Faculty Advising 101

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Faculty Advising 101

• Forum Series
• Fall 2008
• Elise King, Victor Rios, Adrian Gonzales

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Why Was this Handbook Developed?

• COD has always had a rich history of all faculty
  working closely with students
• Many instructional faculty felt the need for more
  training and guidance
• This handbook is the start of a renewed dialogue
  about advising at COD and is to be considered a
  living document
• ACCREDITATION

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Why is Advising Important?

• Faculty are role models
• Faculty are usually the first to identify student
  issues
• Faculty are guides through the education process
• Faculty are resources in career development
• Faculty are a powerful influence on student
  success, retention and persistence

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Who is an Academic Advisor?

• Faculty in Instructional Divisions
• Counselors
• Clinical Psychologist

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Instructional Faculty as Advisors

• Advising with regard to individual academic
  discipline, career choices within the discipline,
  and referral to appropriate educational
  institutions
• Use professional expertise, personal experience
  and familiarity with COD to help students clarify
  options
• Help students to gather and evaluate information
  to make decisions
• Not expected to know everything, should
  collaborate with Counseling to assist students
• Some students will want to share personal issues
  so faculty should consider their limitations and
  make appropriate referrals

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Counseling Faculty as Advisors

• Provide academic, career and personal counseling
• Counselors are trained as generalists
• Well versed with regard to transfer related
  issues and financial aid
• Will coordinate with other appropriate student
  services

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What is the Role of the Clinical Psychologist?

• Intended to address short-term mental health
  concern to enable students to complete the
  semester
• Does not provide long-term therapy
• Will assist with assessment and referral needs of
  the student
• Works closely with Counseling and DSPS

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How is Advising Offered?

• Advising often starts before a student even
  applies to COD
• Visits to the Counseling Center
• High School Outreach
• College Fairs and Community Events
• Informal Interaction with Potential Students
• Advising Continues throughout a students time at
  COD
• New Student Orientation
• Visits to the Counseling Center and Career
  Transfer Center
• Faculty Office Hours
• Informal Interaction with Students

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When Does Advising Occur?

• Open Registration Periods
• Add/Drop and Fee Payment Deadlines
• Mid-Semester Advising
• Withdrawal Deadlines
• Final Grade Reporting

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What is the Role of an Advisor?(page 4 of Manual)

• Become acquainted with the student
• Help students to see big picture and explore
• Know your departments course offerings and
  appropriate College policy and procedures
• Be available to students within reason
• Be aware of your professional and legal
  limitations

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What are Characteristics of Quality Advising?
(page 5 of Manual)

• Engage in active and open, two-way communication
• Display and caring and helpful attitude
• Explore the origin of the questions being raised
  by the student
• Allow the student to make their own decisions

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What are the Limitations?(page 5 of Manual)

• You cannot know everything about a students
  situation
• You cannot increase the natural abilities of
  students but you can encourage maximum use of
  their abilities
• You cannot make decisions for a student
• You should not criticize your fellow faculty
  members
• You should not betray a students confidence on
  personal issues
• You should not try to handle emotional
  disturbances that fall outside the norm

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What are the Legal Issues? (page 8 of Manual)

• FERPA Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
  of 1974
• Students have right to access to their own
  records
• School officials with legitimate educational
  interest may see a students record
• Student must give permission for all others to
  view or change their record
• When in Doubt Contact Admissions Records or
  Counseling Center

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Helpful Resources

• COD Catalog
• COD Schedule of Classes
• COD Website
• Other Useful Websites
• ASSIST www.assist.org
• UC System www.ucop.edu/pathways
• CSU System www.csumentor.org
• CCC Transfer www.cacctcw.org
• National Academic Advising Association
  www.nacada.ksu.edu

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Whats Next?

• More discussion will occur throughout the Fall
  2008 term via Academic Senate and small workshops
  like this
• A formal plan for academic advising will likely
  be developed and implemented
• Please send questions and/or suggestions to Dean
  Adrian Gonzales