How it works: Academic Advising helps students succeed
Academic advisors play a crucial role in guiding and supporting HFC students, giving them resources to help them navigate their academic journey successfully. This helps students stay in school and complete their degree program in the shortest possible time.
During the 2023-24 academic year, HFC underwent a significant restructuring of its Academic Advising Services. This restructuring has more than doubled the number of advisors, introduced technology support that allowed for a caseload-based model, and added a role of Assistant Director of Academic Advising (Amal Qureshi).
“Advisors are a great starting point for questions about campus resources, academic programs, and ensuring that students are taking the right classes,” said HFC Director of Advising and Student Success Jennifer C. Markin. “The goal of our advisors is to provide the best service possible to the HFC community from orientation through graduation.”
Every HFC student has an advisor
Every student at HFC now has an advisor assigned to them for personalized support. Students can identify their assigned advisor and set up appointments by checking the Success Team Card in the HFC Student Portal.
“This restructuring would not have been possible if it weren't for our colleagues across the College, particularly HFC Assistant Director of Enrollment, Services, Assessment, and Orientation Nikole Ford-Kondraciuk and her team,” said Markin. “They were cooperative, supportive, and professional throughout the process. Their deep commitment to the success of our students is second to none.”
She continued: “We are working to provide the support and resources our students need to navigate the College experience outside the classroom. Advising is not just telling students what classes they need to take but also working proactively with them to succeed after they leave HFC, whether they are transferring or entering the workforce.”
Student-centered approach amplifies the value of the HFC experience
Markin says HFC is emerging as a leader in community college advising across the state. She, along with HFC Program Advisors Sarah Krizan and Samer Atris, had two opportunities last fall to share HFC’s innovative advising practices with peers at state and national conferences.
- Markin and Krizan presented at the Gardner Institute Symposium on Transforming the Foundational Postsecondary Experience in Philadelphia, focusing on creating a student-centered transfer advising process.
- Markin and Atris presented at the Michigan College Access Network Annual Conference in Mt. Pleasant, discussing the restructuring of Academic Advising at HFC.
In the long run, the whole process is about what best serves HFC students. “A student-centered transfer approach means we’re prioritizing the needs, goals, and experiences of students above all else in programming, institutional decision-making, services, and the advising process,” said Krizan.