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Academic AdvisingMeghan Morris | Rebecca Frost

EDL 676: Foundations | Dr. David Perez IIOctober 1, 2013

+Topics Covered

Evolution and Timeline of Academic Advising

Components of Advising

Values of Advising

Competencies, Responsibilities, and Skills of Advising

Current Challenges and Issues

Testimonies from Real Academic Advisors

Future Considerations

+What is Academic Advising?

An activity (or service) that colleges and universities provide to help students identify and develop suitable programs of study, seek enriching experiences, and expand horizons and opportunities

Fundamental expectation: students will decide from among alternatives the most appropriate direction to take in planning a program of study

Goetz, J. (2004). Academic Advising. In Rentz’s Student Affairs in Higher Education (pp. 89–107). MacKinnon Associates.

“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – A.A. Milne (Christopher Robin)

Baldridge, A. (2013, September). Advising 100 acre wood style. Retrieved from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Academic-Advising-Today/View-Articles/Advising-100-Acre-Wood-Style.aspx

+Evolution

Academic “guidance” began in response to increasingly complex curriculum at the end of the 19th century

First systems of advising designed to help students “select those programs which were best suited their needs and interests”

Concern for educating the whole student

Goetz, J. (2004). Academic Advising. In Rentz’s Student Affairs in Higher Education (pp. 89–107). MacKinnon Associates.

+Timeline

Late 1820s: Kenyon College (OH) First known formal academic

advising

1876: First system of

advisors created at Hopkins

1890: Harvard creates

counseling group to advise

first-years

1960s: Demand for improving advising

systems

1979: National Academic Advising

Association (NACADA) founded

1981: ‘Academic advising’ added as a

descriptor to Educational

Resource Information Center

(ERIC)

Goetz, J. (2004). Academic Advising. In Rentz’s Student Affairs in Higher Education (pp. 89–107). MacKinnon Associates.

+Professional Association: NACADA

National Academic Advising Association

The National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) is an association of professional advisors, counselors,

faculty, administrators, and students working to enhance the educational development of students.

http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/

(2013). About NACADA. Retrieved from: http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/About-Us.aspx

+Prescriptive vs. Developmental

Two advising relationships Prescriptive, based on authority Developmental, based on development

Advisors serve as the “bridge between students’ present environment and students’ environment to be” (Goetz, p. 93).

Goetz, J. (2004). Academic Advising. In Rentz’s Student Affairs in Higher Education (pp. 89–107). MacKinnon Associates.

+Advising vs. Counseling Advising more restrictive than counseling; faculty

advising reserved for aiding a student in planning academic program

Faculty-Advising as Three-Part Activity

Goetz, J. (2004). Academic Advising. In Rentz’s Student Affairs in Higher Education (pp. 89–107). MacKinnon Associates.

Identifying student purpose

Assisting students to

identify options

Identifying institutional purpose

+Three Components of Advising

Council for the advancement of standards in higher education: the role of academic advising programs. (2011) (pp. 1–17). Retrieved from http://www.cas.edu/getpdf.cfm?PDF=E864D2C4-D655-8F74-2E647CDECD29B7D0

Curriculum (what

advising deals with)

Pedagogy (how

advising does what it

does)

Student Learning

Outcomes (results of academic advising)

+NACADA: Core Values of Academic Advising

Responsible to the individuals they advise

Responsible for involving others, when appropriate, in the advising process

Responsible to their institutions

Responsible to higher education

Responsible for their professional practices and for themselves personally

The statement of core values of academic advising. (2005). Retrieved from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Portals/0/Clearinghouse/advisingissues/cv-decl.pdf

+Job Descriptions

What elements stand out to you?

+Competencies Foundations of Knowledge (Conceptual)

Advising philosophy Theoretical frameworks NACADA core values Knowledge of higher education issues including legal and

ethical

Knowledge of College Student Characteristics (Informational) General knowledge of college students Specific knowledge of population(s) advised

Academic advisor competencies. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/DesktopModules/DnnForge - NewsArticles/Print.aspx?tabid=3318&tabmoduleid=278&articleId=71&moduleId=587&PortalID=0

+Competencies Continued Career Advising Knowledge and Skills (Informational)

Knowledge of academic major Knowledge of occupational, workplace relationships

Communication and Interpersonal Skills (Relational) Demonstrate ability to relate to individuals and groups of

designated students through the use of basic communication, helping, and problem-solving skills

Knowledge of Application of Advising at Local Institution (Informational) Institution information Referral resources Graduation requirements Technology use

Academic advisor competencies. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/DesktopModules/DnnForge - NewsArticles/Print.aspx?tabid=3318&tabmoduleid=278&articleId=71&moduleId=587&PortalID=0

+Six Responsibilities of Academic Advising1. Clarifying values and identifying goals

2. Understanding institution of higher education

3. Giving pertinent information

4. Planning programs that reflect students’ abilities and interests

5. Conducting program assessments

6. Referring to institutional resources

Goetz, J. (2004). Academic Advising. In Rentz’s Student Affairs in Higher Education (pp. 89–107). MacKinnon Associates.

