Students enter postsecondary institutions to change their lives in some way, with degree pursuits providing opportunities to grow academically, socially, and professionally. However, significant numbers of students are unable to meet the goals they had set for themselves when they entered college. Developed by the What Works Clearinghouse™ (WWC)…

At its most effective, advising is a collaborative process between a student and an advisor designed to help the student realize their educational potential. Most postsecondary institutions have historically used advisors to help students select and register for courses, but postsecondary institutions are increasingly asking advisors to play an…

This article describes the evolution and design of a model for college academic advising program development in response to changing student needs and institutional pressures. The model demonstrates that the phases of development are interrelated, that direction and degree of change vary by program, and that every program has multifaceted…

An inservice training program for advisers of undergraduate students that was implemented at Michigan State University in 1981 is discussed. Four primary ingredients were essential to establish and sustain the program: financial support and sponsorship by the central administration, the identification and authorization of the appropriate unit and…

Background information on University of Denver's computerized degree check and advising system, the Academic Progress Report (APR), is presented. The APR program, which was implemented for undergraduates in fall 1976, is discussed in terms of the need for the program, its development, implementation, problems, and future directions. The system…

The use of cognitive social learning theory to help students plan independent study projects is examined and illustrated in the context of a Manchester Metropolitan University (England) senior project program. The theoretical model drawn from the theory focuses on self-regulated learning, and its application emphasizes students' development of…

Each semester in the 136 state-supported community colleges in California, counselors are involved in developing, maintaining, and/or revising hundreds of programs that may or may not result in helping students move efficiently through the system. Developed as a resource for administrators and counselors charged with improving community college…

The Teaching Support Center (TSC) at the University of North Dakota was established in 1992 to provide faculty and graduate assistants with a wide range of pedagogical, professional, and technological assistance in order to improve the quality of instruction. A 3-year plan was developed to implement 13 goals, which are: (1) determining the needs…

Guidelines to enhancing the freshman year experience are presented in the following chapters: (1) "A Comprehensive Approach to Enhancing Freshman Success" (M. Lee Upcraft, John N. Gardner); (2) "Who Are Today's Freshmen?" (Arthur Levine); (3) "A Historical Look at the Freshman Year Experience" (John Orr Dwyer); (4) "Understanding Student…