It's not too late to register and join over 3,200 advising colleagues later this month in Baltimore for our best Annual Conference ever!  You can still fax a registration form, available here. The site also has hints for first-time attendees and an interactive schedule planner.

Hotel availability is at a premium. Check here for current details. There is also information if you are interested in sharing hotel accommodations.

The Conference Program will be available in a week on the Conference Webpage. It contains detailed daily event schedules, an exhibitor list, floor plans of the meeting space in the Hyatt Hotel and Convention Center and abstracts of over 300 individual presentations.

A good way to get involved and meet new people is to volunteer for a couple of hours at the Conference. It doesn't have to be an all-day commitment. Contact Bethany Spore, University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Presenters: Don't forget to send your handouts to us to post on the website. Find details click here.

Discounted tickets are available for opening night of the Baltimore Blast, Baltimore ’s professional indoor soccer team. They play the Philadelphia KIXX, Friday, October 19 at 7:35 p.m. in the 1st Mariner Arena which is located within a short walking distance - just north of the Baltimore Convention Center.

JOIN THE CHOIR!
Do you know where our National Anthem was written? You are right - Baltimore! Join the choir in performing our National Anthem at the opening plenary session. We will practice at 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 18, get a quick bite to eat and then come back and perform at 7 p.m. Contact Bruce Norris if you are interested, Bruce will share information with you regarding the sheet music. We have two opportunities to sing this year, join the choir for one or both performances. Come join the fun!

Three NACADA events are scheduled back-to-back for February in San Diego. Information will be posted as it becomes available. A discount will be available to those participants signing up for more than one event. See the registration form for discount details. 

Postcards will be mailed the first week of October and also available at the Baltimore Annual Conference. Visit the NACADA booth in Baltimore to pick up information on the three events and the San Diego area, or visit our websites listed below:

Advising by Design: Planning the Future of Academic Advising on Your Campus - February 14-15, 2008

Join us for this two-day seminar to gain the skills, strategies, and resources you need to strategically plan for the future of academic advising on your campus. For more information click here.

6th Annual Academic Advising Administrators' Institute - February 17-19, 2008

NACADA's 6th Annual Academic Advising Administrators' Institute will focus on the knowledge and skills needed to be successful advising administrators, as well as provide an opportunity for in-depth discussions and development of strategies for dealing with issues that advising administrators face daily. Join us for this opportunity to gain knowledge and network with colleagues. NEW THIS YEAR - an "Experienced" track! Are you an administrator who has campus-wide responsibility for academic advising? This year's Institute will offer a special track for campus-wide academic advising administrators which may include Directors, Associate Deans, Deans, Chief Academic and Student Affairs Officers, Provosts and Presidents. For more information on the Administrators’ Institute click here.

4th Annual Assessment of Academic Advising Institute - February 20-22, 2008

Learn more about making your academic advising program more successful and effective! The Assessment of Academic Advising Institute will focus on the components of a successful assessment program, as well as provide specific strategies for developing and implementing an assessment program on your campus. Teams are encouraged to attend. For more information click here.

College Student Mental Health: Information and Suggestions for Academic Advising

Webinar - Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Following the tragedy at Virginia Tech, NACADA list serves were abuzz with discussions on how educational institutions respond to students showing signs of emotional distress. NACADA members emailed the Executive Office asking for resource material related to mental health issues and academic advising. As a result, the NACADA Webinar Advisory Board placed this topic at the top of its list for the 2007-08 Webinar season. We invite you to join Dan Wilcox (Kansas State University), Ruth Harper (South Dakota State University) and Jeffrey Herman (Lehigh Carbon Community College) when they discuss:

• The “Report to the President” which summarizes what has so far been learned from the incident at Virginia Tech
• Media and societal portrayals of individuals with mental illness and how they shape our reality
• How to recognize a student in emotional distress
• Ways to respond to a student in crisis
• The importance of making an appropriate referral
• Methods to increase awareness among students regarding services available to them

The NACADA Research Committee announces a Request For Proposals (RFP) for NACADA grants that support advising research. Grants up to $5,000 are available to support a single-year proposal. Practicing professionals (administrators and faculty), as well as graduate students seeking support for dissertation research, are eligible.

The Research Committee has two deadlines for 2008 funding proposals: first round of grants November 1, 2007 and second round of grants March 15, 2008. Click here for information regarding the research grants.

The Annual Conference will be an excellent opportunity for you to collaborate with Commission and Interest Group members.

• Join us for the Commission and Interest Group Fair on Friday, October 19, 7:30-8:30 a.m. Visit the various tables and converse with the Chairs and members of the Commissions and Interest Groups.

• Annual Commission and Interest Group Meetings are scheduled throughout the Conference. Check your program for those meetings of interest to you, or visit the schedule on the web.
  • Learn what is going on in the Commissions and Interest Groups—projects, activities, new initiatives!
  • Volunteer to help with activities or serve on a committee within a Commission or Interest Group.
  • Consider running for leadership positions within the Commissions.
  • Service to Commission Awards are given by some of the Commissions - investigate and nominate a fellow Commission member!
  • Attend the initial meeting of one of the potential interest groups trying to get established. See the conference program for the date, time, and location of these meetings.

