New Blog Site for the QEP Update

Hello. We moved to a new blog site. Our new blog address is http://blogs.nvcc.edu/qep/.

See you there!

How the GPS for Success fits in

NOVA has a lot of initiatives and programs that deal with student success. How does the GPS for Success fit in? It will be the guide for the student as they interact with NOVA resources.

After much research and collaboration, the GPS for Success is moving right along. Here are the major points:

Focus: Improved academic planning skills through academic advising.

Audience: First year students, particularly recent high school graduates.

Objective: By meeting with advising specialists early, students will learn how to develop an academic goal, select an appropriate program of study, and create an academic plan. With continued engagement with faculty advisors, students will learn how to select appropriate courses for their program, schedule classes according to their needs, and reflect on their academic performance.

The use of an electronic academic planning tool, early engagement with advising specialists, and continued engagement with faculty advisors will provide a more comprehensive and consistent advising experience.

Logo for the QEP

A GPS requires thoughtful input and uses resources to deliver guidance. NOVA’s plan to restructure academic advising includes a new way of thinking about academic advising. We are moving away from prescriptive advising and towards advising as a learning experience. We want students to set goals, thoughtfully choose a program of study, work with advisors to plan an educational plan, and reflect on academic performance as semester schedules are created. The QEP includes plans to develop resources to help students become more responsible for their educational planning and help faculty and staff become better advisors.

Many thanks to Ms. Lisa Hill, Assistant Dean of Communication Design and her talented studio students. The QEP logo was created by Marvin Vargas, a student pursuing an A.A.S. degree in Communication Design.

Presentation on QEP details

Click on the link below for a short presentation on the QEP
GPS for Success: Teaching and Learning through Advising

How will advising be restructured?

Students will meet with an academic advising specialist prior to or early in their first semester. They will work together on goal setting and verification of program placement. The "advising specialist" is a new position and will be introduced to each campus.

Students will be assigned to a faculty academic advisor during their first semester. Faculty advisors will take a proactive approach to advising, connecting with students early and often.

Counselors will focus on their specialties, such as career counseling, transfer services, disability services, and veterans’ affairs. In addition, they will provide academic advising to general studies students, non-curricular students, and those on academic probation or warning.

Tools and resources are being developed to aid students, faculty and staff in teaching and learning through academic advising.

How to create a new advising world

Your friendly QEP Development Committee is hard at work on projects to improve advising and enhance students' academic planning skills. Here are some of the projects we're working on:

Assessment of personal development general education goal
Restructuring of assignment of advisees to advisor
Establishment of director of academic advising and advising specialist positions
Development of advising training modules
Development of program of study exploration tools
Redesign of student and faculty advising websites
Investigation of CRM software for tracking advising
Creation of annual award for academic advising
Creation of student video contest to demonstrate importance of advising

You'll notice that a lot of these projects involve more than the QEP Development Commmittee. We're working closely with other college units and committees to ensure that we're all heading down the same road.