Advisor Tool Box

by Kari Ward

Paper FortuneTeller:  A Must-Have Tool for Advisors

Paper fortune tellers (think grade school) are a fun and interactive tool for engaging your students. I recently repurposed one that belonged to my second grader and discovered that they really come in handy for those tough advising questions, like “Should I major in history or psychology?”, “Should I take Man’s Food or Wildlife Issues?”, or “Should I drop this course or keep it?”.  If you decide to create one of these, you might use fortunes like “you must search for the answer within,” “go see your professor,” “check with financial aid,” or “only time will tell.”  In our next edition:   Probation Advising with Magic 8 Balls.

Educause

EDUCAUSE® is a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education through the use of information technology.  Publications on their site explain, in layman’s terms, the facts about emerging forms of technology that are being used in higher education (and elsewhere).  Topics include massively open online courses (MOOCs), social media, course management systems, etc.  So if you’re curious to know about “flipped classrooms” or about the impending migration to online textbooks, then this site is for you.

UF Counseling and Wellness Center (CWC) Self-HelpResources

The CWC has an “app-like” student resource page, where students and advisors can access available resources on issues that commonly affect students.  Topics include academic concerns, procrastination, test anxiety, veterans, and money issues.  Each topic page features four resource categories:  CWC resources (like on campus workshops and groups), UF Resources, Exercises, and Information Sheets.  I could see myself and others using the CWC info sheets for advisor training, as part of a student’s action plan, or as a general handout. See “How to Approach a Professor for Help” for a sample.

Advisor Tool Box

by Kari Ward

UF Career ResourceCenter “Career Roadmaps”

In keeping with our exploratory theme, I’m featuring these “Career Roadmaps” which were developed by CRC staff.  This resource features information on 18 broad occupational categories, including ComputerScience, Consulting, Greenand Environmental, and SocialService and Non-Profit.  The individual pdfs for each career category offers students a quick description of each field, needed skills, examples of careers, related student organizations, and even a list of links to local volunteer opportunities that will allow students to explore a field.

CLAS’ “Top Ten Waysto Explore with Purpose”

Need a handy “to do” list to give a student who tells you she has no idea what she wants to do with her life?  CLAS’ “Top Ten Ways to Explore with Purpose” webpage—a totally bookmark- worthy site—is a tool that gives UF students concrete steps to finding a stronger sense of direction.  The Exploratory Resources page, also worth reviewing, offers a comprehensive list of resources for exploratory students and their advisors.

20Surprising Stats About Technology Use in College

This colorful infographic provides insight on how college students are using technology, how much they’re spending on electronics, the new tech tools and apps they’re using, and the future of the classroom.  Here’s one interesting tidbit:  38% of college students can’t go more than 10 minutes without checking their email or smartphone! I found this article on the Edudemic website which has lots of cool education and technology articles.  Expect to see more “tools” from here . . .

Advisor Tool Box

by Kari Ward

UF Office of Academic Technology Study Skills Videos

AT Teaching Center has test taking, note taking, and time management videos, as well as subject-related videos on chemistry, math, and physics.

 

Higher Education Research Institute (HERI)

Curious about how your first year students compare with the national average on topics ranging from adjustment, to time management, to expectations of college? Or about how many students have meaningful discussions about race and ethnicity?   Take a moment to peruse the Cooperative Institutional Research Program’s (CIRP) one page, illustrated reports on “The First Year is a Big Deal” and “Diverse Learning Environments.”  HERI, which is home to CIRP, has other reports and publications that are of interest to advisors.

Holland Code Assessment

Informal assessments make great tools for advisors.  Here is a fast, fun, and free Holland Code Assessment tool that you can administer to your students.  This online quiz helps students match their skills and interests to a particular work environment/job classification. 

Advisor Tool Box

by Kari Ward

Marc and Angel Hack Life:  18 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I Was 18

I came across this blog when a friend shared it on Facebook.  I was thinking about my work with students when reading this article, but also gained insights from some of their other “top ten” kinds of articles like “The 30 Most Satisfying Simple Pleasures Life Has to Offer” and “12 Things Happy People Do Differently.”

Colleges That Help Grads Get Top Salaries

Read this article to see whether UF students get a good return on their college investment.

  

Make a Difference: Six Things Undergraduate Advisors Should Know About Graduate School

With the economy as it is, more and more students are considering graduate school.  Although there are always exceptions, School of Business advisors generally encourage students to go to work first so they can find out what they really want to do before investing a lot of time and energy into graduate school.  How do you advise your students?  Jenny Bloom and Stephanie Uiga offer some useful ideas to help guide us in this conversation.

Advisor Tool Box

by Kari Ward

It’s Not About You
Here’s an article that appeared in the New York Times Opinion Pages.  In “It’s Not About You,” columnist David Brooks considers millennial students and how they’ll find their true calling.

