Advisement
In Spring 2012, I have 26 advisees. Comments from one student (not solicited):
In spring 2010, I have 34 advisees. comments from students.
Currently I have 32 advisees for the fall of 2009. In the past semesters, with the help of Prof. Karen Hempson and Dr. Andrea LaChance, who served as Advisement Coordinators, I have gained more confidence in providing academic advisement for students. More importantly, through advisement, I have learned more about the curriculum and programs in our department, School of Education, and other programs on campus. Prof. Ellen Newman and Dr. Cindy Benton are always a phone call away as they continue to help me meet the needs of my advisees.
In Spring 2006, I started advising 22 students who were admitted to the Childhood/Early Childhood Teacher Education Programs. Prof. Karen Hempson, the advisement coordinator, and Dr. Cynthia Benton provided efficient training and assistance for me as a new advisor. In fall 2009, most of my 32 advisees are transfer students. I realized that their needs of developing a degree plan are more urgent than other students. In the first three weeks of the semester, I invited them to meet with me and worked out their degree plans. Many of them shared that they were less confused and felt more confident about finishing their program as expected. By means of advisement, I learned that each student has his or her own specific needs for advisement depending upon his or her prgress in the program. From advisement, I learned much about the students, the program, and the need for curriculum development in our programs.
As soon as I got from Ms. Pat Pinto, the advisement secretary, the list of advisees and their folders, I sent all of them an email message through banner system that a time schedule was put on my office door to allow advisees to make appointments for at least a twenty-minute advisement. More appointments and more time were scheduled when necessary. Whenever I had to be out of town for conferences, I would send out follow-up messages to remind them that I would have to leave town during the weeks before registration so that they should schedule a meeting with me before the conference. I managed to meet with all of my advisees and worked out a degree plan for each of them after we decided and agreed on the courses they needed to take for the summer and fall semester. I would always remain in touch with all of them by email, office phone, and cell phone. Quite a number of them came to talk to me after registration for recommendation letters.
I have been saving the advisement tips sent out by Dr. Andrea Lachance, our advisement coordinator, and found her tips very useful in my work as an adviser.
Following is a summary of my achievements and plans as an academic advisor.
- At the beginning of each semester, I send out an email to welcome my advisees back to campus and remind them about Drop/Add deadline. I invite new advisees to come and meet with me. Before pre-registration, I remind them of the upcoming registration, put up appointment sheets for advisees to schedule meetings with me in person, and try my best to work around their schedule. The appointment hours are always beyond my regular office hours so that advisees have multiple choices available. I provide my cell phone number in case of emergent needs.
- October 11, 2007 I attended the College Advisement Workshop in Corey Union 209 to learn about the global picture of advisement on campus.
- Due to schedule conflicts, I failed to attend the department's advisement workshop, but I made it up by reading all the handouts provided at the workshop.
- In fall 2008, I took on a paid overload of advisees when a faculty member needed extra release time for her grant proposal writing.
- I always respond to advisees' requests in a timely fashion.
- I save all the advisement tips the advisement coordinator sent out or shared during their workshops.
- I plan to continue my growth as a academic advisor to provide high-quality and responsible advisement.
