Over the years academic advising has become complicated.  Too many options for students to complete their degree is troublesome.  I have seen it listed that as much as 80% of students change their major while in college.  This stat shows that most students are unsure of what to study.  If they are not sure what they want to study, how sure are they about the courses they choose each semester?  Enter the Academic Advisor.

Academic advisor roles have become much more than people who “tell students what courses to take.”  They are professionals who act as a student’s personal concierge.  They help students with exploring majors, looking at class options, looking at scheduling options, looking at which professors teach to their learning style, offer up suggestions on how to “double dip” requirements, etc.  Because advisors are in the relationship building business, they often do low level counseling sessions with students as well.

Advising has truly become an art.  To be able to blend the details of degree requirements and be a builder and advocate for students takes special people.  Not everyone has these skills.  I have worked with advisors over the years that are great at pieces, but struggle with the whole.

Here are some of the things modern day Academic Advisors need to enhance their art form:

• Support from administration.  Case loads need to be manageable to have a real impact on student success and retention.
• Online Tools.  CRM systems are critical.  Advisors need tools that help them work more efficiently.
• Public Speaking Skills.  Long gone are the days where advisors can sit in an office or cubical and meet 1:1 with students. They are now part of orientations, class room presentations, transfer presentations, etc.
• Digging Skills.  All to often academic advisors sit on the surface with students.  Advisors need to dig down, ask follow up questions, get to the route of the problem or true questions that students don’t know to ask.  The key is that advisors must ask questions.
• Problem Solving Skills.  Not every student case is routine.  Each student is unique, treat them that way.
• Critical Thinking Skills.  Similar to problem solving, advisors need to think critically about each student session and seek creative solutions.
• A Love Of Interaction.  Advisors need to love meeting with and working with a lot of students.  Advising needs to be a volume job.  When the advising is in the off season, advisors should be reaching out to students.  High volume should not be the only measuring stick, but it should be one of them.
•  Regular Interaction With Faculty.  Advisors need to know the faculty and faculty need to know them.
• Ongoing Training.  To be an expert in your craft, you need to be constantly improving your skill sets.
• Conference Attendance.  Advisors need to talk to others outside their college and/or system to learn and grow.

On second thought, maybe we need to just simplify the curriculum and have less options for students.  Hmmmm.