grade point average. The cumulative grade point average at ANC is computed only on ANC’s courses completed. Transfer credit will be recorded showing the equivalent ANC course title and credit hours. Vocational or technically oriented transfer courses will be accepted when directly related to a particular associate in applied science degree. 9 Classification of Students Freshman - A student who has earned less than 30 semester hours of college credit (1-29). Sophomore - A student who has earned 30 or more semester hours of college credit (30+). Residency Regulations for Fee Assessment Purposes Students are classified for fee assessment based on their legal domicile (or that of their parents, if they are minors). No student shall be classified as an “in-county” student unless he or she is a resident of Arkansas and has resided in Mississippi County for at least six consecutive months prior to the beginning of the term for which the fees are to be paid. The six-month requirement may only be waived for persons, their spouses, and their unmarried children under the age of 23, who move to Arkansas with attendance at ANC only as a by-product of the primary purpose of establishing a domicile in this state. Residency determinations are made by the Registrar and are based on the regulations and guidelines of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. Such guidelines are on file in the Registrar’s Office and are available for review upon request. Educational Records The Registrar’s Office maintains a permanent record on each student which contains his or her application for admission, final high school or official college transcripts, GED test scores, immunization records, and other pertinent documents. Students are allowed to examine their files, but must first make an appointment through the Registrar’s Office. Student educational records (except directory information) are confidential, and access is restricted to: (1) the student, (2) ANC faculty and staff who have a legitimate educational interest, and (3) authorized officials/agencies cited in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. Directory information is defined as the student’s name, address, telephone number, major field of study, classification by year, number of hours in which enrolled and number completed, dates of attendance, and degrees completed--including type and date granted. Directory information is considered public information; however, a student may request that his/her directory information be classified as confidential. Such requests should be made in writing to the Registrar each semester at the time of registration. No information may be released on students whose records have been classified as confidential. A copy of Arkansas Northeastern College Educational Records Policy is available in the Registrar’s Office. Student Hold List A student may be placed on hold for the following reasons: 1. Unpaid financial obligations to the college. 2. Incomplete records, including final high school transcripts, official college transcripts, and proof of immunization. 3. Failure to register with Selective Service. 4. Other obligations to the college such as library materials, equipment, and textbooks which have not been returned. 5. Failure to complete exit loan counseling. 10