Received 6/00 from CCHE for QIS item on advising

Colorado Student Association
Undergraduate Academic Advising Policy

Academic advising is a relationship with mutual responsibilities between an advisor and student advisee, for timely consultation, sharing of accurate and complete information, careful listening, critical evaluation and respectful interchange. Academic advising can be facilitated by professional staff person or a faculty member.

All students are entitled to a quality advising system to be provided by the college or university they attend. The following factors are characteristic of a quality advising system:

• Accessibility to students;
• Amount of time spent in advising students;
• Familiarity with the requirements of various university programs;
• Ability to relate successfully to a wide variety of students for the purpose of advising;
• Knowledge of resources available for the meeting of students’ needs and the keeping of adequate records.

Advisor Role and Responsibilities:

The academic advisor, whether faculty or staff member, serves as a coordinator of the students’ educational experiences. As such, the academic advisor’s responsibilities include the following:

• Help students define and develop realistic educational and career goals.
• Assist students in planning a program consistent with their abilities and interests.
• Assist students in monitoring and evaluating their educational progress.
• Discuss linkages and relationships between instructional program and occupational career. Assist students in identifying career opportunities. This includes utilizing on campus career centers and career counselors.
• Inform students of the nature of the advisor/student advisee relationship.
• Interpret and provide rationale for instructional policies, procedures, and requirements.
• Monitor all designated educational transactions. I.E. course selection, changes of major, graduation requirements, etc.
• Maintain an advising record for each student.
• Designate and post hours available for advising.

Advisee Role and Responsibilities:

Students carry a portion of responsibility in the advising process. In the interest of successfully completing a degree program, a student must be pro-active in finding the necessary resources needed for attaining a degree. In order to contribute to an effective advising relationship, students are expected to:

• Schedule and attend advising sessions each semester prior to course registration. Advising sessions may be conducted via email or telephone, depending on the need o advisor or the advisee.
• Clarify personal values, abilities, interests, and goals.
• Become knowledgeable of all graduation requirements and adhere to institutional policies, procedures, and deadlines.
• Prepare for each advising session.
• Follow through on actions identified during each advising session.
• Responsibly evaluate his/her advisor in order to strengthen the quality of advisement.
• Become familiar with career services and other campus resources.

The following table consists of the goals and measurements to be used in the assessment of institutional academic advising.

Tools for measurement:

Student advising record: This record is used to maintain a record of all advising transactions that occur between the advisor and advisee. The advising record will indicate whether a student has meet with said advisor prior to each course registration period, this can also include email or telephone correspondence between the advisor and advisee. It will also document the academic plan created by the student and said advisor. This record is also used to ensure that student advisees are receiving information regarding his/her academic standing and time needed for degree completion. The record will also facilitate a smooth transition when students complete a change of major. This record will be maintained by the advisor and can be a combination of electronic and written data.

Student evaluations: Student advisees must have the opportunity to indicate whether they are receiving the most out of their advising experiences. These evaluations are to be structured in such a way that the strengths and weaknesses of the advising experience can be clearly indicated. There must also be an opportunity for students to identify how to positively change their experience, or change advisors. Students must have the opportunity to complete these annually.

Degree Status Check: Currently, colleges and universities have already instituted these type of policies. This policy would ensure that degree status checks are used to outline students’ course selection plans throughout their academic career. It would also assist in targeting students who need to begin preparing for fellowships and graduate programs earlier on in their academic career. This plan should begin once a student has declared a major. The plan will display what courses are needed to complete the degree program selected by the student. It would also outline additional courses needed to assist a student in preparation for a fellowship and prepare, in advance, for graduate work.

Advisor Selection Form: This form gives the student advisee the opportunity to self select an advisor he/she may find as more suitable to his/her advising needs. The form should be easily accessible through department and records offices.

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