Advising and Student Supports Redesign Services

JFF is partnering with Achieving the Dream (ATD) to assist Student Success Centers as they support their states’ colleges in redesigning advising and student supports through an integrated and holistic approach to helping students through guided pathways. ATD provides a range of tools and services focused on making the case and building awareness for redesigning advising and student supports, as well as facilitating the structural, process, and behavioral changes needed to improve student success.

LEVEL 1: ADVISING REDESIGN TOOLKIT AND RESOURCE HUB (SUMMER 2017)

SSC Executive Directors and staff have access to critical chapters of ATD’s Integrated Student Support Toolkit to support their efforts to introduce to colleges the importance of redesigning advising and student supports. SSCs also have access to implementation guidance. The resource provides materials—including guides, templates, tips, and case studies—that help SSCs and colleges understand the components of and approach to integrated advising and student support redesign, and engage with important discovery, readiness, and evaluation activities and tools. The toolkit is delivered through an online platform, ATD Connect, which includes a resource hub that features articles, webinars, and examples from the field. EDs are encouraged to leverage their ATD consultation time (see Level 3 below) in advance of utilizing the toolkit with colleges.

LEVEL 2: GROUP TRAINING AND CONSULTATIVE SESSIONS (SPRING 2017-SUMMER 2018)

ATD will offer a series of training sessions for all SSC EDs including:

JFF SSC Network Guided Pathways Strategy Meeting (May 11-12, 2017):
ATD launched its services for the Network at the May event in Austin, where SSC teams consulted with ATD and JFF state teams and planned for rolling out advising redesign and supporting colleges in the process of implementation.

ATD Integrating Advising & Student Supports Institute (Oct 2-5 ,2017):
EDs had the opportunity to participate in a customized track at ATD’s Integrated Advising and Student Supports Institute, focused on preparing colleges to transform advising and student services to promote a seamless delivery and student experience.

ATD Sessions at Other JFF Meetings:
EDs will receive additional training and leadership development related to redesigning advising and student supports through ATD’s participation in JFF’s semi-annual state policy meetings, SSC Network meetings, and other virtual and in-person meetings.

LEVEL 3: CONSULTATION FOR ALL EDS (SPRING 2017-SUMMER 2018)

EDs may schedule two hours of virtual consultation with ATD to discuss their colleges’ needs related to advising redesign and strategize how to roll out a plan for making the case for change. These sessions will also help EDs strategize how best to leverage the toolkit and resources available on ATD Connect. ATD will review materials about each Center in advance, and produce a feedback memo for each ED based on the consultation session. 

CUSTOMIZED IN-STATE CONVENINGS FOR CENTERS (SPRING 2017-SUMMER 2018)

ATD will conduct comprehensive in-person convenings customized for Centers that are further along in their guided pathways efforts and are well-positioned for deeper work in redesigning advising and student supports in 2017. Readiness and timing for this level of service will be determined in collaboration with JFF state teams. These convenings will cover a range of topics from ATD’s toolkit, including aligning an integrated advising and student supports approach with other student success initiatives, analyzing an institution’s readiness assessment, and developing an institution’s action plan and evaluation plan. Participating EDs will have access to 8 hours of virtual consultation with ATD—4 before and 4 after the convening—to prepare and plan next steps.