The undergraduate professional advisors are certified in Appreciated Advising and incorporate this framework into their work with students. “Appreciative Advising is the intentional collaborative practice of asking generative, open-ended questions that help students optimize their educational experiences and achieve their dreams, goals, and potentials" (Bloom et al., 2008).
Faculty are asked to submit academic alerts to notify the advising team if they have academic concerns about a student in their class. The goal of the academic alert is to bring awareness to students with concerns prior to mid-semester so we can offer resources and support.
When a student receives an academic alert, they are sent an email with suggested academic and wellness supports. While all students are encouraged to follow-up with their advisor regarding an academic alert, some students are required to meet with their advisor to develop a success plan.
We monitor the progress of all undergraduate students and meet with students on academic exclusion to develop individualized success plans. In addition, excluded students enroll in Resiliency and Student Success, a course designed to support students in developing academic goals and leveraging their strengths to improve their success.
We collaborate with various departments to offer a series of workshops each semester to support a holistic approach to student success. These free workshops are offered during common hour and are open to all undergraduate students. Sample topics include: creating individualized time management schedules, healthy relationships, information literacy, stress management, getting ready to attend the career fair, and financial literacy.
Professional advisors can provide ongoing mentoring to students through regular appointments. Additionally, professional advisors can connect students with faculty mentors in their major.