The Role of Academic Advising in Working with Underprepared Community College Students

Abstract

Community colleges face many unique challenges when working with students, and the number of students testing into remedial level college courses is one of them. It has been suggested the relationship students have with their advisor can help these students to be successful at the college. The purpose of this study was to determine if students observed a connection between their success and the relationship they have with their advisor. This qualitative study focused on the view of current community college students who had been or were currently enrolled in a remedial course in a Midwestern community college. Students were asked to participate in an online survey that consisted of 12 questions. Once the survey results were collected, the responses were analyzed for common responses and trends. The results showed that the majority of students felt their advisor did play a role in their overall success, thoughts about how this happens still vary.