Humanizing Advising Through ePortfolios

Opening Sessions 2016 Humanizing Advising Presentation

Opening Sessions 2016 Humanizing Advising Presenters

The ePortfolio Office and the Advising Department jointly presented at the recent Fall 2016 Opening Session of the College. Student Placement Services Senior Director Judith Gazzola, Student Advising Services Director Vanessa Gonzalez and ePortfolio Director Mercedes del Rosario, led the presentation, “Humanizing Advising through ePortfolio,” where they discussed the use of ePortfolio during advising sessions and the integration of LaGuardia’s advisement model at the different junctures from First Year to Capstone. They also presented various strategies on how ePortfolios can be used to assist students beyond course selection so as to make advisors’ interactions more meaningful and provide students with holistic advisement.

The Q and A afterwards addressed topics such as the emphasis the College places on advising as an intervention in student success and the important role faculty and advising professionals play in helping students succeed. Also, on how the use of ePortfolios enhances the advising experience and elevates it from a transactional course selection session to a transformational humanistic experience.

Here is the Abstract of the presentation:

LaGuardia’s team-based advising approach to student success fosters collaboration between Student Affairs (SA) advising professionals (academic, career and transfer advisors) and Faculty. The integration of the ePortfolio into the daily practice of SA professionals has further strengthened this relationship in a way that promotes student completion by focusing on the elements included in the Graduation Plan modules.

Our joint venture has allowed faculty and staff to collaborate by providing students with a holistic advising experience through joint advising events and classroom interactions. In an effort to expand and further solidify our collaborative efforts, the next step was to bridge classroom technology with advising. The use of ePortfolio during advising sessions was explored as required in the First Year Seminar (FYS). This presentation will discuss the integration of LaGuardia’s advisement model at the different junctures. It is our mission to assist students beyond course selection so as to make advisors’ interactions more meaningful and provide students with holistic advisement. Through the use of ePortfolio, we hope to humanize the advising experience from students’ first semester to graduation. Through participation in this workshop, staff and faculty will gain awareness and practical strategies on how SA is integrating ePortfolio to reinforce and complement work in the FYS curriculum.