Academic Advising Initiative (Hiring Process)

Academic Advising Initiative: Staffing An intentional advising system for Portland State undergraduates was recommended by the First Steps for Student Success and Retention group. In conjunction, the Academic Advising Council presented an intentional model of advising to Faculty Senate. This model is set for implementation starting with the Fall 2010 cohort.

Portland State University has approved funds for the first phase of a campus-wide initiative to improve academic advising. The initiative intends to improve student success by coupling professional advisers with faculty to provide intentional advising throughout a student’s education while at Portland State.

Project Working Group Members: Academic Advising Council (AAC). (Chair) Dan Fortmiller, Associate Vice Provost Academic & Career Services

Project Description Based on the shared structure of University Studies staffing model, the Academic Advising staffing model consists of the following: Funding The initiative has been funded at $1 million with an initial outlay of $800,000 earmarked for hiring 12.0 FTE academic professional advisers to support schools/colleges efforts and $200,000 dedicated to supporting unified advising records, prescriptive degree maps, and degree map milestones tracking and on-going professional development and support of the advising initiative. Position allocations are based on a review of number of majors within the College or Unit, number of degrees granted, professional advisers already on staff according to assistant or associate deans, and an initial funding model that seeks to bring PSU to a minimum 600:1 ratio of adviser to student. One time commitment, funded by salary savings includes $5000 per position for recruitment and $5000 per position for equipment.

Timeframe and Metrics

Action Plan: Staffing Leads Completion Notes Date 1) Collect position descriptions from schools/colleges Mary Ann Barham 5/14/10 Done

2) Create unified job descriptions for baseline academic professional advising responsibilities. Includes Mary Ann Barham, Dan 5/28/10 Final draft to AAC responsibilities to participate in campus-wide advising Fortmiller 6/1/10 trainings, assessments and evaluation activities.

3) Specific position analyses for each college/school to AAC college/school reps: Need by 6/11 acknowledge differences in educational/work experience CLAS – Robert Mercer 6/11/10 requirements and advising delivery modes. CUPA – Craig Wollner CLAS – Done 6/4 FPA – Judy Patton CUPA – Done 6/16 MCECS – Marcia Fischer FPA – Done 6/15 SBA – Darrell Brown MCECS – Done 6/15 SSW – Janet Putnam SBA – Done 6/3 SSW – Done 6/8 3) Finalize expected advising FTE for schools/colleges. Input from AAC, Roy Koch 6/21/10 CADS, Special Asst. to Provost 4) Draft MOU for schools/colleges Dan Fortmiller, Sukhwant 5/31/10 Ready for review Jhaj 5) Centralized recruiting effort. Dan Fortmiller, HR, sub- To publicize and committee AAC June/July start cycle. 6) Initial screening of applicants through search July/August committee designed by AAC. Sub-committee AAC

7) Secondary screening and selection by schools/colleges. By college/school July/August (AAC member on each committee)

8) Selected applicants hired and trained – centrally and Mary Ann Barham & September/ Sherie Guess, DMSS then school/college specific. Robert Mercer central October has agreed to serve training in a training capacity.

Metrics to be decided by Academic Advising Council, Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Council of Academic Deans by December 15th. 2010.