Development and Implementation of an Advising Program's Meet-and-Greet Session

Area of Science:

• Higher Education
• Student Affairs
• Academic Advising

Background:

• Effective student-faculty relationships are crucial for academic success.
• Traditional advising models can present challenges in establishing initial connections.
• Innovative approaches are needed to enhance student advising interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the implementation of a novel advising meet-and-greet program.
• To assess student and faculty perceptions of the program's impact on interactions.
• To determine the program's effectiveness in facilitating initial advisee/advisor meetings.

Main Methods:

• A meet-and-greet program was conducted for student advisees and faculty advisors.
• Online surveys were distributed to participants to gather feedback on program perceptions.
• Data from 17 faculty members and 95 students were analyzed.

Main Results:

• 100% of advisors and 85% of students found the program valuable.
• Advisors reported improved success in meeting advisees and reduced scheduling time.
• 83% of students found the event more convenient than separate meetings, increasing comfort in contacting advisors.

Conclusions:

• The advising meet-and-greet program effectively facilitated initial student-advisor meetings.
• The program demonstrated a reduction in self-reported faculty time and resources.
• Institutions can adopt this model to promote and strengthen student advising relationships.