Each spring, the CU Boulder Advising Council presents two campuswide Advisor of the Year Awards, for which winners receive a recognition plaque and monetary gift. The awards recognize individuals, programs and innovations across campus associated with outstanding services in support of students.
Do you know someone who should be recognized? Nominate an academic advisor who makes a difference by Feb. 1.
While there have traditionally been two categories for campus awards, which are funded through the Assistant Vice Provost for Advising and Academic Services Shelly Bacon, this year Advising Council is excited to announce the following categories:
- New Academic Advisor
- Outstanding Academic Advisor
- Outstanding Academic Coach
- Outstanding Administrator
- Outstanding Advising Program
- Advising Technology Innovation Award
Winners will be recognized at Advisor Day, held this year on Feb. 20, and they will also have the opportunity to be sent forward for regional or national recognition.
Last year’s winners
Last year’s winners were Kate Feldman, academic advisor for English and film, and Joanne Uleau, undergraduate academic advisor in the Environmental Engineering Program.
Kate Feldman, English and film
Feldman, who works primarily with English and film undergraduates in the Arts and Sciences advising center, says because of her background in the humanities, she particularly values working with students who are engaged in creative endeavors.
“It’s exciting to see the films produced by the BFA film studies students and the writing produced by my literature and creative writing students,” Feldman says. “The level of work they’re producing blows me away.”
As an advisor, Feldman helps her students to broaden the scope of what they're considering, learning first what her students love to do and then helping them connect that to career paths, all the while providing resources to support them.
Joanne Uleau, environmental engineering
In addition to her role in helping students navigate curriculum, course schedules, the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, intra-university transfers and changes of major, Uleau also serves on advising groups and councils in her department and across campus.
With her office located in a high-traffic part of the Engineering Center, it is easy for students to stop in without an appointment and get a quick answer from her.
“Students are always coming and going from my office for anything from big issues related to academics or life to simple questions about class approvals or study abroad issues,” Uleau says.
The fact that Urleau is a former teacher shows up in her advising style. She helps her students not by simply giving them easy answers but by guiding them and helping them learn to succeed on their own.
“My students stop in all the time to thank me for getting them through, and they say I’ve saved them time and money. My response is always ‘you did all the work.’”
Nominations are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1. Advising Council hopes to encourage nominations by keeping the form brief and to the point. Nominate an advisor today.
