NACC is redesigning its academic advising model to assist students in the development and management of their academic and career goals. In addition, other goals of the QEP will focus on improving student engagement, retention, graduation, and rates of employment or transfer.

The new advising process is called MAPS: Mentoring, Advising, and Preparing for Success.

Key Points of MAPS

Advising Mission Statement: Northeast Alabama Community College is committed to a multilevel advising system to develop self-regulated learners by which academic advisors build relationships of trust and guidance that empower students to achieve their personal, academic, and career goals.

Student Learning Outcome: Students will understand how to develop and achieve academic and career goals.

Goals of the QEP:

• Student learning outcome: Students will understand how to develop and achieve academic and career goals.
• Implement a faculty and staff professional development program focused on improving advising processes.
• Improve student engagement.
• Increase retention rates.
• Increase completion and graduation rates.
• Increase job-placement rates.

Key Components:

• Create the new position of Director of Advising.
• Revise the academic calendar along with the Freshman Orientation and registration schedules.
• Revise the content of Freshman Orientation and require students to attend before the end of their first semester.
• Require each student in the freshman cohort to create and manage his or her MAPS Guide with assistance from his or her faculty advisor and other support services. The MAPS Guide is an online folder to maintain important documents and information in one convenient location with easy access.
• Create a MAPS Advisor Handbook.
• Create a standardized MAPS Advising Syllabus. This syllabus will provide information for advisors and students concerning responsibilities, resources, and contact information.
• Revise the interactions that advisors have with students in order to teach students to take responsibility in setting academic and career goals. The MAPS new advising process will better prepare in-coming freshman for the college environment. In addition, the new advising process will allow additional time for advisors to meet with advisees based on the student’s needs.
• Develop and coordinate intensive professional training on the various components of advising.

During the Spring Semester 2015, new web-based AdvisorTrac software will be available to easily schedule an appointment with your advisor. Full implementation of the advising model will begin with the incoming freshmen during the Fall Semester 2015.