Cyndi Faircloth, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 4 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

Regional Activities/Offices Held, including accomplishments achieved while in office:

• Presented at Idaho Drive-In Conference, June 2004
• Attended Regional Conference, 2003

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Current member: Advisor Training & Development Commission, Advising Student Athletes Commission
• Current member: First-Generation College Student Interest Group, and Peer Advising & Mentoring Interest Group
• Currently serving as webmaster for Advisor Training & Development Commission (2005)
• Served as conference proposal reader for Advisor Training & Development Commission (2004)

Other:

• Presented at NACADA National Conferences, 2003 and 2005
• Participant, "Ask a Colleague" Initiative for the NACADA Advisor Training & Development Commission
• Founding member & Secretary, University of Idaho Academic Advising Association (UIACADA), 2003-present
• Planning Committee Member for UI Advising Symposium, 2004 and 2005
• Presented at UI Advising Symposium (a regional drive-in conference), October 2004 and 2005

Platform Statement:

• Highlight your involvement in this unit that will help you in leading this unit. What roles have you played in this unit thus far?

As a four-year member of NACADA, I've taken part in regional and national conferences and worked continuously to build involvement in NACADA on our campus.

We've gone from near-zero participation to having an allied organization on our campus in the past four years.  I'm proud to have played a role in developing an interest in advising as a profession among both our staff and faculty advisors and welcome the opportunity to continue my work at developing advisor participation at the Regional level.

• What do you believe are the most important goals and initiatives for this unit in meeting the strategic plan for both the unit and the Association? 

I strongly believe in advisor development and look forward to helping to increase and strengthen participation at both the regional and national level.  Increasing awareness of the numerous resources and opportunities that NACADA offers will be key to increasing participation from institutions and advisors in Region 8.

• Why are you interested in serving in this leadership position or what influenced you to run for this leadership position?

I would like to increase faculty involvement in NACADA throughout the Northwest and increase involvement with and attendance at the regional conference.  Region 8 leadership has done a wonderful job of increasing the number of drive-in advising conferences and I will work to continue this effort.  I have learned so much from my involvement with NACADA and look forward to sharing my enthusiasm with others.

• Provide any additional comments or information regarding your past experiences and qualifications that relate to your candidacy for this leadership position. 

I have been active in a group that is developing an action plan to address academic advising here at UI.  We are working with our Faculty Council to develop an institutional mission statement and goals & outcomes for advising. Other aspects of the plan include implementing a campus-wide assessment tool, looking at advising as part of the Promotion and Tenure process, a campus effort to publicize the student's role in advising, and increasing participation at our campus advising events.

All of these issues apply at other institutions and relate to NACADA's mission. I look forward to applying my experience with these issues at the regional level.