 

• Attend one of the "Hot Topics" sessions presented by Commissions and Interest Groups during the last hour of the Conference on Sunday, October 21. Check your conference program for the specific meeting room for each session.

• Commission-sponsored presentations are scheduled throughout the Conference.  Check your program for these highlighted sessions. Here's your chance to see some excellent presentations!

• Congratulate the Commission and Interest Group members who have received NACADA advising awards! (Visit the websites below -- click on "Awards" link in the left column for a specific Commission or Interest group.)
  • Commissions
  • Interest Groups

Following the Annual Conference in Baltimore, the newly elected NACADA Leadership will take office for the 2007-08 term. For a complete directory of NACADA's leadership, visit the web. 

Jennifer Bloom (University of South Carolina) will serve as NACADA's President for the next year, while Casey Self (Arizona State University) takes over as Vice President. Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski (University of Utah), Jayne Drake (Temple University), and Rob Mossack (Lipscomb University) join the Board of Directors for the 2007-2010 term. Along with Jennifer Bloom and Casey Self, the other continuing members of the Board include Susan Campbell (University of Southern Maine), Phil Christman (Malone College), Terry Musser (Penn State University), Rich Robbins (Cornell University). 

The Regional Division welcomes Gail Stepina, as the newly appointed Division Representative, joining Glenn Kepic as the current elected Division Representative. The incoming Region Chairs include Susan Kolls (Region 1), David Goss (Region 3), Lynn Freeman (Region 5), John Paul Regalado (Region 7), and Deborah Nakashima (Region 9). These new Chairs will join the continuing Chairs: Sandra Waters (Region 2), Kyle Ellis (Region 4), Kimberly Vess Halbur (Region 6), Karen Sullivan-Vance (Region 8), and Dawn Fettig (acting Chair, Region 10). 

The new leadership within the Administrative Division includes Skip Crownhart as the newly appointed Division Representative, with Ruth Hussey continuing as the elected Division Representative.  The newly elected Committee Chairs include Katie Davis (Member Career Services), Susan Fread (Awards), Jane Jacobson (Diversity), and Albert Matheny (Professional Development) who join continuing Chairs Jermaine Williams (Membership), Lynn O'Sickey (Finance), and Joshua Smith (Research).

Serving the Commission and Interest Group Division will be Victor Macaruso, the incoming elected Division Representative who will be joined by Kathy Stockwell, the continuing appointed Division Representative. The newly elected Commission Chairs are listed below, followed by those Commission Chairs continuing in these roles. New and continuing Interest Group Chairs are also listed below.

Incoming Commission Chairs: Lisa Peck (Advising Adult Learners); Deb Noll (Advising Business Majors); David Benz (Advising Education Majors); Sarah Naylor (Advising Graduate & Professional Students); Pat Folsom (Advisor Training & Development); Janice Robinson (Advising Student Athletes); Leslie Yeager (ESL & International Student Advising); Sarah Ann Hones (Liberal Arts Advisors); Renee Babcock (Technology in Advising); Jeff McClellan (Theory & Philosophy of Advising); and Steve Schneider (Two-Year Colleges).

Continuing Commission Chairs: Cindy Iten (Advising Administration); Joyce Howland (Advising Students with Disabilities); Jess Ray (Advising Transfer Students); Naomi Wright (Assessment of Advising); Peg Steele (Engineering and Science Advising); Rhonda Sprague (Faculty Advising); Jennifer Joslin (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered & Allies Concerns); Kris Rugsaken (Multicultural Concerns); Julie Stockenberg (Small Colleges and Universities); and, David Spight (Undecided and Exploratory Students).

Incoming Interest Group Chairs: Jessica Bigger (New Advising Professionals).

Continuing Interest Group Chairs: Mutlu Citim-Kepic (Advising Fine Arts Students); Marion Schwartz & Iona Black (Advising High Achieving Students); Scott Amundsen (Appreciative Advising); Natasha Buis (Canada); Bobbi Thomas (Distance Education Advising); Joe Murray (First-Generation College Student Advising); Ruby Mason (Health Professions Advising); Gaye Golter DiGregorio (High School to College Advising); Myla Rugge (Large Universities); Adrienne Thunder & Iona Black (Native American & Tribal College); Chris Maroldo (Probation, Dismissal, and Reinstatement Issues); Heidi Koring (Peer Advising & Mentoring); Anne Harrington (Pre-Law Advising); and, Jodi Malmgren (Study Abroad Advising).

Continuing Potential Interest Group Chairs: Bill Johnson (Academic Coaching); Laura Mooney (Advising First-Year Students); Lisa Keenan (Advising Military Students & Dependents); Aura Rios Erickson (Ethics & Legal Issues in Advising); and, Eric White (History of Academic Advising).

