1. Graduation Specialists: Overcoming Graduation Barriers
Brittney Swanson M.S.
California State University, Fullerton

2. of First-Time- Freshman are NOT graduating within 6 years
41%
of First-Time- Freshman are NOT graduating within 6 years

3. Who makes up the 41%?
California State University, Fullerton reviewed all students who applied to graduate May 2009
1 in 5 students who had applied for the May graduation date did NOT successfully earn a degree
Many were not aware they did not complete all degree requirements

4. DEFERRAL
A notice sent to students who have not satisfied all degree requirements
Indicates which requirements remain
Sent by Graduation Unit Evaluators – Not Advisors

5. FRUSTRATION
SHAME
EMBARRASSMENT

6. Who can help these students?
Are deferrals preventable?
By preventing deferrals can graduation rates be improved?

7. Graduation Specialist & Live Graduation Check Workshops
The PILOT Project:
Graduation Specialist & Live Graduation Check Workshops

8. Live Grad Check Workshops
Enhances the typical grad check process
In person
All Graduation requirements are reviewed using the Titan Degree Audit
These workshops are a one-stop-shop format where students would come in with their titan degree audits and all of their graduation requirements would be reviewed PRIOR to their final semester. This included GE, major, minors, electives, units, GPAs and any other issues that would prevent students from graduating.
Each session was an hour in length
Education and Accountability: 25 minute interactive presentation on General Education and Graduation Requirements, overall units, and the importance of a Liberal Education.
Advising Support: 35 minutes of individual advising by HSS Graduation Specialist and a major advisor
multiple dates available after they have selected a graduation date
By the end they know exactly what they need for their final semester, and understand the graduation process.

9. 27% 4% 1% Overall Increase to CSUF Graduation rate
Overall increase to H&SS Graduation Rate 1%
Overall Increase to CSUF Graduation rate
27%
During the first year this intervention was rolled out 27% of the students who attended were NOT on track to complete their remaining graduation requirements by the term they selected. The Graduation Specialist was successfully able to intervene with these students (adding courses, changing grad dates to a more appropriate term, etc...) These students increased the CSUF graduation rate by 1% and the H&SS college graduation rate by 4%

10. GRADUATION SPECIALISTS
Highly trained and specialized advisors who work closely with Juniors and Seniors to identify any patterns or factors that may contribute to deficient graduation requirements.
Each Graduation Specialist has extensive knowledge on the specific degree requirements within their college
Funded by the Student Success Initiative

11. Core Responsibilities
Performs academic advising duties as determined by the college.
Acts as a liaison between the students, Graduation Unit, Academic Advisement, major departments, Records, and the Titan Degree Audit department.
Conducts ongoing analysis of deferred graduation data to identify common trends and errors resulting in failure to graduate.
Receives correspondence and responds with multiple solutions to students inquiring about University Petitions.
Works with IRAS to collect and analyze data on time to degree issues.
Collects and analyzes graduation deferral data and conducts regular presentation of data to colleges and departments.
Researches and reports findings related to student satisfaction and graduation rates.
Creates, implements, and assesses programs specifically designed to facilitate graduation – based on student need and institutional demand.
Serves as in-house resource for students needing TDA/Grad Check updates and amendments.
Educates graduating seniors on the Title V, EO, and UPS as they pertain to the university graduation requirements, and provides accurate information regarding the university petition process.

12. Strong collaborative relationships across campus:
Major/Minor Department
The Deans Office
Admissions and Records
Titan Degree Audit Unit
Graduation Unit
Academic Advisement Center

13. Preventative Actions to ensure Graduation Success:
Live Grad Check Workshops
One-on-One student appointments
Drive-Thru/Pop-Up Advising Sessions
Mandatory University Advisement
Titan Degree Audit review – eAdvising (TAN)

14. Student Advising Learning Objectives:
The Graduation Specialist aims to educate each student on their remaining requirements and provide appropriate interventions. Doing so, each student will be able to:
Clearly interpret the TDA and articulate their remaining Graduation Requirements
Make informed decisions about their course choices based on CSUF requirements
Thoroughly review the TDA for any mistakes and take action to rectify any inaccuracies
Avoid a Graduation Deferral by initiating the postponement of graduation or successfully completing courses on time to graduate.
Calculate their minimum number of units remaining for graduation
Work collaboratively with their support team to solve any challenges pertaining to graduating
Articulate the value of their HSS degree
The SALO’s are consistent through the all of the interventions

15. One-on-One student appointments
Allows students to meet individually with the Graduation Specialist
Can review unique barriers to graduation
In person, over the phone, or through Skype to best accommodate student needs

