Bridging the Traditional Bridging the Traditional Divide Between Divide Between Academic Support Academic Support Programs and Student Programs and Student ServicesServices

CACUSS 2007CACUSS 2007

David McMurray, AVP Student Services and Dean of StudentsDavid McMurray, AVP Student Services and Dean of StudentsGail Forsyth, Director of Learning Services Gail Forsyth, Director of Learning Services Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, OntarioWilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario

Expectations for SessionExpectations for Session

The pastThe past Rationale for changeRationale for change The processThe process The new model The new model Our experienceOur experience The outcomesThe outcomes Future aspirations and Future aspirations and

developmentsdevelopments

The PastThe Past

Varied reporting structuresVaried reporting structures– VP Academic, AVP Student Services, FacultiesVP Academic, AVP Student Services, Faculties

Poor academic advising resultsPoor academic advising results– Globe and Mail, MacLean’s Globe and Mail, MacLean’s

Crisis response rather than proactive approachCrisis response rather than proactive approach Students unaware of support availableStudents unaware of support available Ambiguous roles and functionsAmbiguous roles and functions

– Silos existed Silos existed Services missingServices missing

– No transition and transformative linkagesNo transition and transformative linkages An attempt at the learning commons model, but An attempt at the learning commons model, but

lacked the defined directionslacked the defined directions

The Past The Past

The Old Model The Old Model • Accessible Learning Centre – AVP: Student Accessible Learning Centre – AVP: Student

ServicesServices• Media Technology – Director of Teaching Media Technology – Director of Teaching

SupportSupport• Study Skills – Director of CounsellingStudy Skills – Director of Counselling• Writing Centre – Director of Academic ProjectsWriting Centre – Director of Academic Projects

Rationale for ChangeRationale for Change

DemographicsDemographics– Younger and more diverse student populationsYounger and more diverse student populations

Accountability agreementsAccountability agreements Expectations – Parents, studentsExpectations – Parents, students Academic grade performanceAcademic grade performance

– Trends emergingTrends emerging Limited fundingLimited funding

Rationale for Change Rationale for Change

Student enrolment grew 100%Student enrolment grew 100% Infrastructure opportunitiesInfrastructure opportunities

– Need to integrate and collaborateNeed to integrate and collaborate– Desire to cross traditional bordersDesire to cross traditional borders

Partnership opportunitiesPartnership opportunities The Century Plan – A new directionThe Century Plan – A new direction

– Changes required to move forwardChanges required to move forward

The ProcessThe Process

Led by AVP Student Services and VP Led by AVP Student Services and VP Academic Academic

Secured President’s supportSecured President’s support Piloted a reviewPiloted a review Secured student supportSecured student support Secured affected department’s supportSecured affected department’s support Secured Senate’s supportSecured Senate’s support New model approved New model approved

The New ModelThe New Model

Our ExperienceOur Experience

Support at senior level criticalSupport at senior level critical Transparent processTransparent process PatiencePatience Trust Trust FlexibilityFlexibility Evolving processEvolving process Peer support effectivePeer support effective Focus on learning Focus on learning

The OutcomesThe Outcomes

Improved services for studentsImproved services for students– Expanded existing servicesExpanded existing services

New services for students New services for students – Advising, Math Assistance, Supplemental Instruction Advising, Math Assistance, Supplemental Instruction

Collaborative programming createdCollaborative programming created– Math and SI, Study Skills and Writing, Math and Math and SI, Study Skills and Writing, Math and

WritingWriting Synergies in services Synergies in services

– Transition program includes our students with Transition program includes our students with disabilitiesdisabilities

Silos have crumbledSilos have crumbled– Advisors approach advising collaborativelyAdvisors approach advising collaboratively

The Outcomes The Outcomes

Academic performance increased Academic performance increased – Data shows improvementData shows improvement

Unique funding model achievedUnique funding model achieved– University and student partnership University and student partnership

Survey results improved Survey results improved – NSSE results NSSE results

New campus-wide initiatives underwayNew campus-wide initiatives underway– First-year transition program (Headstart)First-year transition program (Headstart)

Increased campus profileIncreased campus profile Faculty interest – several pilots Faculty interest – several pilots

underway underway

Future Aspirations & DevelopmentsFuture Aspirations & Developments

More collaborationMore collaboration More integration in the classroomMore integration in the classroom More targeted programmingMore targeted programming More holistic approachesMore holistic approaches More emphasis on assessment More emphasis on assessment

and measuring resultsand measuring results

Future Aspirations & Future Aspirations & DevelopmentsDevelopments

New research coordinator New research coordinator componentcomponent

More intentional approachMore intentional approach University expectationsUniversity expectations Competencies and skillsCompetencies and skills Program outcomesProgram outcomes Student learning outcomesStudent learning outcomes

Closing RemarksClosing Remarks

We would like to acknowledge the We would like to acknowledge the contribution of our university contribution of our university colleagues to create this model that colleagues to create this model that bridges academic and student bridges academic and student services. services.

Questions and AnswersQuestions and Answers