Supporting Faculty Advisors: A Multifaceted Approach

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Supporting Faculty Advisors A Multifaceted
Approach

• The University of Tennessee
• College of Arts and Sciences
• Advising Services

NACADA NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2006
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The Advising System at UT

• Nine undergraduate colleges
• 20,052 undergraduate students
• Since 1988, academic advising is required each
  term for each student
• Advising is required each term for students with
  less than 30 hours and on Academic Review. All
  other students must be advised once a year.
• Advising models are established by each college
  (centralized, faculty based, split, etc.)
• Advising Committee of the Undergraduate Council

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Advising within the College of Arts and Sciences

• Largest and most comprehensive academic unit at
  UTK
• Comprises approximately 620 full-time
  instructional faculty in 23 departments and 3
  schools
• Approximately 7,000 undergraduate students
  enrolled
• Major advising takes place within departments
  typically by faculty members
• Advising Services provides advising for
  undecided, undeclared, and transitional students

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Advising Services Who Advises?

• 1 Director, 1 Associate Director, 2 Assistant
  Directors
• 9 Graduate Assistants
• (20 hours per week)
• 8 student advisors
• (10 hours per week)
• Approximately 40 Faculty
• (3 hours per week)

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Existing Support for and Relationship with
Academic Departments

• Collaborative
• Staff in Advising Services visited departments
  concerning new curriculum changes
• Major Guides
• http//pr.tennessee.edu/academicprograms/college.a
  sp
• Advising Coordinators
• Departments send faculty to work in Advising
  Services
• Professional Development
• Release Time/Compensation

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Faculty Training Workshop Agenda
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Progression to the Faculty Seminar Series

• Recognized the need to provide support to
  departmental advisors
• Attended Kent State University session at NACADA
  2002
• Began brainstorming process as a staff
• Included in Colleges budget proposal in spring
  2003

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Administrative Support

• 300 grant toward an advising initiative for
  participants who attended all five sessionsWhy?
• Funding for refreshments each session
• Support from Dean and Department Heads

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Series Agenda 2004-05
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Outcomes

• 1st year 37 faculty participated in 1 or more
  sessions
• 9 awards of 300
• 18 of 26 academic departments were represented

• 2nd year 28 faculty participated in 1 or more
  sessions
• 6 awards of 300
• 17 of 26 academic departments were represented

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The Bottom Line

• Grants in 2003-042,700
• Catering in 2003-04 473.95
• Grants in 2004-051,800
• Catering in 2004-05 308.68
• Staff TimePriceless!

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What Did We Learn?

• Overwhelmingly positive responses from faculty
• Based on series evaluation results, faculty said
• I found the seminars an excellent tool.
• I learned a lot of things I didnt know before,
  and it opened many doors for me.
• I learned some excellent brushing up skills.
• I was introduced to quite a bit of new
  information.
• The best part of these sessions was the real
  life examples from faculty. That was the most
  helpful.
• These seminars should be mandatory for all
  faculty.
• Thank you very much. I feel very supported as a
  new faculty member.

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What Next
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New College Faculty Orientation

• Based on positive faculty responses from the
  seminar series, staff felt efforts needed to be
  with new faculty
• Purpose of workshops was not to train these
  faculty as advisors, but to enable them to become
  better UTK citizens
• Sold the idea to the Dean
• Dean went to Department Heads
• Became a required orientation for new faculty (27
  out of 29 faculty attended)

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Format for the Series

• Day 1 Session (Life in the Arts and Sciences
  Classroom)
• Day 2 Session (Tools of the Trade Policies and
  Procedures)
• Reception (Sponsored by the Deans office)

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Day 1 New College Faculty Orientation
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Day 2 New College Faculty Orientation
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What Did We Learn?

• All presentations provided insights and
  perspectives on students' academic life as well
  as (1) how we could help them be successful and
  (2) how, as faculty, to better approach our
  relationship to them.
• Very helpful... I am already referring back to
  my notes!
• It was a very nice overview of important topics
  that I, honestly, would not have familiarized
  myself with on my own. Now, I understand the
  importance of the issues covered and have a good
  idea of where to look for additional information
  if confronted with an issue.

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The Bottom Line

• 4 Seminars0
• Wine and Cheese Reception898.34
• Meeting New Faculty PRICELESS!

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What Now?

• College faculty will take a more active role in
  UTK community, i.e. participate in college
  committees, serve in advising services, advise
  within the department, and understand how the
  University works!

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Questions?

• Contact Information
• 1 Alumni Memorial Building
• Knoxville, Tennessee
• 37996-1325
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Website http//www.artsci.utk.edu/advising/
• Email asadvising_at_utk.edu

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