The document discusses the creation of a Graduate Academic Services Center at Georgia Southern University. It provides background on the university and College of Education, which saw a need for more graduate student services and advising support due to increasing enrollment. A proposal was created to establish a centralized advising center, taking models from other institutions. The center opened in July 2011 and provides advising, recruitment, admissions support and other services. It aims to better meet the needs of graduate students, many of whom are adult professionals pursuing online or hybrid programs. Challenges of advising graduate students and working with faculty are also reviewed.
3. Learning Outcomes
1. Understand the current issues facing graduate students in
regard to their advisement and to the availability of student
services
2. Learn about the creation and implementation of the
Graduate Academic Services Center at Georgia Southern
University
3. Discuss opportunities and challenges of advising graduate
students and working with graduate faculty
4. 4. Understand the multi-dimensional role of a graduate advisor,
the nuances of graduate advisement and services, and how
they differ from undergraduate advisement
5. Explore ways to meet the needs of graduate students in
non-traditional ways
5. Presentation Overview
I. University and College Overview
II. The Proposal
III. Graduate Academic Services Center (GASC) Overview
IV. Students Served
V. Advising Model
VI. Challenges and Tips for Success
6. Georgia Southern University
• Founded 1906
• Dedicated to academic distinction in teaching, scholarship,
and service
• Carnegie Doctoral/Research University
• Fall 2011 Enrollment
– Undergraduate: 17,538
– Graduate: 2,692
• Student/Faculty Ratio
– 23:1
7. College of Education
• Bachelor's degree in Education is the oldest professional
degree at Georgia Southern
• Excellence and innovation in teaching, scholarship, and
outreach
• U.S. News & World Report Top
Online Education Program rankings
• Fall 2011 Enrollment
– Undergraduate: 1,133
– Graduate: 1,453
• (54% of the total graduate population)
8. Degree Programs
2012 - 2013 Academic Year
• 26 graduate programs
– 15 fully online
– 5 hybrid
• 4 endorsement programs
– 3 fully online
Many of these programs are moving fully online
beginning Fall 2012 to meet the needs of our students.
9. Assessment of College
• Gap in student services and advisement
• Faculty with 200+ advisees plus normal workload
• Georgia Southern undergraduate alumni in graduate
programs
• University focus on increasing graduate student enrollment
• Faculty staffing has not kept pace with increased enrollment
• Need for faculty to devote more time to research and grant
writing
• Increased offering of online degree programs
10. Development
• Administrative Coordinator for Graduate Programs
– Role was to assist Doctoral faculty with the two Ed.D. programs
– As graduate programs grew, more workload and demands placed on
this position
• During Spring semester 2011, research completed on
graduate advisement center models around the country
• Proposal created based on College needs with structure
modeled from other institutions
• Proposal was created through the College’s Office of the
Associate Dean for Graduate Research and Education
11. Development
• Proposal was sent to all COE faculty and department chairs for
review and suggestions and revisions were made
– Some faculty were resistant to proposal as they did not want to lose
advising and mentoring role with their students
• Proposal was then sent to the Dean of the College of
Graduate Studies and the Provost’s Office for review and both
the Dean and Provost approved the Center to start July 1,
2011
• Proposal was first of its kind for Georgia Southern. No other
unit has a focused graduate services center. The Dean of
College of Graduate Studies is encouraging other colleges to
adopt.
12. Implementation
Graduate Academic Services Center
• Opened July 2011
– Limited Services
• Two full-time staff and two graduate
assistants
– Fall 2011 was spent training
• Funding Sources
– Online tuition and Graduate School
13. • Began advising Spring 2012
– Center fully operational with advising
and other tasks
• Recruitment
– Graduate Student Recruitment Plan
– Blog
– Facebook
• Admissions
– Prospective student questions
– Background checks
– Interview scheduling
– Posting decisions
• Data collection and Assessment
– Program, College unit, and Grad Center assessment
14. Student Overview
Graduate Academic Services Center
• Adults
• Average age 33
• Professionals working in the field
• Part-time students
• Majority distance learners
• Have experience as professional educators
• Georgia Southern undergraduate alumni
15. COE Graduate Advising Model
Shared Structure
• Central administrative unit
• Advising by departments and Center
– Programs determine our level of advisement
• Recruitment
Graduate Academic Services Center
• One-on-one distance advising
• Individualized program of study
– Faculty mentor for research
16. What do you think graduate students want in a
relationship with their advisor?
17. Challenges Working with . . .
Students Faculty
• Availability • Availability
• Resources • Resources
• Expectations • Expectations
• Knowledge • Knowledge
• Accountability • Accountability
18. Tips for Working with Graduate Students
• Flexibility
• Understanding of outside obligations
• Alternative ways of communication
• Clear, up-to-date, and accurate requirements and deadlines
• Transparent information
• Easy access to information
19. Tips for Working with Graduate Faculty
• Flexibility
• Ease of access
• Stay organized
• Quick learn on program requirements
20. Opportunities Moving Forward
• COE Philosophy of Advising
• Faculty training on advisement and recruitment
• Graduate Student Orientation (online and on-campus)
• Online COE Graduate Student Handbook
• Online COE Graduate Assistant Handbook
• COE Graduate Assistant Training
• Revision of program and department websites
– GASC website
