Category Archives: Special populations

Advising Online Students March 20, 2013

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Terina McLachlain presented a workshop on Advising Online Students. The presentation covered trends in online learning, best practices for advising online students and some examples of online tools that advisors can use to connect with students. Below are links to some of these tools as well as notes from the presentation and the Powerpoint slides.

Joan Oakes from Ecampus shared what Ecmapus Learner Services can provide for online students who are having diffculties. Brandi Hoel, Noreen Siddiqui and Dawn Marie Gaid also shared tools and processes for preparing online students for the first appointment, engaging students in the process and how to help online students who aren’t sure if they are in the right major.

Online Advising Tools

Blackboard Collaborate is an online web conferences tool that allows you to share your screen, upload documents, video chat and more. Sign up for a FREE 30 day trial and at the end of the trial it will convert to a permanent “V” room that you can use to connect with students.

Prezi is a cloud based presentation tool that can be used for interactive presentations with your students. These can be used for group or individual online events such as appointments, orientations, open houses, etc..

Try a “Virtual” Bulletin Board! Larry Ferlazzo describes different kinds of virtual “bulletin boards” in his  blog post. You can post job openings, announcements about special events, and items of interest just like you see in the hallways at OSU. It’s a fun, visual way to get information to students without sending them yet another email.

Media Files

Powerpoint from Terina’s Presentation: Advising Online Students_ACT

Notes: AdvisingOnlineACT3 20 13

Resources:Resources

 

 

 

 

 

Advising Students with Disabilities

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Tracy Bentley-Towlin, Director of Disability Access Services, joined us on Jan 17th, 2013  for an informative presentation on the services available to students through her office and special considerations for advising students with disabilities. Her handout is attached below.
AdvisingStudents_Disabilities

Here are some important facts to pass along…

  • If you know any staff/faculty that have handicap parking placards and use the handicap spots to park for work, PLEASE encourage them to contact the Office of Equity and Inclusion to get a designated spot for themselves so the handicap spots are more available to disabled students when they need them.
  • There are potentially some funds available for students to get tested for a learning disability. The students should inquire with DAS if they are interested.
  • ANY videos that we make or utilize for students (in class, web sites, workshops, etc.) must be captioned. Gabe Merrill in the Office of Equity and Inclusion may be able to assist captioning any videos we produce.
  • Encourage good students (who will go to EVERY class) with good handwriting to become a notetaker and get PAID for taking the notes in their class (which they should be doing anyway).

DAS Webpage:
http://ds.oregonstate.edu/home/

Disability Access Services Office:
A200 Kerr Administration Building
Corvallis, OR 97331
(541) 737-4098
Disability.Services@oregonstate.edu
FAX: 541-737-7354

The question of what are and are not appropriate notes for MyDegrees has come up in multiple venues, this one included. There will most likely be an Advisor Coffee Talk Professional Development session on Advising Best Practices for Notes, paper and electronic.

 

Working with International Students

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Date:  Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Presenters:  Alex Beck, INTO Advisor and Rachel Weber, International Programs

Overview: 

International students, whether at OSU on exchange, as a full-degree seeking student, or part of the INTO program face unique challenges in navigating the educational climate.  Behaviors that may be the norm in their home countries can be counterproductive when transitioning to a U.S. style institution.  In addition to the social, language and study transitions facing international students, they also must be aware of their Visa status and restrictions.  Actions that domestic students take for granted, such as withdrawal, taking online classes, dual-partnership with a community college and other can all place an international student into violation of their Visa if they don’t complete the appropriate paperwork first.

Students transitioning from the INTO program into OSU degree programs have to undergo a second transition.  The average INTO student who is progressing to degree-seeking status will have been at OSU for 3 terms and may be comfortable with the policies, deadlines, and communication timeframes of the INTO advisors and support staff.  OSU advisors should be firm in enforcing OSU policies, which are often different from INTO policies, and to clearly communicate both expectations of students and what (and how quickly) a student can expect information or answers to e-mail and other requests.

In advising International students:

– encourage participation in extracurricular activies and clubs 

– use e-mail and weblinks to communicate important information, many international students prefer written/online communiucation to verbal

– anytime an international student is considering a schedule change, encourage them to contact International Programs to ensure it will not affect their visa status

– be patient and understanding

– communicate with the ISAS and INTO advisors with any questions.  By compiling and sharing common questions from International students, it is hoped that a more comprehensive International Student Advising FAQ can be developed.

 

Materials:

Activities that may impact an International Student’s status

List of OSU contacts (accurate as of F2011)

Visa information

Top Ten Tips for Advising Transitioning INTO OSU Students

Academic Requirements for International Students

Admit Types_International – Chart of type of International Students and their coding in Banner

Transitioning to your degree-seeking program at OSU – shared with progressing students – to help them understand a few key changes in services and contacts between INTO OSU and OSU Programs.  This is the version given to students in Spring who will begin degree-seeking status Fall term.