Wouldn’t it be great to have a map for navigating the challenges of attending college? A new initiative currently under development at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute will provide just that for future students.
The initiative is titled “MAP: My Academic Plan,” and will lead to a stronger and more comprehensive advising experience for CCC&TI students. MAP was announced in 2015 as CCC&TI’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) project, part of the 10-year accreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
As part of the QEP, CCC&TI will implement new advising philosophies, resources and technology with a goal of improving overall student success. Training and resources also will be made available for CCC&TI faculty and staff to improve advising.
The QEP topic was chosen through surveys and input from faculty, staff and students in 2014 and 2015. Implementation will take place throughout the 2016-2017 Academic Year. There will be special events, promotions, and giveaways on both campuses to raise student awareness of “MAP: My Academic Plan.”
The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is a program to improve academic advising for all students. As “MAP: My Academic Plan” is implemented over the next few years, students will be assigned an academic advisor who will work one-on-one with them to develop a personalized plan that helps them achieve their goals of graduating on time in a field of their choice.
The purpose of the QEP is to enhance student learning and the environment supporting student learning while accomplishing the mission of the institution. Our QEP is the result of a collaborative effort that is based on the idea that advising is an effective teaching and learning tool and we, as an institution, understand that a structured and comprehensive advising program is necessary for successful academic experiences. We expect the QEP to promote a culture of advising that celebrates partnerships, improves communication, and facilitates systemic change that supports student success for many years to come.
With a student-centered approach from the QEP, CCCTI students will have a solid foundation for advising, registration, planning, and career readiness. Ultimately, final responsibility for career, program, and course selection rests with the student, but responsibility for providing a welcoming, trustworthy environment and accurate information rests with the institution. While supporting the institutional mission, vision, and specific strategic plan initiatives, the CCCTI QEP is expected to have a long-lasting effect on students’ educational journeys and experiences while enrolled at our institution and beyond.
The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is a program to improve academic advising for all students. As “MAP: My Academic Plan” is implemented over the next few years, students will be assigned an academic advisor who will work one-on-one with them to develop a personalized plan that helps them achieve their goals of graduating on time in a field of their choice.
Learn more about the QEP and MAP by reading the "What Does MAP mean to me?" document.
The CCCTI Strategic Plan emphasizes an academic culture of engagement and communication within and outside the institution. The Strategic Plan initiatives and objectives listed above connect to the purpose of the QEP in reaching all affected constituents (students, staff, faculty, and administration) to create a more structured advising process that is beneficial for everyone. With the QEP enhancing the college’s infrastructure through more efficient technology and stronger communication in advising practices, students will be more engaged in their own learning, and become self-advocates. They will understand their responsibility for obtaining their academic and professional goals and will be more proficient in articulating their needs.
From the preliminary research by the QEP Leadership Team, the committee formed a title for the plan, MAP: My Academic Plan. Because comprehensive advising entails more than registering for classes, the premise for MAP constitutes not only academic planning but also fosters collaborative involvement between students and the college in obtaining academic success. The CCCTI Marketing department created a logo, which is a graduation cap highlighted in a map place mark symbol. The graduation cap in the logo represents the end goal for students and reflects the college’s mission to help students strive for academic excellence and reach their educational potential.
Faculty members and Student Services staff are responsible each semester for registering students in classes and working with students to complete their program of study. For the purposes of this report, the following definitions for advising will be used.
Advisor is a full-time faculty or Student Services staff member who assists students in registering for their classes, creating their academic plan, and completing their course studies in a timely fashion.
Faculty Advisor is a full-time faculty instructor who assists students in registering for their classes, creating their academic plan, and completing their course requirements in a program of study.
Advising is the process of advisors assisting students in not only course registration but also academic and career planning to reach their educational and professional goals.