Academic Advising at Miami University The Big Picture

Academic Advising at Miami University The Big Picture Christa Branson Advisory Staff Training Summer 2005

What is academic advising?

What is academic advising? “At Miami University academic advising is a developmental process that assists students in their academic decision making by linking students and designated faculty and staff together to communicate and exchange information that will contribute to students reaching their maximum potential” (Miami University, 2003).

Key words for our discussion… o. Decentralized o. Developmental o. Collaborative

Decentralized

Board of Trustees Miami University Secretary to the Board President James Garland Affirmative Action and Human Rsrc. Development Intercollegiate Athletics Art Museum University Communications Women’s Center Provost and VP for Academic Affairs Jeffrey Herbst VP for Student Affairs Richard Nault VP for Information Technology Reid Christenberry VP for Finance and Business Services Richard Norman VP for Advancement Jayne Irvin

Academic Divisions o College of Arts and Science (CAS) o Richard T. Farmer School of Business (BUS) o School of Education and Allied Professions (EAP) o School of Engineering and Applied Science (EAS) o School of Fine Arts (SFA) o School of Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS)

Chief Divisional Advisers o Claudia Scott-Pavloff, Assistant Dean (CAS) o Marti Kyger, Assistant Dean (BUS) o Roxann Sommers, Student and Academic Services Coordinator (EAP) o Lisa Abrams, Assistant Dean (EAS) o Rosalyn Benson, Assistant Dean (SFA) o Kim Ernsting, Chief Divisional Adviser (IDS)

Why Residence Life and New Student Programs? “If we could postpone the operation of our present ‘adviser’ system, which is based entirely on academic divisions, and start that with the sophomore year, it would really fit in better with the time at which students naturally are inclined to make vocational decisions. (quote continued…)

Then if we could find competent tutors, both men and women, to take residence in our freshman halls, not as proctors but as real guides and advisers of the freshman, we certainly should be able to be of much greater assistance to these boys and girls than we are at present” (Upham, 1928).

Mission of the Division of Student Affairs To provide a supportive environment To create and extend student learning opportunities outside the classroom that heighten student intellectual and personal growth To produce citizen leaders who make substantive contributions to their communities

Mission of ORLNSP The Office of Residence Life and New Student Programs strives to provide a safe and supportive environment promoting n purposeful connections to the community, n academic success, n personal development, and n understanding of diversity in an effort to build citizen leaders for the future.

How does it all work? o Summer Orientation and Registration o First Year Programs o Folder Transfer – February Transferred to Academic Divisions n Assigned academic adviser o Academic Divisions and Departments n

Developmental

What is developmental advising? “…Developmental counseling or advising is concerned not only with a specific personal or vocational decision but also with facilitating the student’s rational processes, environmental and interpersonal interactions, behavior awareness, and problem-solving, decision-making, and evaluation skills” (Crookston, 1972/1994, p. 5).

What is developmental advising? “The process of academic advising includes the following dimensions: 1) the exploration of life goals, 2) exploration of vocational goals, 3) program choice, 4) course choice, and 5) scheduling choices” (O’Banion, 1972/94, p. 10).

What is it that do we do? What is it that we don’t do?

How do we do it? o We focus on: Development of academic and intellectual competence n Development of personal identity and philosophy n Interpersonal development n Exploration of career and academic options n Development of an appreciation for diversity n

Development of academic and intellectual competence Student’s capacity as a thinker and learner, including processes by which a student gathers information, analyzes it, synthesizes it, and evaluates its merit and potential

Development of personal identity and philosophy Development of one’s sense of self-discovery and identifying the type of person one would like to become Formation of moral and ethical principle’s to guide one’s life

Interpersonal development One’s interactions with other people, how those interactions affect oneself and others, and how a person can learn to interact with others more effectively and beneficially

Exploration of career and academic options Formation of commitments to particular occupation and academic fields

Development of an appreciation for diversity Person’s ability to be accepting of others, and appreciative of the many forms of diversity present on the campus and in the world

How do these focal points connect to our guiding missions? o Development of academic and intellectual competence o Development of personal identity and philosophy o Interpersonal development o Exploration of career and academic options o Development of an appreciation for diversity

Collaborative

With whom do we collaborate? o. Students o. Academic Divisions o. Campus Offices

What is academic advising? “At Miami University academic advising is a developmental process that assists students in their academic decision making by linking students and designated faculty and staff together to communicate and exchange information that will contribute to students reaching their maximum potential” (Miami University, 2003).

Student/Adviser Partnership o The student will: Think carefully about their personal, academic, and career goals so that they may plan educational goals with the adviser n Discuss with the adviser any special situations affecting academic achievement n

Student/Adviser Partnership Become familiar with Miami Bulletin, and other resources n Visit their academic adviser regularly to discuss progress and gain assistance n Acquire and keep useful materials n

Student “Contrary to those systems in which advisers make decisions for students…students are responsible for making decisions throughout the process” (O’Banion, 1972/94, p. 11).

Student/Adviser Partnership o The adviser will: Assist the student in developing personal, educational, and career goals n Assist the student in developing decision-making skills n Provide information concerning all University policies and procedures n Refer the student to support services for assistance n

Adviser “It is the responsibility of the adviser to provide information and a climate of freedom in which students can best make such decisions. ” (O’Banion, 1972/94, p. 11)

Campus Partners o Academic Divisions and Departments o Scholastic Enhancement Program o Student-Athlete Development Center o Honors and Scholars o ROTC and NROTC

Campus Partners o Rinella Learning Center Learning Disabilities Services n Tutorial Assistance Program n Supplemental Instruction Program n Learning Specialists o Career Exploration and Testing Center and Office of Career Services o Study Abroad and Office of International Education o Offices of the Registrar, Bursar, Student Financial Assistance n

ORLNSP Students Academic Divisions Campus Partners

We are… o. Decentralized o. Developmental o. Collaborative

Questions?

References Crookston, B. B. (1972/1994). A developmental view of academic advising as teaching. NACADA Journal, 14(2), 5 -9. Miami University (2003). Academic Advising at Miami. Retrieved July 20, 2005, from Miami University Web site: http: //www. units. muohio. edu/saf/lrn/advising/index. shtml O’Banion, T. (1972/1994). An academic advising model. NACADA Journal, 14(2), 10 -16. Upham, A. H. (1928). Letter to the Committee on Efficiency and Cooperation. Board of Trustees, Miami University.