Approximately one-third of undergraduate students leave college after their first year. Students who are more actively engaged in college life and have a strong connection to a faculty or staff member are more likely to stay in school and succeed academically. Proactive advising anticipates students' needs and gets them engaged and connected as soon as they are admitted.

While this advising model is particularly effective with first-year and transfer students, the model can be applied to advising any on-campus or online student population. This model increases the probability for academic success for all students, but especially for first-year and transfer students who are considered at risk, including first-generation and minority students, students with financial difficulties, and students taking remedial classes.

DEFINING 'PROACTIVE ADVISING'

The proactive advising model assists advisors in building relationships with students by anticipating their needs and connecting them to appropriate resources and support from the beginning of their academic careers.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Administrators and "front-line" staff in academic advising roles that serve first-year and transfer student populations will leave the conference with the knowledge to use proactive advising to better serve first-year and transfer student populations. Specific positions that will benefit include:

• Academic counselors, advisors, and coaches
• Coordinators of first-year and transfer student success programs
• Directors of student success and academic services or support programs
• Retention coordinators and specialists
• Academic peer mentor trainers