A Study of Academic Advising
This report represents data collected from students during the fall semester of 2007. Students in five courses
(Introduction to Psychology, Human Relations, Leadership Skills and Styles, Humanities I and Elementary
Curriculum) plus the UNI American Marketing Association student meeting were surveyed. The Research
sub committee on behalf of the Provost’s Academic Advising Implementation Team conducted the survey.
The survey attempted to measure the importance students placed on selected academic advising activities.
Demographic Frequency Tables
Gender
Frequency
7
Valid Percent
1.6
Female
243
56.9
Male
177
41.5
Total
427
100.0
Blank
Year in School
Blank
Frequency
6
Percent
1.4
Freshman
176
41.2
Junior
88
20.6
Sophomore
79
18.5
Senior
Total
78
18.3
427
100.0
Are you a transfer student?
Blank
Not a Transfer Student
Frequency
8
Percent
1.9
334
78.2
Transfer Student
Total
85
19.9
427
100.0
College
Frequency
Blank
College of Business Administration
College of Humanities and Fine Arts
College of Natural Science
College of Education
No college
College of Social & Behavioral Science
Total
Percent
11
2.6
112
26.2
82
19.2
45
10.5
82
19.2
44
10.3
51
11.9
427
100.0
Descriptive Statistics
Responses:
The lower the score, the more important the items for students. (1=Highly important, 2=Important, 3=Some what
important and 4=Not important at all.) Therefore the least important advising assistance is “Shows an interest in your
out-of-class activities “ while “Is available for face to face meetings” is the most important based on this survey.
Helps you select and schedule courses
Help you evaluate your progress toward graduation
Helps you develop and/or change your educational goals or plans
Provides guidance for making decisions about minors, certificates, and elective
courses
Assists you in developing a long-term educational plan
Provides guidance on academic & experience opportunities (e.g., study abroad,
exchange programs)
Provides guidance about graduate & professional school preparation & options
Talks w/ you about career options & provides career information & resources
Discusses internship, work, or volunteer experiences related to your career goals
Helps you understand how courses in the Liberal Arts Core relate to your major and
career goals
Helps you understand why required courses are important for your professional
development & career goals
Knows the Liberal Arts Core requirements
Is a good source of advise for college and university procedures (e. g., add/drop,
waiver/substitution, etc.)
Is able to refer you to qualified persons or appropriate offices to answer your
questions or meet your needs
Considers your abilities, talents, and interests when advising you about courses or
programs of study
Shows an interest in your out-of-class activities
Helps you explore your interests, values and abilities/strengths
Directs you to campus resources related to your needs and interests
Directs you to resources that can help you be successful academically (e.g. tutoring,
Writing Center)
Provides strategies and approaches to help you improve your academic performance
Motivates and encourages you to your highest levels of educational achievement
Is available for face to face meetings
Offers means of regular contact with you ( e.g., by e-mail, in person, through
newsletter, etc.)
