On May 3rd, the UAC’s Professional Development Committee hosted a workshop entitled “An Advisor Looks at 40.” Andrew Wehle, an advisor in the College of Design, Construction, and Planning, gave the presentation.
The focus of the presentation was the future of the academic advising profession. The conversation covered professional identity issues (are we faculty or staff?), whether administrators and faculty are aware of the services we provide, and how advisors need to play an active role in developing their profession. In his presentation, Andrew pointed out that advisors usually have opportunity for horizontal growth—activities that allow us to increase our professional skills sets like attending NACADA conference workshops, participation on university committees, and teaching First Year Florida--but have little opportunity for vertical growth, or “opportunities for advisors to gain stature within a professional framework or hierarchy.” He added that “the professional ‘carrot’ utilized by most professions to encourage and reward superior effort, performance, and achievement” is largely absent from the advising profession.
Andrew made no pretense of having answers to the questions he posed, but hoped to serve as a catalyst for conversation on this matter. To view a copy of the slides for Andrew’s presentation, click here.
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