SIUE Launches Successful Early Advising Initiative for Incoming Students

SIUE Launches Successful Early Advising Initiative for Incoming Students

A new advising initiative at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is already making a strong impact on incoming students before they have even arrived on campus. In its first semester, SIUE START (Students Taking Action for Registration and Transition) successfully partnered with ten local high schools and provided advising, testing and registration support to 280 students.

SIUE START was created through a partnership between the Office of First Year and Transitional Advising and the Academic Testing Office to help ease the transition from high school to college.

Throughout April, SIUE staff visited ten local high schools to provide placement testing, academic advising, and course registration directly on-site. By bringing these services into a familiar school environment, the program helped students complete important enrollment steps earlier and with less stress.

This early support comes at an important time for high school seniors, who are often balancing graduation activities, final coursework and future planning. Students who participated in the program were able to register for fall classes well before summer orientation, reducing uncertainty and helping them feel more prepared for college.

The initiative also allowed students to establish early connections with their advising team before arriving on campus.

Efrosini Hortis, EdD, interim Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Persistence and Success, said the focus of the program has always been to support students during a major life transition. "Our hope with SIUE START was to create a more proactive, student-centered approach to advising and testing by meeting students in an environment they trust, their own high schools, and support them early during an important transition period. Through partnerships with ten local schools, we advised and registered 280 students, completed 149 placement tests for 91 students, and supported students in taking important next steps toward orientation, enrollment, and academic planning before arriving on campus."

Katie Green, Assistant Director for Testing Services, said the visits also helped students begin to picture themselves as future SIUE students.

"During the high school visits, it was evident as students began gathering to meet with our advisors that many of them were realizing for the first time which of their classmates were also planning to attend SIUE," she said.

Green said that one guidance counselor shared that students felt more confident about starting college after meeting with SIUE advisors.

"Connecting those students before high school graduation, coupled with SIUE staff being initially accessible to students in an environment in which they feel more comfortable will undoubtedly ease the transition to campus," she added.

In addition to helping students feel more prepared, SIUE START is expected to improve the summer orientation experience. With more than 250 students already advised and registered, orientation schedules can place greater focus on helping students connect with campus resources, build relationships, and learn more about university life. Advisors are also able to spend more time supporting students who may need additional assistance or have more complex advising questions.

The initiative also strengthened relationships between SIUE and regional high schools. School counselors and administrators worked closely with SIUE staff to coordinate visits and support participating students. These partnerships created a more hands-on and collaborative approach to helping students transition successfully to college.

Hortis emphasized the importance of those relationships, saying, "This work would not have been possible without the work of our academic advisors, support and coordination of our campus partners and especially the high school counselors whose commitment and coordination were crucial for the program. The response from schools and students has been positive, with strong interest in continuing and expanding the program."

Interim Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management Kevin Wathen, EdD, believes the program demonstrates the value of removing obstacles early in the college process. "The START program has been a great example of solving challenges before they become barriers for students," he said. "Imagine being able to leave high school already holding your college schedule while still surrounded by your peers, counselors, and support systems. That is a powerful moment for students and families."

Following the success of the pilot program, SIUE hopes to expand SIUE START in future years to reach more schools and support even more students.

University leaders see the initiative as an important strategy for improving student preparedness, increasing confidence, and helping students feel connected before their first day on campus. Wathen added, "We continue preparing for larger incoming classes and the opportunities that come with that growth."

PHOTOS: SIUE START staff engage with students at Edwardsville High School