Rachel Osterman's Reflection on the 2013 NACADA Annual Conference

As a first-time attendee, I was able to soak up tons of new information at NACADA’s Annual Conference. I attended sessions that addressed topics like cultural competence, motivation, positive psychology, advising theory, retention, etc. I was also able to meet adviors from across the region and nation.

Photo courtesy of Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski

Jill Wilson's Reflection on the NACADA Annual Conference 2013

This was my first NACADA conference and I feel very fortunate that I was able to go.  I attended nine different sessions over three days.  My goal was twofold: first to learn more about specific student populations with whom I have not had much experience, and second to learn ways to be better at the day-to-day details of my job.

2013 Annual NACADA Conference Reflection: Using Wikis As A Training Tool by Elizabeth Archuleta

I'm a fan of technology, and I love to learn about new apps or software that will help me at home or at work. Based on this interest, I attended several technology sessions at NACADA. At one session, Brandeis University advisors shared their experience using wikis as an academic advising tool in "More Than a Training Manual: Using Wikis to Get Everyone on the Same Page." 

Attendees were given a chronological view of their processes in setting up a wiki training manual, their reasons for starting one, the pros and cons of going paperless, the skills/resources they needed to start, the ins and outs of launching and running their wiki, and the evolution of their own wiki training manual. The biggest reason for creating a wiki training manual is that it becomes a tool for training new advisors. An already established training manual becomes invaluable to new advisors. Even after new advisor training takes place, there will inevitably be procedural and policy changes that take place, unique situations that arise, and questions about where to locate needed information. A wiki becomes a clearinghouse for information that can easily be updated by anyone given access to administrative functions.

Gina Shipley's Reflection on the NACADA Annual Conference 2013

As the recipient of the UAAC NACADA Prep Workshop Series, my reflection of the NACADA annual conference connects to the workshops.  

Gina Shipley and Anna Adams working together at one of the Prep Workshops.

NACADA Scholarship recipients

Congratulations to our recipients of the NACADA Annual Conference Scholarships.

Rachel Osterman

Elizabeth Archuleta 

Jill Wilson

(Not pictured)

Kelly Olson

Tivra Marks

Each recipient shared with the selection committee a plan for attending the conference to glean relevant information and shared the impact this conference will have on their ability to support student success through advising.  

Congratulations also to Gina Shipley for receiving a NACADA scholarship for her attendance to the UAAC NACADA Prep Workshop Series. 

New Advisor Spotlight: Elizabeth Archuleta

Enjoy an introduction to one of the newest advisors on campus:

In July 2011, the Board of Regents approved the Ethnic Studies major. In August 2013, Ethnic Studies hired its first Academic Advisor to assist students. Her name is Elizabeth Archuleta—that's me! I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, UT.  I moved away in 1994 to attend graduate school at Pennsylvania State University and received my Ph.D. In English in 2002. 

Martina Stewart's Reflection on the National Career Development Association Conference 2013

I had a fabulous time at the NCDA conference!  This is always a high quality conference, and Sarah (Rollo) and I had a great time discussing all we were learning and ways to use this information within our roles in UC.  Its also an inspiring conference for me since my graduate degree was in Career Counseling – I feel I’ve come full circle with my career, and its nice to connect back to my roots in advising.

It started with a pre-conference workshop on Happenstance Learning Theory. The session was supposed to be held by John Krumboltz and Al Levin, two major figures in the Career Development world.  Unfortunately, John Krumboltz was stuck in San Francisco because of the plane crash, but Al Levin did a great job conveying the theory and how to use it with students. Sarah and I have discussed the theory and ways to incorporate ideas from the theory into our class, so it was wonderful to interact with one of the people that “wrote the book”.  One of his main messages was to encourage students to take ACTION. I like thinking about that as my major role, how to get students prepared to DO SOMETHING, whether it be meeting with a departmental advisor, doing an internship or informational interview, or joining a club. Its through doing things that we learn who we are and are given more opportunities to explore and develop skills.

Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski's Reflection on the 2013 NACADA International Conference- Maastricht, The Netherlands

June included a new experience for me - participating in an international conference on academic advising.  This conference gathered over 240 academic advising professionals and faculty from around the globe to talk about strategies, techniques, and research that impact students and our institutions.  My experience included presenting on advising assessment and facilitating a workshop on building a mission statement as well as attending a number of informative sessions. Another new experience was presenting in a chapel with beautiful stained glass windows (see below).  Let me share a few thoughts and photos from this experience.

