Coconino Community College Advisor Mitch Driebe listens to CCC student Charlotte Willin talk about what classes she’s interested in taking for the summer session. Courtesy photo.
FLAGSTAFF — Charlotte Willin appeared on the computer screen via a Zoom video conference with her Coconino Community College advisor Mitch Driebe.
Willin, a student at Northern Arizona University, wants to knock out Physiology & Anatomy 2 during the summer while she is at home in Long Beach, Calif. Her goal is to become an Occupational Therapist.
“I didn’t want to forget anything,” Willin said to Driebe.
Her reason for taking the five-week session at Coconino Community College: It ‘s very affordable.
Willin joins hundreds of other students filling out their class rosters for summer and fall “virtually” with advisors at CCC. The college began offering the service following the campus closures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Mostly, the students are good with it,” Driebe said. “The transition has been fine, and we’ve gotten better at it as we’ve gone on.”
Brian Francis, Program Manager Senior in Student Affairs, said that the college’s advisors have had 785 Zoom sessions since advising went completely online on March 23. The advisors – three full-time and one part-time CCC Academic & Career advisors; five CCC2NAU advisors; and three TRIO Student Support Services advisors – are averaging 24-26 hours of appointments each week, and that number is expected to increase as the fall semester approaches.
In addition to regular advising appointments via Zoom, students can also seek advising via email and by telephone, Francis added. The advisors also average between 10-12 hours of email correspondence with students. Finally, students who haven’t made appointments can get advising assistance during “virtual” drop-in hours Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“The process is working quite well,” Francis said.
During Willin’s session, Driebe asked questions to get a better sense of her path to reach her goal of becoming an Occupational Therapist. Her grades are great. She’s already able to log into the myCCC web portal. She hasn’t used the Canvas educational platform, but NAU has the Blackboard platform, and they are similar. Yes, she knows that she will have to study and work hard during those five weeks.
Driebe, who had 18 scheduled appointments in three days, assured Willin that a small matter of paperwork could be handled that day, and she would be ready for the class July 6 start date. The whole process took less than 10 minutes.
To schedule a virtual advising session at CCC, or to get help filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), visit https://www.coconino.edu/advising