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