University of North Dakota | Student Success Center

Retention Management System -- College Student Inventory (CSI) Information

Academic advising has been shown to be a key factor in student retention. As a process through which students determine their educational goals, reflect on their strengths and limitations and actively engage in planning, advising can serve as a solid foundation for success in the collegiate environment.

An essential part of the academic success of a student at the University of North Dakota, is the positive interaction with their academic advisor. To foster this relationship between student and faculty/staff, it is important to establish an avenue to assist in this process. This website is designed to do just that. You will have an opportunity to discover methods and tools to give you information at your finger tips.

University of North Dakota
Retention Management System - College Student Inventory

Advisor Guide
2004-2005

Your role in the Retention Management System - College Student Inventory is to help students successfully pursue and attain personal and educational goals. You are a major player in integrating students into the academic and social life of the campus. Developing a positive relationship between advisor and advisee is an activity most directly connected with student retention as well as satisfaction.

Advising is a process that involves more than just course selection. At its base, advising is an ongoing relationship taking into account the student's developmental level. As you work with your students, keep in mind their interests, anxieties, and values, as well as their abilities and educational goals.

The College Student Inventory is the tool within the Retention Management System designed to identify behaviors that will interfere with the student's ability to be successful at UND. A student's responses to items in the inventory are analyzed and complied into two reports - one for the academic advisor and one for the student.

The Motivational Assessment information is broken into three categories:
· Academic Motivation
· General Coping
· Receptivity to Support Services
Within each category, behaviors are identified as a percentile rank and as a bar graph. The higher the number, the higher the student's motivation, coping skills, and receptivity to campus support services. For a list of departmental and website referrals on these areas click here.

Specific Recommendations for Student is the final information provided on the RMS Advisor Report. A minimum of seven specific recommendations for each student are listed, ranging from suggestions to "get help with writing skills" to "discuss emotional tensions with a counselor." The priority score indicates the strength of each recommendation.

The Student Report does provide the Motivational Assessment information with the percentile rank and bar graph along with Specific Recommendations indicated by the priority score for each recommendation.

In addition, the Student Report contains narrative interpretations, which explain a student's score on each scale. The interpretations are clearly written and are designed to give students encouragement and guidance.

Expectations of the RMS Advisor
· Meet with assigned student on an individual basis at least one during the first six to eight weeks of the fall term.
· Become thoroughly familiar with each student's RMS report.
· Become sufficiently knowledgeable to refer students to appropriate resources to meet their needs.
· Function as a liaison between the individual student and the university.
· Establish a positive relationship with each advisee, which can be characterized as mutually respectful, open, friendly, and trusting.
· Help students focus on strengths while recognizing limitations.
· Follow-up with the student when appropriate.

For more information, please contact your Department RMS Coordinator, or Lisa Burger, Student Success Center, 7-4706.

Academic Motivation
Study Habits
1. Get Help With Study Habits
· Intro to Effective Study - A&S 250; 1 cr. Letter graded elective course
2. Get Help With Exam Skills
· University Learning Center, Memorial Union room 201, 777-4406
3. Get Tutoring in Specific Areas
· University Learning Center, Memorial Union room 201, 777-4406
· Online tutoring available at www.und.edu/dept/ULC/SMARTHINKING.html
· Mathematics Department, Witmer Hall room 313, 777-2881
· AISS Learning Lab, American Indian Student Services, 317 Cambridge, 777-4291
4. Talk to Someone About Stress or Time Management Skills
· Counseling Center, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
· University Learning Center, Memorial Union room 201, 777-4406

Intellectual Interests
1. Find Out About Academic Clubs and Organizations
· Student Organization Center, Memorial Union 1st floor, 777-3620
2. Get Help Selecting An Academic Program or Major
· Career Walk-in Center, McCannel Hall room 280, 777-3904
· Career Counselor, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
· Career Decision Making - Coun 101; 1 cr. part-term S/U graded elective course
· Academic Advisor