General AdvisingTechniques
This University of California Riverside website offers a quick list of basic advising techniques and general practices.  Great for new advisor and a good refresher for the more experienced.

NACADA Blog

The NACADA blog offers another forum for advisors to discuss their interests and concerns.  There’s lots of info on the upcoming Denver conference, so be sure to take a look!

Advisor Tool Box

by Kari Ward

Become a Licensed Career Facilitator

If you are interested in incorporating career development skills and information into your work with students, then you might want to consider becoming a licensed career facilitator.  In Spring 2012, Dr. Judith Ettinger of the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison will be offering this blended online course to UF staff and faculty.  School of Business advisors took this course last summer and can share their experiences with those interested.

What’s it Worth?  The Economic Value of College Majors
Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce reveals the earning potential for a wide range of college majors.  If you want to know which majors are the most popular, how much each major earns, and what percentage of a particular major goes on to earn graduate degrees, read this!

Our Favorite Facebook Organizations
“Like” these organizations and receive feeds that contain UF, academic advising, career, and other totally unrelated info on topics that might be of interest to you!

University of Florida 

UF news and events

National Academic Advising Association
NACADA blog posts and conference updates

National Association of Colleges and Employers
National career stats and trends

UF Career Resource Center
Useful career-related posts and event announcements

Citizens Co-op
Soon to be open community-owned market that features food from local farmers (Erica Byrnes)

Nourished Kitchen
Healthy eating for the totally granola! (Kari Ward)

Nook and Cranny
Find out where Dana Myer’s band is playing! (Dana Myers)

Current Problems
Florida water/environmental organization (Jill Lingard)

Paddle Florida  - Eco-tourism, water conservation, and education in and around Florida (Jill Lingard)

Dr. Rey Junco
"Friend" Rey and get his social media in student affairs posts (Jeanna Mastrodicasa)

Advisor Tool Box

UF Academic Advising Website
The old advising web site has been updated, so if you haven’t checked it out, give it a tour. Stay tuned--we'll soon be adding advisor photos and bios! Please send your comments/suggestions to Kari Ward. Your ideas are definitely welcome!

CRC Workshop: All You Need to Know about Internships...and More!
Refer your students to this upcoming UF Career Resource Center workshop. Students will learn about the process of finding an internship, what internships entail, and how to prepare a resume and cover letter.

NACADA Academic Advising Today
Academic Advising Today is any electronic magazine produced by the National Academic Advising Association. It offers a forum for academic advisors to share their experiences and discuss their ideas about the theory and practice of academic advising. Read their latest issue today!

If you have a resource that you’d like to share, e-mail Kari Ward.

Advisor Tool Box

Change of Major Procedures for UF Colleges
This document was compiled in conjunction with the 2010 UF Advising Workshop entitled “The Real Deal on ‘Can I Change My Major.’”

Gator Launch
If you know a student who is pursuing a major in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) and who identifies with an underrepresented population—including gender, economic status, ethnicity, and sexual orientation—consider referring them to the CRC’s Gator Launch program. This professional development program teaches students how to find internships and full-time jobs and provides them with a mentor who currently works in a related field. The CRC has some fun student spotlights you can use when you are discussing this program with your students. Ask CRC for logo.

Free Rice.com

Advisor Karen Ehlers says “I LOVE . . . www.freerice.com. It’s a great site to practice vocabulary and allows students (and advisors) to get ready for verbal portions of any graduate/professional exam. Each time you answer correctly, you donate 10 grains of rice. Play 10 minutes a day, and you can donate a bowl of rice to a third world country every day!!!”

Advisor Tool Box

The Mentor: An Academic Advising Journal

The Mentor is a free online journal about academic advising in higher education. In addition to interesting articles, the journal also features an advising forum, a section called The Muse which is devoted to advising-related poetry, art work, and short stories, and information on their writing competition. Article topics range from “Responding to Professor Rating Web Sites: An Adviser's Approach,” “How are Online Degree Programs Changing the Role of Academic Advisers?” and “Undeclared Students: Nudge Them Toward a Decision” (written by former UF Advisor, Helen Halasz).

Stay Connected with the UF Office of Admissions

The Office of Admissions is working hard to establish connections with our future students. From this website, you can join their Facebook group, follow them on Twitter, and access two very usable and attractive publications—The Undergraduate General Information Bulletin (UF’s standard brochure) and the UF Guide for Parents of Undergraduates. Advisors, it would be great to include links to the later publications in the prospective student (or parent) e-mails you send.

 
 
 
 
Students.gov
This is a very useful resource for students and advisors alike. In particular, the career development section has a listing of government internships, volunteer opportunities, and employers.

Advisor Tool Box

State of Florida General Records Schedules Ever wonder how long you have to retain student records, including advising-related e-mails? Also, see Electronic Records and Records Management Practices for basic information on record management.

