THE ROLE OF THE ACADEMIC ADVISOR
The faculty advisor’s role is to support students in achieving their educational goals. The advisor helps to coordinate a student’s college experiences by
- working with the student to develop goals,
- familiarizing the student with degree requirements,
- scheduling course work,
- monitoring progress towards goal, and
- exploring career/transfer possibilities.
Advisors do not make decisions for students, but provide them with the information they need to make their own decisions.
It is noteworthy that student satisfaction and retention correlate highly with early and significant interaction between students and faculty. Advisor contacts with students have great potential for helping students feel a part of the academic community and have successful collegiate experiences.
What qualities are common amongst good academic advisors? It’s the advisors who
- have a genuine interest in advising students,
- keep scheduled appointments,
- display a caring concerned attitude toward student problems,
- refer students to various resources when necessary,
- are knowledgeable relative to discipline, degree and field in which advising is provided,
- keep current advising materials,
- have good listening skills, and
- use effective problem-solving skills.
The National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) has stated, “Students place a great deal of trust in their advisors. That trust warrants quality programs and services.” The materials which follow in this Advising Handbook are intended to support advisors in their desire to provide quality services to their students.