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Responsibilities of the
Academic Advisor
Competent advising
requires resources, just as competent classroom instruction does.
Introduction
The college recognizes that academic advising is crucial to student success.
Advising is an art as well as a craft and is best accomplished by those who
are personally and professionally interested in being an advisor. Ideally,
the academic advisor fosters a collaborative relationship with the student
advisee based on a sharing of responsibilities. The goal of the relationship
is to guide the student toward accepting responsibility for his/her own
learning and academic decision-making.
Isothermal expects each advisor in his/her commitment to learning, to:
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Meet student needs by
demonstrating professional, friendly, and courteous service in all
aspects of student life
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Maintain high professional
and academic standards
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Serve as role models in
the development of leadership skills
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Respect diversity and
treat all students fairly
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Be available to students
and helpful with student problems
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Communicate clear learning
objectives and expected outcomes
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Provide timely feedback in
the assessment of learning outcomes
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Stay current in subject
matter
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Practice effective
teaching/learning strategies that promote critical thinking
(from Community of
Learners Brochure, 2005)
Responsibilities of the
academic advisor include, but are not limited to:
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Guiding the student
advisee through a self-assessment process and the exploration of his/her
career goals.
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Interacting effectively
with the advisee to help him/her develop the ability to take
responsibility for decision-making and for his/her learning progress.
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Assisting students in
choosing programs, selecting and scheduling courses, and accessing
resources to support decision-making.
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Increasing one’s knowledge
of the advising process and developing and enhancing the conceptual,
interpersonal, and other skills important to academic advising.
Meeting the Challenge
1. To guide the student
advisee through a self-assessment process and the exploration of his/her
career goals, you should:
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Regularly schedule
sufficient time to adequately meet the advising needs of the students
assigned to you.
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Maintain an advising file
containing appropriate documentation for each advisee.
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Support the advisee in the
following ways:
Help the advisee
define and establish realistic educational and career goals and
objectives consistent with their abilities, interests, and
limitations.
Assist the advisee in
understanding the nature and purposes of a college education.
Discuss and reinforce
linkages and relationships between the instructional program and
potential occupations/careers.
Aid advisees with
college processes and procedures related to academic advising,
including privacy, reasonable access, and appropriate record
keeping.
Help resolve academic
difficulties when appropriate.
Help the advisee learn
to take responsibility for his/her own actions and decisions.
2. To interact effectively
with the advisee to help him/her develop the ability to take responsibility
for decision-making and for his/her learning progress, you should:
Be available and
approachable, demonstrating concern for and interest in the student.
Listen constructively;
attempt to hear all aspects of the advisee’s expressed problems.
Provide sensitive,
timely responses that encourage the student to accept his/her
responsibilities.
Strive to understand
student concerns from a student point of view.
Demonstrate respect
for the opinions of others.
Be familiar with the
individual student's needs and thus personalize the advisement
process whenever possible.
Act as an advocate for
the student, as appropriate.
Nurture others while
maintaining established and appropriate boundaries.
3. To assist students in
choosing programs, selecting and scheduling courses, and accessing resources
to support decision-making, you should:
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Be knowledgeable of the
most current college programs, educational options, and requirements in
sufficient detail to provide students with accurate, usable information.
Know the career and
transfer programs available at the college and know the requirements
of programs (e.g., special entrance requirements).
Know general course
content (overall from catalog) and any special information about the
courses (e.g., prerequisites) including honors and developmental
courses.
Understand the
intricacies of transfer between institutions where applicable and
make appropriate referrals to enable students to achieve their
goals.
Know the registration
procedures and paperwork required.
Adhere to the specific
policies and procedures of your department and to the policies and
overall values of the college.
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Develop good working
relationships with college personnel critical to student success
including but not limited to those in admissions, financial aid,
academic departments, the registrar's office, disability services,
tutoring, counseling, and career services.
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Be familiar with the many
resources of the college and refer students when referral seems to be
the best student-centered response.
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Seek to understand and
modify barriers to student progress; identify ineffective and
inefficient policies and procedures, and work to affect change that is
in the best interest of learning.
4. To increase your knowledge
of the advising process and develop and enhance your conceptual,
interpersonal, and other skills important to academic advising, you should:
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Seek opportunities to grow
professionally by identifying appropriate workshops, classes,
literature, research publications, individuals and groups, both inside
and outside the institution, which can keep your interest high, hone
advising skills, and advance expertise within academic advising.
Willingly and actively
participate in advisor training programs, both initially and
in-service.
Share your advising
skills and learn from colleagues who also are actively involved with
advising.
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