NACADA Highlights

Regional Conferences
Region 7 - Baton Rouge, LA	April 24-26, 2003
Region 8&9 - Vancouver, BC	April 30-May 2, 2003
Academic Advising Summer Institutes
• San Diego, California	June 22-27, 2003
• Saint Charles, Illinois (Suburb of Chicago)	July 27-August 1, 2003
Your assistance is needed!
Do you know of resources related to multicultural advising? The Executive Office has been chosen to submit a full FIPSE proposal for the possible funding to produce an interactive CD focused on developing the skills needed to advise across cultures. To assist with the proposal writing we would like to know of any resources you use to 1) help you advise students from a culture different than your own, or 2) train others how to advise in this situation. E-mail resources to Marsha Miller at by Friday, April 11.

2003 ACADEMIC ADVISING SUMMER INSTITUTE (Website)

The Choice is Yours! We are offering this popular week-long, intensive program at two locations: San Diego, CA, June 22-27, and St. Charles, Illinois (Chicago area), July 27-August 1. General sessions, workshops, topical sessions, and small group discussions led by skilled practitioners are all designed to help teams and individuals develop strategies for enhancing or refining advising services on higher education campuses. The full schedule for each conference is available now, and abstracts to individual sessions are being added daily - so keep checking the site for updated information. Registrations are limited, so make plans early to register and attend. We look forward to working with you and your team to help make student success a continuing reality at your campus.

2003 ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE (Website)

Details of the upcoming 2003 National Conference on Academic Advising are starting to come together. Be sure to check the NACADA web site as we are adding information as it is finalized.

Presenters, would you like to know how many copies to bring to your session, or will you need a mailing address next fall? Check out the Session Hints on the NACADA website.

If you would like to register for the conference with funds from the current fiscal year, you will find a preliminary registration form available. You may also want to make hotel reservations at this time with information on the NACADA website.

The 2003 program committee has chosen an excellent array of presentations for the upcoming conference. We hope you will be able to join us in Dallas, October 2-5, 2003!

CLEARINGHOUSE OF ACADEMIC ADVISING RESOURCES

Featured this month in the Clearinghouse: Results from the 2000 member survey. Find results tabulations, listed by institute type, for issues such as job characteristics, advisor load, and salary range. These statistics can be helpful for writing new job descriptions, determining the best advising load for your institution, or deciding appropriate salary range based upon level of education and experience.

Don't want to wade through data? The first in a series of articles based upon these results was featured in latest NACADA Journal issue. The article, entitled "Advising at the Millennium: Advisor Roles and Responsibilities", was featured in issue 21(1&2) that was mailed to all members in late December. The second article in the series will appear in the upcoming Journal issue, 22(1), scheduled to be distributed in May.

MID-YEAR MEETING ACTIONS:

The NACADA Council and Board of Directors held mid-year meetings in Dallas March 20-21.

The Council (Division Representatives) took the following actions:

Supported partnering with Kansas State University on an on-line, 14 semester credit hour, graduate certificate program that would also lead to some non-credit training modules being available on-line. (forwarded to Board of Directors)
Endorsed the re-establishment of a Member Career Services Committee to address the professional career advancement needs of NACADA members. (Forwarded to Board)
Reviewed a policy for the establishment of formal partnerships with others regarding product development, surveys, professional development programs, etc. Asked Executive Office staff to draft forms and supply more detail for a policy.
Recommended additional time for Commissions to meet to discuss issues and network during the National Conference.
Concurred with Awards Committee recommendation that Electronic Publication Awards be divided by intended audience for the publication.
Voted to establish a separate membership category for non-institutionally based members that would permit continued involvement on committees, etc., but not in leadership positions. (Forwarded to Board)
Approved request to assign Canada members automatically to Canada Interest Group and allow them to choose two additional Interest Groups with membership.
Approved request to assign all members from Montana to Northwest Region 8. (formerly, Eastern Montana was in North Central Region 6)
Provided additional guidance to the Definition of Advising Task Force.
Requested additional information on the Partnership Policy before approving.

The Board of Directors took the following actions:

Acknowledged the monographs under development that should be available in 2003 or early 2004: “Advising Transfer Students”, “Advising in Small Colleges”, “Results of the ACT/NACADA 6th Annual Survey on Academic Advising”, and “Developing Effective Training Programs”.
Discussed the non-institutionally based membership category issue as approved by the Council and decided to seek additional information before taking action.
Delayed action on the KSU Graduate Certificate Program partnership until a formal agreement is presented from KSU.
Reviewed and revised the NACADA Vision Statement and Mission Statements that will guide the organization’s programs, services, and financial allocations for the future. All NACADA units will soon be asked to develop strategies for addressing the Missions as stated.

