Combining Academic Advising with a Freshman Orientation Course in an Integrated Baccalaureate–Medical Degree Program: Evaluation of the System
The effectiveness of an advising system that combines a freshman seminar course taught by advisors for the students that they advise in a combined baccalaureate–medical degree program was analyzed. Students reported satisfaction with the seminar course, and more than 80% felt that they were more likely to seek out their advisor as a result of participating in this course. After the new advising system was implemented, the number of students receiving an A or B in a required biology course increased from nearly 70% to approximately 80%. In addition, students' first year grade-point averages increased modestly.
Contributor Notes
Dani L. McBeth is associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education/CUNY Medical School and co-director of the academic advising system. Among his interests are student advisement, especially using advisement to help students make the adjustment to college in the first year. Interested readers can contact Dr. McBeth at dmcbeth@med.cuny.edu.
Susan M. Richardson is Director of Post-graduate Affairs and Academic Activities and co-director of the academic advising system at the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education/CUNY Medical School. She is a member of NACADA.
Louis L. Cregler is Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs at the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education/CUNY Medical School.
Jodie Meyer is Associate Dean of Student Affairs at the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education/CUNY Medical School.
The authors thank Marlene Macleish, Ed.D., for her input and support in the creation of this system. The authors wish to acknowledge the advisors who have participated in this system over the years including: George Brandon, Peter Cherry, Ilya Glezer, Edward Gresik, Viera Lima, Lee Mitchell, Joao Nunes, Christopher Chan, Thomas Haines, Pyser Edelsack, John Morgan, Mark Nathan, Terry Meyers, and Shailesh Banerjee.