Verbal Confidence
1. Get Help With Writing Skills
· University Writing Center, Merrifield Hall room 12, 777-2795
2. Get Help With Reading Comprehension Skills
· University Learning Center, Memorial Union room 201, 777-4406
· Rapid Reading - A&S 250; 1cr. S/U graded elective course
· College Reading - A&S 250; 1 cr. S/U graded elective course
· Critical Thinking Strategies for College Students – A&S 250; 2 cr. Letter graded elective course
3. Find Out About CLEP tests
· Testing Services, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
4. Find Out About Correspondence Classes
· Continuing Education, Gustafson Hall, 1st floor, 777-2661

Math and Science Confidence
1. Get Help With Math Skills
· Refer to instructor of the course
· Mathematics Learning Center, Witmer Hall room 312, 777-2881
· University Learning Center, Memorial Union room 201, 777-4406
· Student Support Services, McCannel Hall, third floor, 777-3426
2. Find Out About Math Placement Exam
· Mathematics Department, Witmer Hall room 313, 777-2881
3. Find Out About CLEP Tests
· Testing Services, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
4. Find Out About Correspondence Study
· Continuing Education, Gustafson Hall 1st floor, 777-2661

Desire to Finish College
1. Find Out About Career Options
· Career Walk-in Center, McCannel Hall room 280, 777-3904
· Career Counselor, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
· Career Services, McCannel Hall room 280, 777-3904
2. Speak With A Counselor
· Counseling Center, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127

Attitude Towards Educators
1. Speak With A Counselor
· Counseling Center, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127

General Coping
Sociability
1. Get Help Meeting New Friends
· Resident Assistant in the Residence Halls
· Clubs and Organizations - Student Organization Center, Memorial Union 1st floor, 777-3620
· Intramurals - Hyslop Sports Center room 263, 777-4330
· Cultural Centers - International Center, Era Bell Thompson Cultural Center, American Indian Student Center, Women's Center
2. Roommate Issues
· Discuss with roommate
· Discuss with Resident Assistant
· Counseling Center, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
· Conflict Resolution Center, 314 Cambridge St., 777-3664

Opinion Tolerance
1. Speak With a Counselor
· Counseling Center, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
2. Find Out About Groups That Share Your Opinion
· Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, Memorial Union 1st floor, 777-3620

Career Closure
1. Get Help Selecting a Major/Occupation
· Career Decision Making - Coun 101; 1 cr. part-term S/U graded elective course
· Academic Advisor
· Career Walk-in Center, McCannel Hall room 280, 777-3904
· Career Counselor, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
2. Discuss Advantages, Disadvantages of Occupations/Majors
· Career Decision Making - Coun 101: 1 cr. part-term S/U graded elective course
· Academic Advisor
· Career Walk-in Center, McCannel Hall room 280, 777-3904
· Career Counselor, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
3. Discuss Qualifications for Occupations/Majors
· Career Decision Making - Coun 101; 1 cr. part-term S/U graded elective course
· Academic Advisor
· Career Walk-in Center, McCannel Hall room 280, 777-3904
· Career Counselor, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
4. Discuss Job Market for College Graduates
· Career Services, McCannel Hall room 280, 777-3904

Sense of Financial Security
1. Get Help Finding a Job
· Financial Aid Office, Twamley Hall room 216, 777-3121 (work study)
· Job Service North Dakota, Twamley Hall room 211, 777-4408 (institutional or off campus employment)
2. Get Help in Obtaining a Loan, Grant, or Scholarship
· Financial Aid Office, Twamley Hall room 216, 777-3121
3. Speak With A Counselor
· Counseling Center, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127

