Group offers support for advisers

April 14, 2008

By Communications staff, Washington State University

Academic advising and training took a step forward recently with establishment of a WSU chapter of the national Academic Advising Association (ACADA).

“WSU has a core group of people from across the university who interact with students on a daily basis,” said Lisa Laughter, WSU ACADA president and Student Advising and Learning Center coordinator of college success workshops. “Any interested person who does advising of any type at WSU is invited to explore our chapter.”

The nine primary goals of ACADA include:
• increasing communication among advisers;
• strengthening recognition of the significance of academic advising in the recruitment, retention and academic success of students;
• and promoting multicultural awareness and competencies for advisers and other student support professionals.

The chapter will provide professional development opportunities, host monthly roundtable discussions, recognize exceptional advising with annual awards and establish an adviser certification program.

“Advising at WSU has been mandatory since the 1950s,” said Gloria Tong, director of enrollment and advising for the College of Business and WSU ACADA vice president. “But mandatory training for adviser members of ACADA will be new.”

WSU ACADA is the latest in a series of recent steps to improve academic advising. One of the first followed a consultant’s visit in 2006: a WSU-wide definition was adopted that defines the partnership of students and advisers in planning academic, personal and career goals leading to academic success and self-directed, lifelong learning.
An ACADA website is under development ONLINE @ wsuacada.wsu.edu.