University System of Georgia Strategic Plan

Strategic Goal One:
Renew excellence in undergraduate education to meet students’ 21st century educational needs.

Challenge

Research has shown that advising quality is related to retention and graduation. To increase retention and graduation rates, System institutions will provide quality advising.

Action

Initiate a series of activities that will make advising more consistent across the University System of Georgia; increase the accountability of advisors and others in the institutions; and improve the quality of information to students and student-advisor interactions.

Activities for Implementation

All 35 institutions will...

  1. have an advising mission statement.
  2. have an academic advising administrative structure.
  3. have mandatory student advising.
  4. have an advising handbook.
  5. have an advising training program for faculty.
  6. have a written advising plan.
  7. have a published two-year course schedule.
  8. implement an electronic advising/scheduling program.
  9. determine a process and schedule for evaluating advisors.
  10. assess their advising programs annually.

Baseline Measure

A comparison of advising programs across the System shows a variety of approaches and little accountability.

All 35 institutions will have...

2009 Target 2009 Actual
Advising mission statement 31 yes; 4 in process
Academic advising administrative structure 32 yes; 2 in process
Mandatory student advising 16 yes; 19 targeted
Advising handbook 26 yes; 9 in process
Advising training program for faculty 14 yes; 2 in process; 19 budget cuts
Written advising plan 34 yes; 1 in process
2010 Target 2010 Actual
A two-year course scheduled posted online. 33 yes; 1 in process. MCG waived
Purchased, installed and implemented Degreeworks Combination of budget cuts and operational difficulties with DegreeWorks have delayed goal achievement to 2011
Process for evaluating effectiveness of faculty and staff advisors Delayed to 2011 pending decision by faculty and staff advisors
2011 Target 2011 Actual
A process for annual assessment of their advising effectiveness On hold pending decision by System Office and Regents Task Force on Graduation regarding surveying students to determine satisfaction with advising.
2012 Target 2012 Actual
   

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