Creating an Advising Syllabus - NACADA - Kansas State University

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The Global Community for Academic Advising
Creating an Advising
Syllabus
Thomas J. Grites
The Richard Stockton
College of New Jersey
Tom.Grites@stockton.edu
The Global Community for Academic Advising
Purpose of an Advising Syllabus
• Establishes the teaching-learning role of academic
advising
• Outlines the advising relationship
• States student learning outcomes
• Defines academic advising for students and other
stakeholders
• Creates conversation
• Prompts questions
The Global Community for Academic Advising
The Global Community for Academic Advising
Syllabus Components
What should an advising syllabus
include?
(What should a course syllabus
include?)
• Advising Mission
• Definition of Academic Advising
• Contact information
- Name - E-mail
- Location - Website
- Office Hours - Phone Number
• Disability Accommodation Statement
The Global Community for Academic Advising
Components Continued
• Student Learning Outcomes
• Student and Advisor Responsibilities
• Timeline/Semester Calendar (link)
• Policies and Procedures (links)
- Cancellation Policy
- Attendance Policy
- Progression Standards
- Withdrawal Policy
- Add/Drop Procedures
- Grading System
- Appeals Policy
The Global Community for Academic Advising
Components Continued
• Resources (links)
- Required Texts
+ Catalog
+ Advising Guide
+ Particular Web Sites
- Web Pages: Tutoring Center, Writing Center, Career Center
- Early Alert
- Registration Information
- Final Exam Schedule
- Financial Aid
- Scholarships
- Involvement Opportunities

The Global Community for Academic Advising
Utilizing the Syllabus
• Educating others about academic advising
- In what ways will you share the syllabus?
• Creating consistency within the department/division/campus
- e.g., Appointment protocol(s)
• Training tool for new advisors or peer advisors
• Assisting students in the planning process
The Global Community for Academic Advising
How To Start Creating One
• Does your institution have a template/guide?
• Departmental, Divisional or Institutional Document?
• Create a working group – include relevant stakeholders
• Converse about components and possible use
• Create a “first attempt”
• Feedback and edits create ownership
• Solicit student review
• Agree to review on a regular basis
The Global Community for Academic Advising
The First Attempt
• Start with what you know now and add as you move forward
• Now
-Contact Information
-Timeline
-Resources
-Disability Accommodation Statement
-Policies and Procedures
• During/After the Institute
-Mission statement
-Student Learning Outcomes
-Student/Advisor Responsibilities
• On Campus
-Identify your working group
-Start conversations
-Continue development
-Make it available for feedback and use
The Global Community for Academic Advising
Syllabus Benefits
• Tool for creating discussion- Centered on student learning within
the academic advising context
• Creates a central location for academic advising information
• Makes us accountable
• Guides first and future appointments
• 24/7 access for students
• Enables assessment more readily
• Easily updatable
• Familiar format
The Global Community for Academic Advising
Examples
• UT Austin Bridging Disciplines Programs document
• UT Austin McCombs School of Business (yearly goals)
• Boise State University (academic calendar)
• College of Charleston (policies)
• University of Louisville (print style)
• Richard Stockton College (video and print)
• Syllabi available via NACADA Clearinghouse
The Global Community for Academic Advising
Possible Challenges
• Finding a distribution method
• Challenge to institutionalize the use of an advising syllabus
• Advisors may be seen as inappropriately co-opting the syllabus
format.
• Consequences for students to adhere to expectations are difficult to
articulate.
• Difficult to find a balance between including everything students
need to know about advising and the most vital information.
• Difficult to assess the efficacy of an advising syllabus
Trabant, T.D. (2006). Advising Syllabus 101. Retrieved from NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources Web site:
http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Clearinghouse/AdvisingIssues/syllabus101.htm.

The Global Community for Academic Advising
Assessing a Syllabus
Brainstorm ideas
The Global Community for Academic Advising
Resources
• Trabant, T.D. (2006). Advising Syllabus 101. Retrieved –January 3, 2013-
from NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources Web site:
http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Clearinghouse/AdvisingIssues/syllabus101.htm
• Advising Syllabus Examples. Retrieved – January 3, 2013 from NACADA
Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources Web site:
http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Clearinghouse/Links/syllabi.htm
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