“Before beginning a Hunt, it is wise to ask someone what you are looking for before you begin looking for it.” (Winnie the Pooh)

Baldridge, A. (2013, September). Advising 100 acre wood style. Retrieved from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Academic-Advising-Today/View-Articles/Advising-100-Acre-Wood-Style.aspx

+Skills of Advisors

Schuh, J. H., Jones, S. R., Harper, S. R. (Eds.). (2011). Student services: A handbook for the profession (5th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, Inc.

Interpersonal Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Understanding and

Applying Learning and Developmental Theories

Understanding and

Utilizing Technologies

+Current Challenges and Issues For Students

relationship of advising to retention special population advising developmental models of advising

For Advisors advisor workloads recognition and reward factors assessment of advising training and staff development of advisors

Organizational Issues reporting lines and structures addressing the changing student populations technology in advising

Goetz, J. (2004). Academic Advising. In Rentz’s Student Affairs in Higher Education (pp. 89–107). MacKinnon Associates.

+Additional Challenges and Issues Serving underrepresented students

Strained for resources

Multiple advisors for one student

Federal policies, i.e. financial aid eligibility

Parents & privacy laws

Goetz, J. (2004). Academic Advising. In Rentz’s Student Affairs in Higher Education (pp. 89–107). MacKinnon Associates.

Schuh, J. H., Jones, S. R., Harper, S. R. (Eds.). (2011). Student services: A handbook for the profession (5th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, Inc.

“You can’t stay in your corner of the forest, waiting for others to come to you; you have to go to them sometimes.” (Winnie the Pooh)

Baldridge, A. (2013, September). Advising 100 acre wood style. Retrieved from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Academic-Advising-Today/View-Articles/Advising-100-Acre-Wood-Style.aspx

+Uses and Implications of Technologies

Support advising systems Degree audits Advising websites and online institutional documents Transfer systems for courses and credits Easier documentation of advising sessions

Delivery of advising Email and 24/7 access to advisor 24/7 access to institutional and program requirements Social media

Goetz, J. (2004). Academic Advising. In Rentz’s Student Affairs in Higher Education (pp. 89–107). MacKinnon Associates.

Schuh, J. H., Jones, S. R., Harper, S. R. (Eds.). (2011). Student services: A handbook for the profession (5th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, Inc.

+Testimonies from Real Academic Advisors!

If you could change one aspect of your position to better help students, what would you do?

“Have a more comprehensive training program for advisors at all levels. Make it consistent, standardized…so we can keep up with all of the changes” (C. Branson, personal communication, September 5, 2013).

“I wouldn’t answer email. Or wouldn’t solve everything by email. Because conversation is better and more for the students’ benefit. Email is effective, but it’s also a burden” (C. White, personal communication, September 6, 2013).

+Testimonies from Real Academic Advisors!

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

“When a student walks in super-stressed, and leaves feeling better. When I can take their anxiety down twenty notches through conversation” (C. Branson, personal communication, September 5, 2013).

“Seeing students graduate and achieve the goals they set out for themselves. When they finally choose a major that clicks” (C. White, personal communication, September 6, 2013).

+Future Considerations Decentralized "silo" approach to services or integrated

so that it becomes fundamental to campus culture? Partnership with career services?

Needed only when a student needs to register for classes or consistent relationship?

Establishing assessment mechanisms attached to institutional goals and reward systems Collecting trend data

Monitoring advising reports online for accuracy and access

Actively engage students in their own planning: feedback

Development of a "theory" of advisingGoetz, J. (2004). Academic Advising. In Rentz’s Student Affairs in Higher Education

(pp. 89–107). MacKinnon Associates.

+Discussion: Articles

What are your thoughts?

+References

Schuh, J. H., Jones, S. R., Harper, S. R. (Eds.). (2011). Student services: A handbook for the profession (5th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, Inc.

Goetz, J. (2004). Academic Advising. In Rentz’s Student Affairs in Higher Education (pp. 89–107). MacKinnon Associates.

Baldridge, A. (2013, September). Advising 100 acre wood style. Retrieved from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Academic-Advising-Today/View-Articles/Advising-100-Acre-Wood-Style.aspx

Academic advisor competencies. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/DesktopModules/DnnForge - NewsArticles/Print.aspx?tabid=3318&tabmoduleid=278&articleId=71&moduleId=587&PortalID=0

The statement of core values of academic advising. (2005). Retrieved from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Portals/0/Clearinghouse/advisingissues/cv-decl.pdf

Council for the advancement of standards in higher education: the role of academic advising programs. (2011) (pp. 1–17). Retrieved from http://www.cas.edu/getpdf.cfm?PDF=E864D2C4-D655-8F74-2E647CDECD29B7D0

(2013). About NACADA. Retrieved from: http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/About-Us.aspx