16. eAdvising: Using the Titan Advisors Network

17. Drive-Thru/Pop-Up Advising Sessions
Collaboration between H&SS and Career Center
Quick 10 minute advising session
Graduation Specialist thoroughly reviews TDA
Career Specialist discusses next steps in preparing for post-graduate life
Held during the first week of the semester
Targeted for students “graduating” that term
During this quick 10 minute session you will receive all the information you need to graduate from California State University, Fullerton with confidence.
The one-stop-shop format will provide you with the opportunity to carefully examine your remaining graduation requirements and discuss your next steps after graduation.
Your Titan Degree Audit will be thoroughly reviewed with Brittney Hofer, the Graduation Specialist. This check will ensure you are enrolled in the CORRECT courses and that all General Education and major requirements will be fulfilled, that you will have enough units to graduate, and that there are no errors on your TDA.
You will also meet with Marisa Perez-Amorde, the H&SS Career Specialist, to discuss your next steps in preparing for post-graduate life. Expect to receive tips and guidance on how to maximize on your final semester to enter this next phase confidently. You will be referred to additional resources and services in the Career Center to help you prepare for this transition.
These sessions are great for students who want a quick check up. Plus they get to learn about the career center resources before they graduation, giving them a leg up on the job hunt or graduate school applications.

18. Results:
No matter the support method (Grad Check workshop, individual meeting, Drive-Thru advising, eAdvising) the results are the same
About 1/5 of students are not on track to graduate in the term selected
For the interventions that focus on seniors prior to their final term the results are the same.

19. Common Graduation Deficiencies:
Insufficient overall units (lacking the minimum 120)
Missing General Education
Missing major or minor
Transfer course errors on the Titan Degree Audit

20. Common Solutions: Enroll in another CSUF course
Department level 499 if later in the semester
Petition for excess units
Take a transferable course at a community college
Extend Graduation date to a more appropriate term
TDA Exception for major or minor
Submit Transcripts or AP Scores

21. Less Common Solutions:
University Petitions
General Education Variation Petitions
Dropping a double major or minor
Department Petition to Executive Senate

22. Results: 536 students applied for the Fall 2014 graduation date
1567 students applied for the May 2015 graduation date

23. Results: H&SS Graduation Rates 1% increase Fall 2014
2.3% increase Spring 2015
Overall CSUF Graduation Rates
15% increase Fall 2014
12% increase Spring 2015
H&SS Graduation Rates
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences had 1632 Spring 2015 graduation candidates . Overall, 340 graduation deferrals were prevented due to interventions that occurred. Of which, an intervention successfully put 151 students back on track to graduate successfully on May 22, Another 189 students extended their graduation dates to a later term.
340 H&SS students supported by the Graduation Specialist avoided a Graduation Deferral Notice*. Additionally, of the 1,258 H&SS degrees successfully conferred for Spring 2015, 151 of these graduates would not have earned their degree if they had not received immediate intervention by their Graduation Specialist. These 151 students made the following impact on CSUF

24. Another University Initiative
Mandatory University Advising Workshops
Another preventative approach focused on our Juniors

25. Mandatory University Advisement Workshops
Students who have earned units are required to attend
Workshop covers:
The process of applying for graduation:
the how to, the when to, and for which term
General Education requirements
Unit totals
GPAs
Repeat courses
Common reasons students don’t graduate
The Value of a Liberal Education
Campus resources
Pre-emptive advising that occurs in the Fall semester for students who have earned between units. All students in this unit range have a registration hold placed on their account
At the workshop, your University Advisement Team will review the following: your overall degree progress according to your current Titan Degree Audit, Deferral vs. Diploma, Commencement vs. Graduation, Applying for Graduation, preparing for graduate school and/or careers in your field, and misconceptions that may prevent you from graduating in a timely manner. 
Attendance at this mandatory workshop will remove the University Advising Hold that will appear in the Student Center of your CSUF Student Portal. Please note, however, that attendance at one of these workshops does not clear any other major department advising holds. 
No major information is covered because the workshops are only college specific, not major specific.
The goal is to get students information about graduation prior to senior year so they can apply for graduation with confidence

26. G

27. Graduation Specialists
A sustainable position that works to:
Optimize a student’s progression towards degree
Increase Graduation Rates
Decrease Graduation Deferrals
Strengthening Alumni Relations
Eliminates the potential to compromise the CSUF image within the community
Equips students with knowledge of their remaining requirements, PRIOR to registering for their final semester, through integrated advising
Creates campus wide collaboration

28. Thank you!!!