Kep’s Korner

by Glenn Kepic

Academic advising, along with teaching, research, and service, is central to achieving the fundamental goals of higher education... Of particular importance to academic advising is teaching students to understand the meaning of higher education...and the purpose of the curriculum, [as well as] fostering [their] intellectual and personal development toward academic success and lifelong learning. Though it may vary from one context to another, in every setting academic advising is a multidimensional and intentional process, grounded in teaching and learning, with its own purpose, content, and specified outcomes.  National Academic Advising Association (2004).

With advanced registration right around the corner, it’s a good time to evaluate your personal thoughts and beliefs about academic advising.  What type of advisor are you?  Are you developmental, intrusive, prescriptive, or something combination of these?  Is the way you actually advise students consistent with your beliefs?  Do you need to brush up on department, college, or university policies?  Are there things you can do now to help improve your advising during advanced registration?  Examining these questions now can influence how successful you’ll be in the weeks ahead.     

As advisors, we should think about ways to better serve our students during advanced registration.  Here are some factors to consider when developing a strategy for handling a high volume of students:

• What is the most efficient and effective way for your office to see students during advanced registration (walk-ins, appointments, some combination of both)?

• Which advising services can be delivered in a group setting?

• Are there e-mails or web pages that could be developed for targeted populations to inform them about information they need prior to their advising or registration appointment?

• Do you use social media to share information with your students?

• Is phone and e-mail advising available in your office during peak times?

•  How can you better prepare students for their advising appointment?

• Are there productive activities or exercises that you could make available for students while they wait for their advising session?

• By thinking about these questions now, perhaps we can better serve the large number of students at UF and get more personal satisfaction from the experience!

Advanced Registration Dates for Summer/Fall 2012 are listed below to assist you in planning for advanced registration.  Students now have assigned registration appointments which can be viewed on s21 of NERDC or ISIS Admin.

Advanced Registration Dates for Summer/Fall 2012

Class	Start Date	Start Time
Seniors	March 29	1040am
Juniors	April 2	410pm
Sophomores	April 5	635pm
Freshmen	April 10	645pm
Post Bacc	April 12	910pm