M.A.P.: My Academic Pathway Newsletter

Student Spotlight

Students’ success is an important indicator of MAP’s success. Justice Studies Department Chair and advisor Markita McCrimmon interviewed one of her students to learn about his experience with MAP.

Q&A with Kristian Ross

Criminal Justice Technology

Advisor: Markita McCrimmon

• How long have you been at CCCC?

  Answer: I’ve been at CCCC for three semesters.

• What are your career goals?

  Answer: I plan to complete my associate degree here at CCCC. After graduating I want to complete Basic Law Enforcement Training. After which, I want to work with a local Law Enforcement Agency to gain experience. My long-term goal is to join the SBI.

• What has been your experience with your Academic Advisor and the QEP, and how have they helped you with your program major and overall, with steering you career-wise?

  Answer: Ms. McCrimmon and other Instructors in the department have talked and met with me to discuss career options in Law Enforcement. I was advised on the correct classes to select to help me with my degree and career.

• What made you choose Criminal Justice as a major?

  Answer: Since I was a little boy I was always intrigued with investigations and protecting the community.

• When did you change your major? How many semesters were you in before you changed?

  Answer: I changed my major from Criminal Justice: Forensic Science to Criminal Justice Technology during my 1st semester.

• Have you been happy since you made the change?

  Answer: Yes.

• Do you feel like your current major fits you more?

  Answer: Yes. Criminal Justice Technology broadens my career options in Law Enforcement.

• Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

  Answer: Living as an adult, working in Law Enforcement, and building my career.

• During your initial advising conversations would you have preferred a different advising approach, or do you feel that you benefit more from your experiences with learning that your previous major needed to change?

  Answer: Meeting with Ms. McCrimmon and being in the classroom help set the groundwork on what direction I needed to go in deciding my major. Having this conversation in the beginning could have help me in deciding my major during my first semester.

By the Numbers: Provided by the MAP Assessment Team

97% of students reported being very satisfied or satisfied with Faculty Advising in the 2020-2021 Enrolled Curriculum Student Survey.

In March 2021, MAP Co-Chair, Scott Byington, sent an Advisor Assistance Survey to CCCC Advisors. The goal of the survey was to ensure that advisors have the tools they need to successfully work with their advisees. Some findings include:

• 70% of our advisors have 6 or more years’ experience.
• Advisors feel comfortable in academic planning and working with students; and yet they continue to seek professional development opportunities.
• Advisors suggested improvements in technologies and trainings. Support materials are being developed in response to advisor feedback.
• Advisors embraced the opportunity to provide virtual advising to serve more students.

MAP Tools

Our amazing MAP: My Academic Pathway team members and volunteers have created resources to help our faculty, staff, and students. Check out these resources used in Admissions, Advising, and ACA courses on the new MAP Resources webpage.

• Onboarding Resources
  • MAP Embark Career Assessment
  • Embark Assessment Login (email Amy Gustavson for login information.)
  • RIASEC Handout
• Advisor Resources
  • Advisor Resources (Portal Login Required)
  • Academic Advising Quick Reference Guide (Portal Login Required)
  • Advising – Foundation Course (Email Maryann Aucompaugh to be added to the course.)
• Student Resources
  • Advising Website
  • Advisee Appointment Guide
  • My Success Checklist
  • Student Services Handouts by Campus:
    • Student Services Handout: Chatham
    • Student Services Handout: Harnett
    • Student Services Handout: Lee

MAP Team Reports

ACA Team

In January 2021, the GPS Passport was made available in Aviso for new students entering in Spring 2021. It is a way for students to have a structured introduction to resources and support as they begin their time at CCCC. The GPS Passport is grouped into weeks. GPS Passport: Weeks 1-3 tasks were recently assigned to new students:

1. Make a Time Management Schedule
2. Find and Meet Your Advisor
3. Create a Habit of Checking Cougarmail, Blackboard, and Aviso Regularly

Here’s a sample of tasks provided to new students during weeks 9-10 in March 2021:

1. Confirm your plan to pay for college in future semesters (Apply for FAFSA, scholarships, and payment plan)
2. Meet with advisor to create and confirm academic plan.

Admissions Team

In November 2020, the MAP Admissions Team provided a training for our new Developmental Faculty Advisor (DFA) and a refresher for all current DFAs. Mary Parker, our Career Center Coordinator, led the training.

In response to student survey data, Mary Parker, Career Center Coordinator, is working with the Marketing Department to develop a short overview video on the Career Center. The target audience is CCCC employees. If employees are more aware of the Career Center services, they will be better able to recommend it to students. The video will also be a resource for students.

Advising Team

The MAP Advising Team hosts a series of 30-minute drop-in advising trainings via Blackboard Collaborate. The “Advising Short Sessions” include a 15-minute presentation and 15 minutes of Q&A with attendees. The live sessions are recorded for later viewing and topics are selected by CCCC advisors. The Spring 2021 Advising Short Sessions include:

• Online Advising, a Roundtable Discussion for CCCC Advisors
• Financial Aid for Advisors with Ms. Precious Ward
• Datatel Review with Dr. Rodney Powell
• Promise Program with Ms. Mary Schmid Carter (April 2021)

Recordings of the Advising Short Sessions can be viewed via the Blackboard Professional Development organization.

More advisors are completing the Foundations of Advising (advisor training) course! The Blackboard course is self-paced and exposes advisors to a variety of resources and opportunities to reflect on their advising skills and philosophy.

Assessment Team

In December 2020, members of the Assessment Team saved a sample of 208 plans for first-time full-time students. The Aviso academic plans will be analyzed by department heads and program leads as a part of assessment 1.2 in Summer 2021.

Marketing Team

The MAP Marketing Team created an advising-focused handout to help students register for Summer 2021 and Fall 2021 courses. The handout provides an overview of where to find course offerings, how to get help, when to register, and what to do after registering. It will be linked from Blackboard and the Student Portal throughout April.

Success Council

The MAP Success Council reviewed and shared the Fall 2020 focus group responses at the Spring 2021 MAP Leadership Team meeting. The focus groups centered on students’ experiences with advising and campus resources. The Leadership Team is currently working on innovative responses to the feedback.

The MAP Success Council is planning Spring 2021 focus groups centered on graduating students’ experiences with advising and campus resources. The feedback gathered will be reviewed and shared at the Fall 2021 MAP Leadership Team meeting.