Receptivity Scales
Academic Assistance
1. Get Help With Study Habits
· Intro to Effective Study - A&S 250; 1 cr. Letter graded elective course
2. Get Help With Exam Skills
· University Learning Center, Memorial Union room 201, 777-4406
3. Get Tutoring in Specific Areas
· University Learning Center, Memorial Union room 201, 777-4406
· Online tutoring available at www.und.edu/dept/ULC/SMARTHINKING.html
· Mathematics Learning Center, Witmer Hall room 312, 777-2881
· AISS Learning Lab, American Indian Student Services, 317 Cambridge, 777-4291
4. Talk to Someone About Stress or Time Management Skills
· Counseling Center, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
· University Learning Center, Memorial Union room 201, 777-4406

Personal Counseling
1. Discuss Emotional Tensions
· Counseling Center, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
2. Discuss any Unwanted Habit
· Counseling Center, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
· Student Health Services, McCannel Hall 1st floor, 777-4500
3. Discuss Attitude Toward School
· Counseling Center, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
· Academic Advisor
4. Individual or Group Counseling
· Counseling Center, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
5. Crisis Management
· Counseling Center, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
6. Code of Student Life
· Dean of Student's Office, McCannel room 180, 777-2664

Social Enrichment
1. Get Information About Student Activities
· Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, Memorial Union 1st floor, 777-3620
· Intramurals - Hyslop Sports Center room 263, 777-4330
2. Get Information About Fraternities and Sororities
· Office of Greek Life, Memorial Union 1st floor, 777-3667

Career Counseling
1. Get Help Selecting a Major/Occupation
· Academic Advisor
· Career Walk-in Center, McCannel Hall room 280, 777-3904
· Career Counselor, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
· Career Decision Making - Coun 101; 1 cr. part-term S/U graded elective course
2. Discuss Advantages, Disadvantages of Occupations/Majors
· Academic Advisor
· Career Walk-in Center, McCannel Hall room 280, 777-3904
· Career Counselor, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
· Career Decision Making - Coun 101; 1 cr. part-term S/U graded elective course
3. Discuss Qualifications for Occupations/Majors
· Academic Advisor
· Career Walk-in Center, McCannel Hall room 280, 777-3904
· Career Counselor, McCannel Hall room 200, 777-2127
· Career Decision Making - Coun 101; 1 cr. part-term S/U graded elective course
4. Discuss Job Market for College Graduates
· Career Services, McCannel Hall room 280, 777-3904

Financial Guidance
1. Get Help Finding A Part-time Job
· Financial Aid Office, Twamley Hall room 216, 777-3121 (work study)
· Job Service North Dakota, Twamley Hall room 211, 777-4408 (institutional or off campus employment)

If referral resources do not appear to be effective or the student indicates a disability, refer them to Disability Support Services for confidential information about the disability and how to request accommodations at UND. Disability Support Services can be contacted by phone at 777-3425, McCannel Hall room 190, or via the web at http://www.und.edu/dept/dss/

Expectations are commonly set to encourage success on the part of all individuals involved. To increase this success, as an academic advisor you should:

Demonstrate a caring attitude. Post and keep office hours. Answer questions regarding general education requirements and major requirements. Be knowledgeable about university resources and be able to make referrals (i. e. University Learning Center, Counseling Center, Career Counseling Services). Understand freshman courses well enough to answer basic questions about them or suggest an appropriate one. Authorize completed registration form, change-of-registration forms, and various petition forms. Be able to explain the grade point average, effect of repeats, probation status, the reinstatement process, etc. Keep records and maintain confidentiality.

As there are expectations of an academic advisor, there are also expectations a student should follow to facilitate a positive advising session. A student should:

Ask questions--about anything! In order to handle the responsibility you need to know the answers. Make appointments to see their advisor: Dropping in does not always allow for quality attention. Ask about changing advisors if they are dissatisfied with their current advisor. Lean to fill our their own forms, Be prepared! Do the preliminary planning, goalsetting, and course selection prior to the advisor appointment. Make final course selection and do course scheduling after you have questions answered in the advisor appointment. Read all mail from their college. These letters contain important information about deadlines, registration procedures, etc. Remember that the ultimate responsibility for choosing classes, dropping classes, meeting curriculum requirements, etc. is theirs.

