University Academic Advising Committee
           West Chester University
Dr. Shirley Grice, Co-Chair
(610) 436-3505
Prof. Bruce Norris, Co-Chair
(610) 436-3548
advising@wcupa.edu

ACADEMIC ADVISING AT WCU: AN OVERVIEW

Mandate: the CBA agreed upon by APSCUF and PASSHE indicates that:

  • academic advising is the role of the faculty
  • it may be appropriate for the universities to assign other personnel (non-faculty) to perform some tasks often associated with academic advising (in cooperation with the faculty advisors and dept. chair)
    • student course scheduling and registration
    • informing students of degree, major field, distribution and track requirements
    • assisting in the implementation of academic advisor’s recommendations
    • problem solving in scheduling conflicts
    • assisting students in gaining access to recommended courses

CBA page 83

2001 Middle States Association Accreditation Visitation Team report

  • Advisement process is seemingly an impediment to smooth progress toward degree completion and retention
  • Seems to be focused almost exclusively on course selection, and therefore may lack effectiveness in serving students
  • Recommended:
    • an assessment of faculty advisement to determine if students have been served effectively
    • examination of alternative models of advisement delivery
    • consideration of advisement of major students vs. undeclared students

Task force 2002-3: Agreed with a report from a 90’s task force on these issues:

  • Determined that faculty advisor development would be a critical need
  • Also that all parties in the process need a better understanding of what advising really is, and the responsibilities of each party to make the process work.

UAAC was created:

  • Mission Statement, Values Statement
  • Advisor Development
  • Advising Liaisons with Departments
  • Advising Handbook (in development)

Advising Resources