How would you describe
your experience?

Academic advising is a relationship with
mutual responsibilities between an
adviser and student advisee, for timely
consultation, sharing of accurate and
complete information, careful listening,
critical evaluation, and respectful
interchange. Academic advising can be
facilitated by a professional staff person
or a faculty member.

What’s your favorite theory?
psychology – counseling – education
student personnel - career development

Academic advising: A Comprehensive
Handbook, Gordon, V.N., Habley, W.R., &
Grites, T.J. (Eds.) (2008) (2nd ed.) San
Francisco: Jossey-Bass. (A publication of the
National Academic Advising Association)

Developmental Advising: A Holistic
Approach
 a systematic process based on a close
student-advisor relationship intended to
aid students in achieving educational,
career, and personal goals through the
utilization of the full range of institutional
and community resources. It both
stimulates and supports students in their
quest for an enriched quality of life.





A purposeful student-centered process that
acknowledges the individuality of students
Takes students where they’re at and helps
them move toward self-awareness
Helps students create and integrate academic,
career and life goals
Connects curricular and co-curricular aspects
of the educational experience
Provides opportunities to practice decisionmaking and problem-solving in an
atmosphere of shared responsibility

Perry – Cognitive Development

Sanford – Challenge and Support
Sanford, N. (2006) Self and Society: Social Changes and Individual
Development


While you are tracking probation students after fall
grades are posted, you notice the following grades for
one of your new first year advisees:
CUM GPA 1.75





CO150: C
PSYCH100: D
SPCM100: B
CHEM103: F
During Preview last summer you learned that Patrick
is from a rural community and graduated with a class
of 30 students. He had average grades and ACT scores,
and was very involved with sports, student
government and theatre. When you met with him in
October, he told you that everything was fine and you
have not met with him, or heard from him since.




With a 1.75 GPA, you will want to speak with Patrick about
his situation before advising for fall registration. You
contact him, but he procrastinates until close to his
registration time. When he comes in for his appointment he
seems a little confused about why you want to have a
conversation with him, since everything is going fine this
semester. He is considering a psychology major and has not
yet passed the MPE. And, by the way, he tells you he just
got in trouble in the Residence Halls.
What issues need to be addressed?
What questions would you ask?
How would you assist the student in becoming
more academically successful?
Janine M. Allen
Cathleen L. Smith
Professor of Education
Portland State University
Professor Emerita of Psychology,
Portland State University
15,952 students from the 6 institutions
Private 1 (n=437)
Private 2 ( n=1,599)
Comm Coll (n=6,011)
Public liberal arts (n=1,495)
Public research (n=3,664)
Urban (n=2,746)
Advising Function
Mean
SD
Accurate Information
5.57a
.81
Major Connect
5.11b
1.07
Overall Connect
4.99c
1.14
Skills Abilities Interests
4.96cd
1.22
How Things Work
4.95d
1.25
Shared Responsibility
4.84e
1.31
Know as Individual
4.82e
1.34
Degree Connect
4.76f
1.40
Gen Ed Connect
4.73f
1.29
Referral Academic
4.58g
1.46
Out-of-Class Connect
4.31h
1.55
Referral Non-Academic
4.30h
1.62
Advising Function
Mean
SD
Accurate Information
4.30a
1.48
Major Connect
4.18b
1.41
Overall Connect
4.16bc
1.41
Referral Academic
4.12cd
1.42
Shared Responsibility
4.09de
1.41
Gen Ed Connect
4.07e
1.42
Degree Connect
4.06ef
1.47
Skills Abilities Interests
4.03fg
1.44
How Things Work
4.00g
1.48
Referral Non-Academic
3.90h
1.45
Know as Individual
3.82i
1.59
Out-of-Class Connect
3.55j
1.51
Talent development
Advising contact is meaningful
interaction
Student Success is a campus approach
Institution is always working toward
improvement
Students map out path to success