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As an academic advisor, various policies and procedures used by the University of North Dakota can be helpful to remember when working with students. The following lists some of the more popular situations that you may encounter:

Auditing a class
Students wishing to enroll in university classes as auditors must receive the prior consent of the instructor teaching the course. Anyone enrolling without such consent may be canceled from the class. An auditor is not required to participate in the oral or written work of the class. He or she takes no examinations and receives no credit for the course. He or she is identified to the instructor as an auditor. An auditor may not later establish credit in the course by taking a special exam. The course must be repeated as UND credit to earn credit. A student cannot fail an audit, but the instructor may file a "W" (withdraw) for non-attendance.

Advanced Placement
A student from high school which offers college-level courses through the College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement Program may be given UND credit and/or advanced standing in individual subjects.

UND math placement exam
Students planning to take entry-level mathematics courses at UND (Math102,103,104,105,204, 208,211) may enroll in their beginning mathematics course only after taking a math placement exam, or receiving a sufficiently high score on the ACT Mathematics test. Students who have received college math credit generally do not need to take the placement exam. Contact the UND Math Dept. 777-2881, concerning time and place of the placement exam. The placement test is used for placement purposes only. Passing these tests does not grant credit. Credit for Math 103 and/or Math 105 without taking the course(s) is available only through CLEP exams. Remember that Math 102 credit counts toward the number of credits a student is taking in the semester, but that credit will not count toward graduation.

CLEP
CLEP stands for College Level Examination Program. It is a national program that offers the opportunity for students to receive college credit in various subject examinations. UND accepts credit on CLEP subject exams only. Credit earned through CLEP subject exams may be used to fulfill UND general education requirements, specific course requirements, or to be used as elective credits. There is a minimum score for each exam that UND will give credit for. For more information, contact the Admission office at 777-3821.

Readmission of former undergraduate students
Students who have attended UND, taken some time off, and would like to return, need to fill out a request for readmission form available at the Admission Office. Those students who have enrolled in other institutions must submit official transcripts from that school, before they will be considered for readmission.

Which catalog to use
Students use the catalog in effect at the time that they matriculate to the University. Changes in requirements may be substituted at the option of the students. The faculty reserves the right to make changes in curricula at any time when it is determined that such changes are for the best interest of the student. We encourage strong communication between you and your student to enhance the advisement process.

S/U grading
Grades of S or U rather than the traditional grades of A through F are used by UND under special situations. Only students of sophomore, junior or senior standing (which would include students with 24 or more credit hours), are eligible to change a letter graded course to S/U grading.

Repeating a course
A student who receives a grade of D or F in a course may repeat the course without special permission. Grades of C or better may be repeated upon written approval of the department concerned, the dean of the college offering the course and the student's academic advisor. A petition form must be completed indicating the reason behind retaking the course along with the required signatures.

Semester grade reports
A student is now able to call ALFI to receive their semester grades. Grade reports will no longer be mailed to the student. Students are able to pick up a copy of their grade report from the Register's Office in Twamley Hall.

General Education Requirements
General Education courses are essential to learning at the University of North Dakota. As outlined in the academic catalog, the general education courses are broken down into four categories: Communication, Social Science, Arts and Humanities, and Mathematics, Science and Technology.

Remember the special requirements within the general education component. Students must take 3 credits to complete the world cultures requirement. The 4 credits of a lab science must be designated as so, in order for the course to meet the requirement.

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Care about the students you advise as people by showing empathy, understanding, and respect.

Establish a warm, genuine, and open relationship.

Evidence interest, helpful intent and involvement.

Be a good listener.

Establish rapport by remembering personal information about students you advise.

Be available: keep office hours and appointments.

Provide accurate information.

When in doubt, refer to the catalog.

Know how and when to make referrals, and be familiar with referral sources.

Don't refer too hastily; on the other hand, don't attempt to handle situations for which you are not qualified.

