About Us

About NACADA

The National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) is an association of professional advisors, counselors, faculty, administrators, and students working to enhance the educational development of students.

NACADA promotes and supports quality academic advising in institutions of higher education to enhance the educational development of students. NACADA provides a forum for discussion, debate, and the exchange of ideas pertaining to academic advising through numerous activities and publications. NACADA also serves as an advocate for effective academic advising by providing a Consulting and Speaker Service, an Awards Program, and funding for Research related to academic advising.

The National Academic Advising Association evolved from the first National Conference on Academic Advising in 1977 and has over 11,000 members representing all 50 United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, and several other international countries. Members represent higher education institutions across the spectrum of Carnegie classifications and include professional advisors/counselors, faculty, administrators and students whose responsibilities include academic advising.

NACADA functions with volunteer leadership with support from the NACADA Executive Office. Members have full voting rights and elect the national board of directors as well as other leaders within the organization. NACADA is designated by the IRS as a 501(c)3 non-profit educational association incorporated in Kansas.

Diversity

NACADA defines diversity from a very broad perspective, which includes diversity in regard to ethnicity, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation as well as diversity in regard to institutional type, size, and employment position. Involvement in the association also is viewed broadly including leadership at many levels (within the division units, at the division level, at the Council level, at the Board of Directors level, and with the various work groups, ad hoc committees, Advisory Boards, and task forces), serving on the Consultants’ Bureau, writing for the NACADA Journal, the NACADA Advising News, and the NACADA Clearinghouse, or presenting at state, allied member, regional, and national conferences.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

NACADA does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or marital status.

Historical Documents and Resources

To learn more about the history of the National ACademic ADvising Association, read the following documents:

What is academic advising? The Concept of Academic Advising provides an answer.

Beatty, J. D. (1991). The National Academic Advising Association: A brief history. NACADA Journal11(1): 5-25.

Gordon, Virginia. (1998). New Horizons: Learning From The Past and Preparing For The Future .NACADA Journal 18(2): 5-12.

Thurmond, Karen C. and Miller, M.A. (2006). The History of National Academic Advising Association: An Update. TheNACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources.

NACADA: Lighting Student Pathways for 25 Years. Power Point presentation utilized at the 2004 national conference

Past Presidents and Charter Members

NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources article via the History of Academic Advising

Annual Reports