We are currently reviewing manuscripts for the December edition of NACADA's quarterly e-Publication, Academic Advising Today, and among those accepted for publication are:

• Leaving the “Hey" Behind: Advising Communication Etiquette by Marisa Gift (University of Notre Dame)
• Applying the Concepts of Universal Design for Learning to Advising by Robert L. Hurt (California State Polytechnic University, Pomona)
• Podcasting: Helping Advisors Get Connected to the “Net Gen” by Sarah Keeling and Stephanie M. Foote (University of South Carolina Aiken)

We are also accepting article and *Sparkler* submissions for possible publication in the March edition (submission deadline November 15). If you are interested in sharing your thoughts with your colleagues in this format, check out the guidelines today!

Featured this month in the Clearinghouse:

• The New Advising Administrator Primer. Renee Borns, Houston Baptist University, provides valuable advice for those new to advising administration. 

• Utilizing Technology in Academic Advising. Jeff Carter, KSU graduate certificate student, authors an introduction to the technology portion of the Clearinghouse. From this article find links to a wide variety of technology resources.

NACADA will have a booth in the exhibit area (rooms 307-310, near registration) at the Annual Conference in Baltimore. NACADA monographs, Foundations & Webinar CDs, other advising resources, and NACADA shirts and pins will be sold at special conference pricing at the booth. Make sure you stop by to review copies of and place your order for the Special Populations monograph that will be printed this fall.

Plan to visit all of our exhibitors -- we have new vendors at the conference this year. Also, be sure to register for door prizes at the vendor booths. Prizes this year include: portable DVD player, iPod Nano 4GB, CLEP study guides, Starbucks gift cards, conference registration to 2008 NACADA & ANTSHE conferences and much more. A sign will be posted on a bulletin board in the exhibit area listing all of the prizes and winner names. Make sure you check the list frequently on Friday & Saturday, October 19-20, to see if you're a winner. Each winner must pick up his/her prize at the booth of the exhibitor that donated the prize (unless otherwise indicated on the sign).

On the Horizon: The Future of Academic Advising and Technology

Webinar - Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Join us for our most daring online adventure to date, when Karen Thurmond (The University of Memphis), George Steele (The Ohio Learning Network), Arthur Esposito (Virginia Commonwealth University), and Joline Vanderwal (Regent University) take us "where no NACADA Webinar has gone before!"  Along with telling us about some of the exciting technology-related innovations they are using on their campuses to engage advisees, our Presenters will be giving us the opportunity to experience what happens when we use "streaming video" in this medium, showing us how they use "flash" technology, and explaining what we can learn from the 2007 Horizon Report.

Those participating in this Webinar with a group are encouraged to bring laptops (with Internet access) and cell phones. Individual participants are encouraged to obtain a laptop (with Internet access) or second computer and a cell phone for engaged participation.

This is sure to be a popular event, so LEARN MORE and REGISTER now to secure your participation!

Region Conference Chairs and their committees are busy planning the details for the 10 regional conferences which will be held next spring! Your regional conference is a great place to get involved -- as a presenter, a volunteer, a committee member or to come and network! 

Each year, Regions choose a "Best of Region" presentation. Those chosen will receive financial assistance to attend and present their session at the 2008 Annual Conference in Chicago!

Check the schedule to save the date and to see when your proposals need to be submitted!

Election information and printed nomination forms will be available in the NACADA booth in the Exhibits area at the Annual Conference in Baltimore and also will be printed in the back of the Conference program. Information is currently available online for the 2008 NACADA Leadership elections, including a list of positions to be elected, eligibility criteria, general election information, and an online nomination recommendation form. Nomination forms can be submitted either electronically, sent by fax or mail, or turned in at the Conference. All nominations will be due to the Executive Office by Friday, November 2, 2007.

More information can be found here regarding overviews of NACADA Leadership positions. If you have any questions, or would like to inquire as to eligibility for a particular position for yourself or a colleague whom you wish to nominate, please contact the NACADA Executive Office at (785) 532-5717 or e-mail us.

Your participation in the nomination process for these Leadership positions is encouraged!

NACADA Journal manuscripts requested!  Authors who would like a manuscript reviewed for possible publication in the NACADA Journal should email a copy to Journals@ksu.edu. The journal publishes articles that deal with the theory, research, and/or practice of academic advising in higher education. Potential authors of articles should consult the guidelines. 

The NACADA Journal also Web publishes reviews of books that would be of interest to academic advisors. Publishers have recently donated several books for review; titles are available through the Book Review Website. Reviewers must be current NACADA members and are limited to one review per member year. Potential book reviewers should consult the guidelines.

Have you selected the topic for your thesis or dissertation? Doing research for advising at your institution? The NACADA Research Registry connects colleagues researching a variety of topics related to the advising field. Sign up by using the registry form to be matched with others researching similar topics.