Have students contact referral sources in your presence.

Keep in frequent touch with students you advise; take the initiative; don't always wait for students to come to you.

Don't make decisions for students; help them make their own decisions.

Focus on students' strengths and potentials rather than limitations.

Seek out students you advise in informal settings.

Monitor students' progress toward educational goals.

Determine reasons for poor academic performance and direct students to appropriate support services.

Be realistic with the students you advise.

Use all available information sources.

Clearly outline students' responsibilities.

Follow up on commitments made to the students you advise.

Encourage students to consider and develop career alternatives when appropriate.

Keep an anecdotal record of significant conversations for future reference.

Evaluate the effectiveness of your advising.

Don't be critical of other faculty or staff to students.

Be knowledgeable about career opportunities and job outlook for various majors.

Encourage students to talk by asking open-ended questions.

Don't betray confidential information.

Categorize students' questions; are they seeking action, information, or involvement and understanding.

Be yourself and allow student to be themselves.
Used with the permission of ACT, Inc. Skills

Knowledge, and Attitude required for good academic advising "An Academic Advising Model" Terry O'Banion

The O'Banion model originally appeared in the AAJC Journal, March 1972, and was subsequently widely circulated with permission by ACT, as part of a compilation of advising resources prepared by David Crockett and Wes Habley. Used with permission of ACT, Inc.

O'Banion suggest that advising is most effective when it proceeds from an exploration of students' life, vocational, and educational goals. He views advising as much more than the verification of completion of degree requirements. The advisor does not need to be a professional counselor in order to explore with students some of the hierarchical concepts outlined below. Nor does it necessarily require much time to consider with students where they see themselves with regard to their development, and their awareness and the appropriateness of the choices they are considering.

The Advising Process:

1. Exploration of Life Goals
2. Exploration of Career/Educational Goals
3. Selection of Educational Programs
4. Selection of Courses
5. Scheduling of Classes

1. Exploration of Life Goals
knowledge of student characteristics and development
understanding of the decision-making process
knowledge of psychology and sociology
skills in counseling techniques
appreciation of individual differences
belief in worth and dignity of all
belief that all have potential

2. Exploration of Vocational Goals (all under 1. above plus the following)
knowledge of vocational fields
skill in interpretation of tests
understanding of changing nature of work in society
acceptance of all fields of work as worthy and dignified

3. Program choice
knowledge of programs available in the college
knowledge of requirements of programs (special entrance requirements, fees, time commitments) knowledge of university requirements for transfer programs
knowledge of how others have performed in the program
knowledge of follow-up success of those who have completed the program

4. Course choice
knowledge of courses available
knowledge of any special information regarding courses (prerequisites, offered only in certain times, transferability; Does the course meet graduation requirements? What is the appropriate sequence for the university?)
rules and regulations of the college regarding probation and suspension, limit on course load (academic and work limitations)
knowledge of honors courses or remedial courses
knowledge of instructors and their teaching styles
knowledge of student's ability through test scores, high school record
knowledge of course content

5. Scheduling courses
knowledge of schedule
knowledge of the systems of scheduling and changing the schedule
knowledge of employment and commuting requirements

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Academic advising enhancement programs are available to any faculty or staff group. The program topics can be formatted to fit your interests and schedule. We want to meet your advising needs.

Faculty development programs are available in any of the following areas:

Developmental advising concepts (advising as a method to assist students with personal growth as well as major choice, course scheduling, etc.) Academic advising as a tool for student retention. Planning for and conducting advising sessions. How to build sound relationships through listening skills and effective questioning and supporting student's interests, Campus resources· Working with students who are not succeeding academically. Registration practices and procedures (includes information on placement testing, use of catalog, scheduling courses, ALFI, etc. · Keeping advising records, National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) membership and advising resources

We are willing to offer any of the programs to meet your needs and in any format that will work for your department. Please contact the Office of Student Success Center at 777-2117 to schedule your personalized session on academic advising.