Case Study: Evaluation of a Case Management Advising Model

The purpose of this single-case study was to evaluate the impact of strategies and the effectiveness of the case management advising model (CMA) on student persistence as measured by perceptions of students, advisors, and counselors and re-enrollment from one semester to the next at Harper College. Focus groups were utilized to determine perceptions of the impact of the CMA model. Fall-to-spring persistence data was used for comparison purposes between students who participated in the CMA model and students who did not.
The major findings in this study show that persistence for students who participated in the CMA model was higher than it was for a like control group of students who did not participate in the model. Themes emerged from the focus groups that support a case management approach to academic advising and illustrate the importance of developing rapport between student and advisor/counselor. Proactive communication and creating a Degree Works plan were two specific strategies that were identified by students, advisor, and counselors as important in the CMA model.
Themes from the advisor and counselor focus groups, however, also suggest the importance of balancing the use of advising technology with rapport building in an advising relationship. Additional themes from the advisor and counselor focus groups highlight a need for ongoing professional development and training as the new CMA model continues to evolve.
Recommendations for improvements to the new CMA program at Harper College include further clarifying the advisor and counselor roles in the CMA model, examining the number of technology platforms utilized in the model, and further examining the impacts of the CMA model on different student groups.