Listens to you & asks clarifying questions
Is willing to discuss personal concerns and situations
Clarifies expectations about both his/her and your roles in the advising process
Promotes personal responsibility for your academic, career, and personal decisions
Helps you find ways to feel connected with and involved in the University
Mean
1.82
1.63
2.05
Std. Dev
.945
.901
.846
1.88
.871
1.90
.842
2.22
.885
1.97
1.82
1.84
.907
.908
.914
2.32
.983
2.22
.883
1.69
.921
1.75
.881
1.69
.848
1.81
.850
2.47
2.17
2.02
.955
.861
.877
1.92
.860
1.97
1.98
1.47
.832
.877
.856
1.74
.859
1.72
2.24
2.19
2.08
2.16
.848
.969
.837
.848
.893
Helps you select and schedule courses
Valid
Assists you in developing a long-term educational plan
Frequency
210
Percent
49.2
108
25.3
Important
Somewhat Important
84
19.7
Somewhat Important
Not Important at All
25
5.9
Not Important at All
Highly Important
Important
Total
427
Valid
Highly Important
Total
100.0
Missing
Helps you develop and/or change your educational goals or plans
Valid
Frequency
123
Percent
28.8
Important
181
42.4
Somewhat Important
103
24.1
Highly Important
Not Important at All
Total
20
4.7
427
Total
100.0
Important
Somewhat Important
Not Important at All
Total
Missing
Total
System
Frequency
165
Percent
38.6
165
38.6
68
15.9
23
5.4
421
98.6
6
1.4
427
183
42.9
68
15.9
21
4.9
425
99.5
2
.5
427
100.0
Frequency
Valid
Percent
Highly Important
100
23.4
Important
159
37.2
Somewhat Important
135
31.6
29
6.8
423
99.1
Not Important at All
Total
Missing
Highly Important
Percent
35.8
Provides guidance on academic & experience opportunities (e.g., study abroad,
exchange programs)
Provides guidance for making decisions about minors, certificates, and elective
courses
Valid
System
Frequency
153
System
Total
4
.9
427
100.0
Helps you find ways to feel connected with and involved in the University
Valid
100.0
Frequency
111
Percent
26.0
Important
166
38.9
Somewhat Important
118
27.6
30
7.0
425
99.5
Highly Important
Not Important at All
Total
Missing
Total
System
2
.5
427
100.0
Promotes personal responsibility for your academic, career, and personal
decisions
Valid
Frequency
114
Percent
26.7
Important
183
42.9
Somewhat Important
Somewhat Important
104
24.4
Not Important at All
22
5.2
423
99.1
4
.9
427
100.0
Highly Important
Not Important at All
Total
Missing
System
Total
Clarifies expectations about both his/her and your roles in the advising process
Frequency
Valid
Highly Important
Important
Somewhat Important
Not Important at All
Total
Missing
Listens to you & asks clarifying questions
System
Total
Valid
Highly Important
Important
Total
Missing
System
Total
Highly Important
Important
Somewhat Important
Not Important at All
Total
Missing
Total
System
Percent
49.2
146
34.2
49
11.5
20
4.7
425
99.5
2
.5
427
100.0
Offers means of regular contact with you ( e.g., by e-mail, in person, through
newsletter, etc.)
Percent
Frequency
206
48.2
45.9
Important
137
32.1
111
26.0
Somewhat Important
61
14.3
28
6.6
Not Important at All
18
4.2
422
98.8
20.4
196
422
98.8
5
1.2
427
100.0
Valid
Percent
Highly Important
87
Total
Missing
System
Total
Is willing to discuss personal concerns and situations
Valid
Frequency
210
Frequency
111
Percent
26.0
149
34.9
115
49
5
1.2
427
100.0
Is available for face to face meetings
Frequency
299
Percent
70.0
Important
77
18.0
26.9
Somewhat Important
21
4.9
11.5
Not Important at All
27
6.3
424
99.3
Total
424
99.3
3
.7
427
100.0
Valid
Missing
Total
Highly Important
System
3
.7
427
100.0
Motivates and encourages you to your highest levels of educational
achievement
Valid
Frequency
144
Percent
33.7
167
39.1
Somewhat Important
Somewhat Important
88
20.6
Not Important at All
Not Important at All
23
5.4
422
98.8
5
1.2
427
100.0
Highly Important
Important
Total
Missing
Directs you to campus resources related to your needs and interests
System
Total
Valid
Highly Important
Important
Total
Missing
System
Total
Frequency
133
Percent
31.1
173
40.5
92
21.5
25
5.9
423
99.1
4
.9
427
100.0
Helps you explore your interests, values and abilities/strengths
Provides strategies and approaches to help you improve your academic
performance
Frequency
Valid
Valid
Highly Important
Important
Somewhat Important
Not Important at All
Total
Missing
System
Total
Frequency
133
Percent
31.1
191
44.7
80
18.7
20
4.7
424
99.3
3
.7
427
100.0
105
24.6
Important
164
38.4
Somewhat Important
132
30.9
Not Important at All
Total
Missing
System
Total
Valid
Valid
Highly Important
Important
Somewhat Important
Not Important at All
Total
Missing
Total
System
Percent
152
35.6
177
41.5
71
16.6
23
5.4
423
99.1
4
.9
427
100.0
22
5.2
423
99.1
4
.9
427
100.0
Shows an interest in your out-of-class activities
Directs you to resources that can help you be successful academically (e.g.
