Undergraduate Advising Council Redefines its Role

by Kari Ward

Over the past year, the Undergraduate Advising Council (UAC) has redefined its role on the UF campus. The committee, guided by business advisor Erica Byrnes, has clarified its purpose, restructured its membership, established a committee web site, assumed responsibility for the UF advising web site and UAC list serve, and developed three internal operating committees.

The revamped mission of the UAC is more student- and advisor-centered. In essence, its goal is to foster the success of our undergraduates through effective academic advisement. To achieve this mission, the UAC meets once a month to discuss and make recommendations on UF advising policy and procedures; to encourage colleges and advisors to consistently apply UF advising policies whenever possible; to share advising knowledge and proven strategies for working with students; and to promote the professional development of UF academic advisors. The UAC continues to provide regular reports to UF’s academic deans. To insure that all colleges have an equal voice on policy matters, official voting membership is now limited to one representative from each college; however, all UF advisors are strongly encouraged to attend as general members and actively participate in UAC meetings.

To help fulfill their revamped mission, the UAC formed three internal committees: The campus affairs committee, led by engineering advisor Jeff Citty, which deals with the promotion of UF advisors’ participation in the campus community and raising awareness of advising issues to other entities on campus. The professional development committee, headed by CLAS advisor Glenn Kepic, which will assess the professional development needs of UF advisors and create professional development opportunities for them. The communications committee, chaired by business advisor Kari Ward, developed the blog newsletter you are now reading and will also work to expand the UF advising web site.