Advancing Academic Advising: A Collaborative Approach to Transform Advising & the Student Experience

Echo Pittman, PhD, is the Associate Director (Academic Advising & Outreach) in the Office of the Registrar at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Sarah Arnott, MMSC, PMP is the Manager, Strategic, Planning & Liaison in the Office of the Chief Information Officer at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Introduction

Concerns about the student educational experience, student progress, and degree completion often motivate post-secondary institutions to actively seek innovative ways to enhance engagement and improve student success. It is known that student success is affected by a wide range of factors. However, quality academic advising plays a positive role in enhancing students’ sense of belonging and persistence (Drake, 2011; Kuhn, 2006) as Drake (2011) describes the power of advising by stating, “it is the very human art of building relationships with students and helping them connect their personal strengths and interests with their academic and life goals” (p. 8).

Recognizing academic advising plays…