Becki Broadbent's Reflection on UAOA 2013 Conference

Susan Madsen (Keynote #1)– She discussed her research findings regarding women in Utah and completion of higher education. I found her research findings interesting.  One in particular that caught my attention was that if a young woman indicated she had no leadership roles from grades 9-12 then likelihood of graduating from college was very low.  Also, if she worked while in high school it also lowered the likelihood of graduating from college.  A few things weren’t a surprise like the younger a girl was when college discussions began happening, the more likely she would go.  Also, the earlier a girl started saving money as a child for college, the more likely she attended.  There was a distinction made between attendance and finishing college in her research.  Many of the female students said they planned to attend college, but less said they actually planned to finish. We need to start having the discussions with young ladies about not only attending but completing a college education.  She talked about transformational moments (that could be very small), but could change a student’s trajectory.

Excerpts from Terese Pratt's Reflection on the NACADA Region X Conference

May 2013 – Tucson Arizona

The theme for this year’s NACADA Region X conference was “Advising Under the Stars”.   This theme reflects that fact that the location of the conference, Tucson, is considered to be the astronomy capital of the U.S.  This title also seems appropriate to me when considering the conference presentations that I attended.  In each case presenters took a broad and expansive view of the subjects they covered and did an excellent job tying in their specific topic to the underlying philosophy and goals of advising.

2013 Advisor Recognition Reception and Social Photos

The 2013 Advisor Recognition Reception and Social happened on Tuesday May 7th at the Crimson View in the Union building.  Over 70 advisors attended to eat food, mingle, and wait for the announcement of the 2013 UAAC Academic Advising Awards.

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 There was great food options catered by Chartwells.

Bobbi Davis and Jen Wozab grab some snacks during the social portion of the event.

Recent Award Recipients

2013 UAAC New Advisor Award Recipient
Jen Wozab

2013 UAAC Wise Advisor Award Recipient

Bobbi Davis

Recent Award Recipients

2013 Perlman Award Recipient

Terese Pratt

2012 UAAC Award 

Betsy Cook

Heather Crum's experience from the National NACADA Conference 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee

Empowering Student Career Stories in Times of Change and Challenge: Dan Wilcox, Kansas State University

*One of my favorite sessions I attended at the conference was on career counseling.  I found it to be very enlightening.  One reason for this is that my MBTI type is ISFJ.  Attending this session helped me to get a taste of the Intuitive and Perceiving personality types.  I felt energized after attending this session because I feel that the presenter gave important tips for advisors to consider when engaging in major exploration with a student.

Published on NACADA's Academic Advising Today: Be a Part of the Future: Start your Research Today

Jason Barkemeyer , Joshua Larson and Anna Adams, University of Utah

For those who live in the world of research, the notion of research as part of everyday life is a given. But for the typical academic advisor, research is usually not included as part of their job duties. Advising administrators will often take on this role to contribute to the body of knowledge yet it is not always an expectation for primary role advisors.

As the call is sounded for advisors to begin fulfilling the role of “practitioner scholar,” it is quickly met with a myriad of reasons why advisors are not able step into this arena. “How do I get started?” “It is not part of my job.” “I have no funding to support doing research.”  Aiken-Wisniewski, Smith and Troxel (2010) explain the danger of frontline advisors not taking part in research that directly affects their occupation: “Unless researcher-practitioners make a concerted effort to reverse the historical trend, the lack of scholarship in advising, particularly scholarship produced and consumed by professional and faculty advisors, will persist” (p.5). Given the current lack of research on the advising field and profession, if advisors are not to pick up the banner, what are the implications?

Published on NACADA's Academic Advising Today: Advisors on Location: Expanding Advisors' Role in International Education

Vickie Morgan and Terese Pratt , University of Utah

Higher education in the United States is going global. U.S. colleges and universities are eager to increase their involvement in international education and many exciting new programs have sprung up at institutions across the country. These programs serve as access points for an increasing number of interested students from abroad. 671,616 international students studied in the U.S. last year, and the number of new international students (those studying in the U.S. for the first time) went up 16% from the previous year (Witherell and Soman, 2009).