SIXTH NATIONAL SURVEY OF ACADEMIC ADVISING ARRIVES ON CAMPUS

ACT's Sixth National Survey of Academic Advising being conducted in cooperation with NACADA was mailed in mid-March to chief academic officers (or their designees) at all accredited two- and four-year colleges in the U.S. The survey, which provides benchmarks for the field of advising, has been conducted since 1979. Completed surveys are being returned to ACT at a record pace.

NACADA members who are uncertain who is completing the survey for their institution should make contact with their chief academic affairs officer to assure that their information is returned. Return completed surveys directly to ACT in care of Wes Habley at 2201 N Dodge St, PO Box 168, Iowa City, IA 52243-0001.

The results of the survey will be the focus of a NACADA monograph scheduled for publication in late 2003 or early 2004.

FULL-TIME ADVISOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SURVEY

Thanks to the over 1300 full-time advisors who have responded with your thoughts and opinions on Professional Development. Full-time professional staff advisors who have yet to complete the survey may do so through April 11 at http://surveys.ksu.edu/Survey/takeSurvey.do?offeringId=14756. Watch for survey results in a 2003 National Conference session and in a future NACADA Journal article.

RETIREE RECOGNITION

Do you know of a colleague who is retiring this year from the academic advising profession? NACADA would like to recognize these individuals for their years of service to advising. Please complete the Retiree Recognition form and submit it to NACADA by June 9 for the retiree's name to be printed in the Awards Program booklet given out at the conference. These retirees will also receive a special NACADA emeritus pin. Names can still be submitted after June 9, and the retiree will receive the emeritus pin. Online and printed forms can be found on our website.

RESEARCH GRANTS

Research grant applications must be received by June 9 in the Executive Office to be considered for a 2003 grant award. Additional information and the application form can be found on our website.

NACADA E-MAIL LISTS

NACADA would like to encourage all members to subscribe to the available e-mail lists for the respective regions, commissions, and interest groups. These lists provide an opportunity to communicate with colleagues regarding current issues, concerns, and activities within each particular group on topics of interest and benefit to you. For available e-mail lists and instructions for subscribing, please visit our website.

DIRECTOR'S NOTES : IMPLICATIONS FOR ACADEMIC ADVISING

Among the findings in a report from Stanford University’s Bridge Project involving participants from five states (California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, and Oregon) are the following statements:

70% of high school graduates actually do go to college within two years of graduating from high school.
Many students have high aspirations, but lack adequate preparation for college.
Forty-seven percent of low-income and fourteen percent of upper income students are marginally qualified or unqualified for admission to a four-year institution.
K-12 educators cited a number of problems facing them and their students, including inadequate college resources and materials, inequitable college advising and college preparatory curricula, and a general lack of teacher knowledge about college preparation issues.
Many students hold a variety of misconceptions regarding the transition from high school to college. Widely held misconceptions include:
- lack of importance of the senior year of high school, the benefit to getting good grades in less challenging classes,
- no need to consider financial aid until after deciding which institution to attend,
- inaccurate assumptions regarding the prices and admissions requirements of colleges and universities.

More information in available at: www.stanford.edu/group/bridgeproject.

American Council on Education, Higher Education and National Affairs, March 10, 2003

NACADA MESSAGES

To more efficiently and cost effectively reach members of a particular constituency within NACADA with important information, the Executive Office uses electronic communication whenever possible. Generic e-mail lists are currently utilized to send bulk electronic messages to specific regions, commissions, or interest groups. These e-mail lists are used for announcements and distribution of information only; members are not able to reply to these messages. When you receive such a message, we want to assure you that you have only been added to that list temporarily to send the message. These e-mail lists enhance our communication with NACADA members and help keep you up-to-date on activities and deadlines in a more efficient manner.

If you prefer not to receive these messages, you may contact our office and ask to be removed from these electronic mailings. However, please note that this would also exclude you from receiving announcements and information about NACADA activities and conferences, and possibly some member benefits.

END OF THE YEAR OPTIONS

As it nears the end of the fiscal year for many and you are fortunate to have some funds available, you might consider pre-paying for a NACADA event or resource. NACADA can accept early registrations for the Academic Advising Summer Institutes, the October National Conference, our many publications, the training video, and our new NACADA apparel - a nice touch for staff for uniform identification during orientation or advising days, etc.! You may also prepay your membership for multiple years!