[GuidedPathways] Q about your alignment of programs to metamajors

[Viola, Katie]

Hi Rosie,

At LWTech, we list programs only within one meta major. While, I was not part of the decision making process on "why", I think there are benefits to this model that I would love to share. These come from a student services perspective. This also comes from a (mostly) technical college/program grouping perspective.

As the director of our advising office, I love that our advisor's caseloads are split by meta major and area of study, giving them expertise about particular programs of study and pathways. My advisors advise on certificates, AAS programs, and BAS programs within their meta major and also keep abreast of any articulation agreements/transfer options available. This expertise is very helpful for students within the meta major who may switch majors or want to know about alternative pathways.

Additionally, this model assists the advisors in building strong relationships with the instructional division (deans, faculty), who are also split by meta major/program grouping. The consistency of having a team that is all on the same page supporting the same students makes for better academic advising, easier partnership across divisions, better problem solving (for issues such as substitutions, complaints, course cancellations, etc), and far stronger communication than ever before.

If a college buys into the idea of meta majors as more than a grouping of programs on their website, and reviews/changes the structure/functions at the college around meta majors (like we have), I think there are very strong benefits.

Food for thought - I hope this is helpful!

Thanks,

Katie Viola
Director of Student Development
West Building, W207
Pronouns: She/Her

[lwtech-logo-primary-teal-gold-low-res]

11605 132nd Avenue NE | Kirkland, WA 98034
* 425-739-8362 | * katie.viola at lwtech.edu<mailto:katie.viola at lwtech.edu>
* www.lwtech.edu<http://www.lwtech.edu/>

From: Guidedpathways [mailto:guidedpathways-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of Rimando-chareunsap, Rosannette
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2018 12:02 PM
To: guidedpathways at lists.ctc.edu
Subject: [GuidedPathways] Q about your alignment of programs to metamajors


Hi all-



Thanks to the SBCTC and Kristi for setting up this list!



Our Guiding Team is deeply engaged in a conversation about organizing our Programs within "meta majors" (We call them Areas of Study).



A quick question for those on this list who have gone this far in their organization:

Do you categorize programs in only ONE meta major or in MULTIPLE? And why?



Thanks!



Rosie


Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, Ed.D.

President, South Seattle College
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.ctc.edu/pipermail/guidedpathways_lists.ctc.edu/attachments/20180817/50021606/attachment-0002.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 11739 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <http://lists.ctc.edu/pipermail/guidedpathways_lists.ctc.edu/attachments/20180817/50021606/attachment-0002.png>