Spring and “back to school” may not seemingly belong in the same sentence. Students who will be starting college in the fall may feel like it's too early to talk to an adviser. But for students who are enrolled in Southeast Community College in Nebraska, now is the ideal time to set the stage for success by working with one of the college’s dedicated advisers.
Students might think the role of an adviser is primarily to help them register for the right classes each semester. However, Southeast Community College takes a holistic approach to college advising, and their advisers serve students as success coaches throughout the school year.
Kurt Mueller is the administrative director of advising for SCC's three campuses, and he has been overseeing all advising operations for two years now. From pre-health students to welding and drafting students, the advising process is all about “connecting with students, determining their individual goals, helping plan their academic trajectory and guiding them along the way,” Mueller said.
SCC advisers represent all professionals from a variety of backgrounds. Some are young professionals with student affairs degrees. Others are retired nurses and teachers who can share their knowledge from years of working in their fields.
Students at SCC don't fit any one mold, either. “Our school populations represent our community as a whole,” Mueller said.
New students aren't just high school grads but older adults retraining for their jobs, advanced degree holders changing careers and lifetime learners. No matter their purpose for attending college, students will find advisers who are ready to meet them where they are.
The advising process at Southeast Community College
After enrolling in SCC, students receive a welcome introductory video course and a new student advising inventory.
A student's assigned adviser will reach out to set up an initial meeting, where students can expect to spend about an hour getting to know the person who will not just set them up for success but help guide them through their entire experience at SCC.
Finding out a student's plans and areas where they might struggle helps “build a success plan for that first term and connects the student with campus resources,” said Mueller. The accommodations office, tutoring services and mental health professionals are all resources that an adviser can help a student navigate.
“We want our advising meetings to be personal and transformative so our advisers can really get to know the student,” said Mueller. “If we wait until the last minute, those interactions become more transactional, and we're picking classes without the fuller conversations.”
Getting to know an adviser before classes start benefits students throughout their college journey. SCC advisers can help with goal setting and prioritizing, study skills and time management. In addition, they are present to support each student personally, depending on their needs.
“We don't have faculty who split their time between research and teaching, like at some large universities,” Mueller said. “Whether it's teaching, advising or counseling, we are 100% focused on our students from start to finish.”
To learn more, please visit southeast.edu.
