Expanding Major Exploration Support for Deciding Associate in Arts Degree Seeking Students St. Cloud Technical & Community College Academic Advising Center Presenter: Carissa Johnson Practicum Site Mentor: Stacy Griffey, Director, SCTCC Academic Advising Center Practicum Coordinator: Dr. Christine Imbra St. Cloud State University Higher Education Administration Fall 2014 INTRODUCTION The Academic Advising Center at St. Cloud Technical & Community College provides an environment that supports students in developing an educational plan compatible with students’ interests, abilities and career goals. This site selection offered a valuable opportunity to learn and apply academic advising methods in a community college setting. PRACTICUM GOALS RATIONALE • Undecided/exploratory students represent a significant proportion of the entering student body at most colleges and universities. • Retention becomes an issue if programs are not available and strategies are not developed to help students progress to declaring a major that fits their abilities, values and interests. • Strategies developed for undecided students will ultimately impact the majority of students on campus. CAREER CHOICES WORKSHOP: MINNESOTA CAREER INFORMATION SYSTEM (MCIS) Students created an MCIS profile before taking assessments in three areas. This allowed them to identify which skills were most satisfying, receive their Holland Codes, and sort careers by priority. The assessments were then combined to generate a career cluster report for each student. MAJORS IN MINUTES: PASSPORT TO YOUR PLAN RESULTS & RECOMMENDATIONS REFERENCES Career Choices & Majors in Minutes Survey Results: • Students attending Career Choices reported greater confidence in identifying occupations that matched their skills and interest preferences • Students who created an MCIS profile reported that they will use MCIS in future educational and career planning • Students attending Career Choices and Majors in Minutes reported greater certainty in ability to make informed decision of major study Recommendations for Advising Center & Faculty: • Expand ongoing career development for deciding Associate in Arts degree seeking students in Advising Center • Expand use of post-career assessment tools in instructional material for faculty to support ongoing career planning 1. Understand career assessment tools used for deciding students in a community college Primary Project: Student Success Day Career Choices & Majors in Minutes 3. Understand use of Integrated Statewide Records System and student information systems 2. Clearly understand advising methods, practices, and processes in a community college Each career cluster was matched with its corresponding SCTCC academic area. After taking the Career Choices MCIS assessment, students had the opportunity to tour their areas of interest with SCTCC faculty and SCSU Student Relations Coordinators. Work Interest Skills Inventory Occupation Sort • Minnesota Career Fields, Clusters, and Pathways. Retrieved November 2014 from http ://www.mncareerpathways.org/careers/clusters.html. • National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). Undecided / Exploratory Students and Persistence. Retrieved November 2014 from http:// www.nacada.ksu.edu/About-Us.aspx. • Minnesota Career Information System. Retrieved November 2014 from https ://mncis.intocareers.org/materials/portal/home.html.