Adding Interactions

Adding a student interaction meeting on GRACE is really easy! You can add a student interaction from the Dashboard, the Students search page, or from a particular student’s profile by clicking on the “+Student Interaction” button. A separate box will pop-up that you can use to enter in the interaction details.

Note: You can add one or more names to log in interactions with multiple students.

Medium

Selects the option that best describes the manner in which you are conducting an interaction with students and/or parents. GRACE will default to in-person, but check with your PD to see if he or she is interested in having you count electronic communications.

Important note on electronic communications:

Electronic communications are targeted and meaningful engagements via text message, email, Facebook, phone, or other digital tools to one student. To count the interaction in GRACE, it must be a back-and-forth exchange consisting of at least 2 interactions (example: adviser sends email, student responds). The interaction must also be related to the completion of a college application task or deliverable.

• Examples of interactions that count: editing a college application essay, collecting financial aid documents, assisting with SAT/ACT registration, helping secure letters of recommendation, helping with internship applications, an individualized event or deadline reminder, etc.

• Examples of interactions that do not count: generic mass communication reminders about events or deadlines

Type

You are allowed to select more than one type. For example, if you lead a session at a PTA meeting, that would count as an “Assembly Presentation or Large Event” as well as a Parent Meeting. If you invite a college rep to meet with a group of students, that interaction would count as a group meeting and a college rep visits for those students in attendance.

• 1-on-1 Meetings – Only count meetings that are substantive and meaningful- quick “hellos” in the hallway do not count. You can also choose “meeting length” <5 minutes, 5-10 minutes, 11-30 minutes, 31+ minutes.
• Group Meetings – If you organized or participated in a group meeting setting (more than one student present) so far this year. Classroom presentations do count. Assembly presentations do not count and are a separate type of interaction. If you are uncertain if something counts as a group meeting, please consult your Program Director. A general rule-of-thumb is if you are only presenting information and answering general questions, it does not count. If you are interacting with students and having a discussion, it does count.
• Assembly Presentations or Large Event– If you help organize or participate in an assembly presentation or large event, tag that interaction here. Examples of large events include PTA meetings, Decision Day events, rallies, etc.
• Parent Meetings– If parent/guardian met with you about student’s college going process, called to follow up about student, attended a college night or FAFSA drive.
• College Visits – To add campus visits, go to add interaction, enter student(s) name, select medium, then select type “Campus Visit”. You do not have to physically be present on the tour, but still count the interaction if you helped organize or arrange the tour. Do not count campus visits that your students organize and conduct on their own without your guidance. Basically, ask yourself, “Would this student have gone on this college campus visit without my help?” . Once you select college visit you will also be able to enter the name of the college/university visited.
• College Rep Visit -Only college rep visits coordinated by the adviser count. Once you select college rep visit you will be able to enter the name of college/university that visited.
• College Fair -Only college fairs or college fair trips coordinated by the adviser count. You do not have to physically be present at the college fair if it is off-campus, but still count the interaction if you helped organize or arrange the visit. Do not count college fairs that your students attended on their own without your guidance. Basically, ask yourself, “Would this student have gone to this college fair without my help?”
• SAT/ACT Prep– If you help a student with either SAT or ACT content or test-taking strategies, select this category. If you help a student use Khan Academy’s SAT Resources or set up an account, also select this category.

Topic

• High School Topics:
  • College Awareness – Examples of activities in this category include college tours, college fairs, college rep visits, completing or updating a career interest inventory, identifying colleges to compare or contrast, identifying career paths to research, or applying for or enrolling in enrichment programs or college summer experience.
  • Academic Preparedness- Examples of activities may include attending a study skills or writing workshop, discussing course selection and what a four year rigorous course of study looks like, and discussing GPA and why it matters.
  • College Application and Essays- Examples of activities may include providing timelines to students with application deadlines, going over a college application example, talking about essays and personal statements, and discussing how to decide which colleges to apply to.
  • SAT/ACT – Example of activities include signing up for a practice ACT/PSAT, reviewing practice questions, discussing test prep and study habits, or helping a student use Khan Academy’s SAT resources.
  • FAFSA – Example of activities include discussing materials needed to complete FAFSA application, creating an FSA ID, starting and completing FAFSA, helping with verification process.
  • Scholarship/Financial Aid- Examples of activities include discussing federal and state student aid, student loan management, Pell Grants, and other scholarships.
  • Match and Fit- Examples include helping students create a college list, determining the best-fit colleges to apply to or enroll in.
  • Career and Major Exploration – Examples of activities may include exploring what degree a specific career requires, looking at future career availability and income, and taking career assessment tests to determine personal strengths and interests.
  • CSS Profile – Examples include creating and completing a CSS profile.
  • Other – Any other postsecondary topics not covered by the list above. You may indicate in the notes section what, specifically, the interaction was about.

Once you’ve entered all needed fields for an interaction click “submit”. The interaction will save to the student’s page and the manage interactions page.

• Notes - You are welcome to use this section for whatever other information you would like to record about the students – for example, if they are part of an opportunity program, if they are graduating early, if they are receiving dual credit, etc. Click the “+” icon next to the section heading, “Notes”, to add details about the student.

Source: https://grace.advisingcorps.org/resources