opening the “gait” for future academic advisors: developing a meaningful graduate assistant and...
TRANSCRIPT
Opening The “GAIT” For Future Academic Advisors
Developing A Meaningful Graduate Assistant and Intern Experience
Margaret Garry, Kristopher Infante, Ashley McCall
RED:What is is your favorite animal?YELLOW: If you weren’t in Academic
Advising in Higher Education, what job would you have?
ORANGE: If you could only eat 1 food forever, what would it be?
PINK: What are 3 items you would want to have with you on a deserted island?
Before We Get Started…❖ Our vision for a meaningful experience encompasses
the development of roles that prepare graduate assistants (GA) and interns for marketable experiences in higher education and advising.
What is PACE?Personalized Academic and Career Exploration (PACE): A Focus on Freshmen
❖ Developed as our Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) theme for Southern Association of Colleges (SACS) accreditation in 2010
❖ The PACE Center opened in May 2012
Components of PACE❖ Academic Advising❖ Career Counseling❖ Mentoring and Academic Coaching❖ University Seminar
A “one-stop-shop” for first-year Texas State students
How GAIT Was Started
❖ Team formed in late Spring 2014❖ Currently in 2nd year of GA’s and starting recruitment for 3rd
intern and GA pool❖ Team Structure (Internal, leadership, etc.)
Prior to GAIT
GA duties prior to GAIT:❖ Answering phones❖ Scheduling appointments❖ Scanning documents❖ Filing papers❖ Other administrative duties
*No experience to prepare students for a position in Academic Advising. Minimal student interaction.
Graduate Assistant vs. InternGraduate Assistant❖ Year long commitment❖ Required enrollment at the
institution ❖ Limited to graduate students❖ Receives a monthly stipend
Intern❖ Semester long commitment❖ Can but does not have to be
affiliated with institution❖ Open to undergraduate students❖ Paid hourly (if applicable)
The Benefits
For Interns:1) Create a foundation
for employment in higher education
2) Receive a general understanding of
advising as a profession
For Graduate Assistants:1) Gain direct experience
advising students2) Receive a specialized
understanding of advising as a
profession
For Both:1) Given
opportunities to develop
professional skills2) Given a chance to
enhance employment
prospects
The Benefits for the Advising Center ❖ Additional staff to assist with students and projects
❖ Opportunity to develop new professionals
❖ More economical than hiring full time staff members
Budget
SPACE
Training
Supervision
Job Duties
Recruiting
Considerations for Building
Our Program
Eight Steps To Building Our Program
Assess Research Create Recruit Hire Train Evaluate Modify
Is there a need in your office?
What does your budget look like?
Do you have the space to accommodate interns and graduate assistants?
What need could a GA/Intern fulfill in your office?
What does supervision look like for your center?
AssessStep One
What university and departmental policies will
affect your decision to hire?
ResearchStep Two
CreateStep ThreeJob Description
Interview QuestionsApplication Form
Hiring Matrix
All of these documents can be found on the
website provided in your folder.
CreateStep Three
Logistics❖ Scheduling hours❖ Contracts❖ Supervision
Online student database
Recruit through relevant programs
Social media
Outreach through colleagues at different
universities
RecruitStep Four
Create subcommittees to work on hiring GA/Intern
Determine Logistics (Scheduling/Planning Interview/Offers, etc.)
Matrix Candidates
HireStep Five
TrainStep Six
Intern Schedule
Professional Development
❖ Interns❖Advising Philosophy❖Mock Advising❖Mock Interview
❖ Graduate Assistant❖Professional Development Workshops
❖Weekly Reflections❖Mentors❖Resume Building
EvaluateStep SevenIntern Performance Evaluation
Intern Exit Interview
GA Performance Evaluation
GA Training Evaluation All of these documents
can be found on the website provided in your
folder.
❖ 2014-2015 Academic Year
❖ Hiring Process
❖ Modified Timeline
❖ Modified Interview Questions
❖ Added additional GAs due to demand
❖ 2015-2016 Academic Year
❖ GA mentors
❖ Hiring Teams/Recommendation Process
❖ Intern timeline
ModifyStep Eight
My Experience
One Last Reminder…❖ Replicate what works for you❖ Share with colleagues❖ Collaborate on your campus❖ Goal: Be more intentional with student positions
and duties
Thank You For Attending!
Margaret Garry [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]