Best Practices This is the Best Practices document for the Council on Academic Counseling, as approved by the Council in November 2010. This document represents a true collaborative effort of our membership between the summer of 2009 and November 2010. Our Best Practices are our thoughts on the reasons for our work, the ideals our positions strive for, and the praxis of our positions. The two main sections of the CAC Best Practices are: What Academic Counselors Do to Serve Students How Academic Counselors Work with Students What Academic Counselors Do to Serve Students We Work at the Intersection of Academic, Personal, and Social Development Help students transition and integrate into OSU Support self‐advocacy of students thus enabling them to deal successfully with academic advising, academic resources, financial aid, and other student resources on campus Communicate and collaborate proactively with colleagues on campus by being a conduit of information to and from academic advisors, counselors, etc. Realize that students are on different developmental path and work to provide a safety‐net concept through proactive counseling approach Use a holistic approach to serve as an adult/representative of the university who listens to them (students) and helps identify additional support resources Support university policies and regulations Help students deal with being in developmental courses Serve as a collecting point for information from multiple university sources Advocate and/or facilitate when students aren’t able to advocate for themselves Help students learn to counter stereotypes they may face Provide individual and culturally sensitive mentoring to those students who have a hard time acclimating while still fostering an environment that creates a sense of belonging Identify educational challenges and obstacles to prepare our students proactively for potential roadblocks to success in the classroom How Academic Counselors Work with Students This section, the second of the two major sections of this document, contains the following parts: The Breadth of Our Work The Manner In Which We Work with Students Establish Relationships Dynamic Communication Understand Individuality Assist in Navigation Flexible Approach Developmental Counseling Holistic Support Proactive Approach Student Advocacy The Breadth of Our Work Academic counselors work in a holistic and complementary fashion with other support offices and departments on campus. Knowing that students must be empowered to utilize all available resources, we strive to work together with our campus constituents in advising, financial aid, disability access services, career services, etc. Our job is to respond to students’ needs and educate them regarding the overall systems within the university, while helping them navigate the variety of resources. With our understanding of their unique backgrounds, academic counselors communicate with students to guide them to “explore and define educational and career goals in an atmosphere of mutual respect and learning.” We strive to instill in students an understanding that we do not exist as a substitute for these other resources; rather, we exist to complement and enhance the many student services Oregon State University has to offer. A helpful image in understanding our role is that other departments on campus have their core functions and sometimes they overlap with each other. The core function of academic counselors is to fill in the gaps that develop between these offices. We accomplish this through several methods: We help students understand the systems within the university by accessing public information in print and online. We do not prescriptively answer student questions, but develop their background knowledge and their questions to assist them in utilizing these resources. When there are options available and decisions to make, we support students in taking their own unique abilities and needs into account in the process. We collaborate and keep lines of communication open with others on campus. The Manner In Which We Work with Students Academic counselors work with students in a holistic way and with the flexibility to address and discuss a myriad of issues students face in college. Our job is to respond to students’ needs and educate them regarding the overall systems within the university, while helping them navigate the variety of resources. With our understanding of their unique backgrounds, we communicate with students about resources on campus, referring them to specialized offices as needed. We view the success of the student as central to our work. Establish Relationships Academic Counselors establish relationships with students that provide individualized and holistic support. We create a foundational relationship that is flexible in which the level of support can increase or decrease as needed. We establish relationships that are student‐centered and strength‐based We follow up and have an ongoing relationship with students whenever possible We seek to earn a high level of trust from students over time, through patience and understanding We establish a relationship in which we talk about things other than academics. Dynamic Communication Academic Counselors utilize a style of interpersonal communication with students that seeks to create a comfortable environment for students to process their experiences and problem solve for opportunities. We listen for opportunities to ask other questions and to hear more about their personal lives We ask open ended questions and allow students to share We are open to and encourage hearing stories from students and hearing about feelings When we respond, we do not tell students what to do; instead we ask questions and provide information about the university and resources We give honest feedback and help students see other perspectives Understand Individuality Academic Counselors work with students in a way that reflects an understanding that all students are different, and at times will have varied needs. We are aware of and sensitive to the needs of different student populations. We approach each student individually and ask "What are the needs of this particular student?" We vary the support and assistance for each student based on their individualized needs. Assist in Navigation Academic Counselors support students in learning to navigate the university. We recognize that some students may not know a lot about navigating the university. We help students figure out what they do and do not know and how to find answers. We assist students in learning about university processes including accessing online resources, working with faculty and advisors, and navigation of campus services. As an extension of orientation we offer this information, and at a time when it is relevant and students can make use of the skill through practice and application. We help students navigate their relationships with their advisors and other campus resources. We encourage students to plan ahead: "What is going to be your next step?" Flexible Approach Academic Counselors allow for flexibility in the nature and content of their sessions with students. As a general rule, we keep an open door policy, making our offices and ourselves available to students without having to check‐in at the main office before seeing us We are not constrained by a pre‐set time limit for an appointment We do our best to be available to students as soon as possible, recognizing that some student issues should be addressed immediately. Developmental Counseling Academic Counselors support students in their academic success through coaching, academic strategy and skill development. We ask questions to explore students’ understanding of where they are with their academics. We have knowledge of academic success strategies and skills and can help students explore techniques and tools that will work for them. We help students define what success means to them and help them identify their motivation and goals We support students’ relationships with their academic advisors. Holistic Support Academic Counselors support students in their social and personal areas of life and view working with students as a holistic process. We ask about and promote thinking about social opportunities including clubs, organizations and other involvement opportunities We acknowledge that there is overlap between the social and the academic sides of being a student and help students see this connection. We listen to and help students problem solve in all areas of their lives including housing/living issues, family concerns, health and wellness, and help students find resources on campus when applicable. Proactive Approach Academic Counselors are proactive in reaching out to students. We create a system of required meetings and check‐ins to provide support to students. We reach out to students who may be struggling academically and personally. We monitor grades, GPA, and academic standing of our students and reach out to students as soon as possible. Student Advocacy Academic Counselors serve as advocates for students, mentoring adult, and general resources for students. We advocate for students in appeals, recommendations, referrals, and difficult situations. We maintain FERPA confidentiality, OSU academic regulations and guidelines and comply with NCAA and SEVIS regulations. Source: http://oregonstate.edu/cac/book/export/html/40