tutoring, Writing Center)
Frequency
Percent
Highly Important
Frequency
80
Percent
18.7
Important
126
29.5
Somewhat Important
158
37.0
Highly Important
Not Important at All
Total
Missing
Total
System
60
14.1
424
99.3
3
.7
427
100.0
Considers your abilities, talents, and interests when advising you about
courses or programs of study
Valid
Frequency
181
Percent
42.4
161
37.7
Somewhat Important
Somewhat Important
64
15.0
Not Important at All
Not Important at All
19
4.4
425
99.5
Highly Important
Important
Total
Missing
Knows the Liberal Arts Core requirements
System
Total
2
.5
427
100.0
Valid
Highly Important
Important
Total
Valid
Valid
Highly Important
Important
Somewhat Important
Not Important at All
Total
Missing
System
Total
Percent
51.1
147
34.4
38
8.9
23
5.4
426
99.8
1
.2
427
100.0
Is a good source of advise for college and university procedures (e. g.,
add/drop, waiver/substitution, etc.)
Valid
Missing
Total
11.9
28
6.6
427
100.0
Important
163
38.2
Somewhat Important
135
31.6
30
7.0
427
100.0
Total
Helps you understand how courses in the Liberal Arts Core relate to your major
and career goals
Frequency
Valid
Percent
48.7
Missing
Important
141
33.0
Total
Somewhat Important
53
12.4
Not Important at All
24
5.6
426
99.8
1
.2
427
100.0
Percent
Highly Important
105
24.6
Important
135
31.6
Somewhat Important
131
30.7
54
12.6
425
99.5
Total
208
System
25.5
51
Percent
23.2
Not Important at All
Highly Important
Total
109
Frequency
99
Highly Important
Not Important at All
Frequency
Percent
56.0
Helps you understand why required courses are important for your
professional development & career goals
Is able to refer you to qualified persons or appropriate offices to answer your
questions or meet your needs
Frequency
218
Frequency
239
System
2
.5
427
100.0
Discusses internship, work, or volunteer experiences related to your career
goals
Valid
Frequency
193
Percent
45.2
129
30.2
Somewhat Important
Somewhat Important
80
18.7
Not Important at All
Not Important at All
23
5.4
425
99.5
2
.5
427
100.0
Highly Important
Important
Total
Missing
Assists you in developing a long-term educational plan
System
Total
Valid
Highly Important
Important
Total
Missing
Frequency
153
Percent
35.8
183
42.9
68
15.9
21
4.9
425
99.5
2
.5
427
100.0
System
Total
Helps you evaluate your progress toward graduation
Talks w/ you about career options & provides career information & resources
Frequency
Frequency
Valid
256
60.0
100
23.4
45
10.5
45.2
Important
Important
145
34.0
Somewhat Important
Somewhat Important
59
13.8
Not Important at All
Not Important at All
28
6.6
425
99.5
System
2
.5
427
100.0
Provides guidance about graduate & professional school preparation & options
Highly Important
Important
Frequency
154
Percent
36.1
160
37.5
Somewhat Important
85
19.9
Not Important at All
28
6.6
427
100.0
Total
Percent
Highly Important
193
Total
Valid
Valid
Highly Important
Total
Missing
Percent
Total
26
6.1
427
100.0