CHOMP (Career Help fOr Major Planning)
The Career Resource Center has a new interactive tool to help students choose their major.


UF Guide for Parents of Undergraduates

Do you advise prospective students and their parents? If so, this polished, interactive publication can serve as useful reference for them. The guide offers tips on high school planning and information on all aspects of the admission process, including our freshman profile, costs of attendance, and campus life.

Advisor Tool Box

Expand your knowledge and career options
Consider UF’s Student Personnel in Higher Education (SPHE) master’s degree program. SPHE will prepare you for various student affairs positions, including professional academic advising, in institutions of higher education. The 46 credit hour program integrates academic coursework with an internship and practicum. Many of the required courses are offered during evening hours. In this program, you’ll learn about college student development, campus environments, diversity, and much more.

The Advisor Diaries
The Advisor Diaries provides an outlet for college advisors to share their experiences, advice and a laugh! Read along, submit a story, share advice/comments and get rejuvenated!

Missed an Undergraduate Advising Council (UAC) meeting?
Check out the Provost’s website to review minutes from past meetings, as well as meeting dates, times, and locations and member contact info.

Advisor Toolbox

Web site referral handout
The School of Business created a half-page handout for students that lists UF, college, and outside URLs that contain commonly requested information. When students come in to our office and ask for information on FACTS.org, correspondence study, majors or minors, the CRC, graduate programs, UF or internal forms, or even the pre-law or pre-health advising, we can supplement the verbal information we give them by checking off the appropriate URL and handing them this page. It can be a real time saver during peak advising, and it also encourages students to seek out information on their own. Perhaps you could create your own web site handout and tailor it for students in your department or college?

UF Career Resource Center Facebook Group
Become a fan of the CRC and get their weekly posts which feature helpful event reminders and interesting employment facts. Just go to the CRC’s homepage and click on “Join Our Facebook” link on the bottom right hand corner of the page.

UF’s Office of Institutional Planning and Research
Do you like facts and figures? Would you like to know more about our student body? If so, check out the Office of Institutional Planning and Research website. There, you can out find data on how many students are in a particular major or college; how UF students’ experience and view our school (SERU data); course enrollment; the UF organizational chart; transfer admissions; and UF student life, such as the average age of UF students, how many live on or off campus, and how many belong to a fraternity or sorority.

If you have a great advising tool that you’d like to share with other advisors, let us know by e-mailing Kari Ward.

Advisor Toolbox

Kansas State Advising Certificate
Looking for a way to further your education in academic advising without leaving home? Then consider the Graduate Certificate in Academic Advising in Higher Education or the Master of Science in Academic Advising degree through Kansas State University. Both of these graduate programs provide an opportunity for you to gain an understanding of the issues and skills needed to deliver effective academic advising. The certificate requires 15 credits of course work. The master's offers additional course work with two options: Advising Administration or Intercollegiate Athletics and the College Student. All courses are delivered via the Internet. Maureen Cox, an online business advisor, has started the certificate program and welcomes your questions. Thanks for submitting this, Maureen!

New: Advisor Contact List on UF Advising Website

A new university-wide advisor contact list is now available on the UF Advising web site. This convenient resource also describes how advising is conducted in each college. This web page come in handy when we refer students to other colleges. Look for additional improvements to the UF Advising website soon! If you have any suggestiong for the website, please contact Kari Ward.

AAC ISISAdmin Workshops

The Academic Advising Center is offering two “Intro to ISISAdmin” workshops, which will provide a general overview of degree audits and how to make adjustments to them. Please RSVP to Kimberly Faison to confirm which session you will attend.

· Thursday, October 22 from 1:00-2:30 p.m.
· Monday, October 26 from 2:00-3:30 p.m.

Advisor Toolbox

Journal of College Student Development
The American College Personnel Association’s Journal of Student Development features informative studies that focus on the needs of different student populations. Their articles can provide advisors with insight into how to better relate to these students. Thanks to Kathy Rex for this submission!

Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH)
The OOH, which profiles hundreds of different types of jobs, offers students insight into specific careers they may be considering. Each profile contains a job description, required training and education, salary information, job outlook, and related occupations. The education and training section is especially helpful, as it demonstrates to students that they do not need to pursue a specific major for the majority of careers. It helps them to move beyond the “I must be a business major to go into business” and the “What can I do with a history major besides teach?” mentality, opening their minds to other options. Thanks to Sara Mock for this submission!

Academic Advising: A Comprehensive Handbook (2nd Edition)
This classic textbook is great reference for enhancing your advising skills and knowledge. Chapters include advising philosophy, advising multicultural students, one-on-one advising, integrating academic advising with career and life planning, assessment of advising services, and more. This latest edition emphasizes the concept of “advising as teaching” and offers the latest in advisor training concepts and tools.

Advisor Toolbox

Helpful advising resources to enhance your interactions with students.

Calculating Plus and Minus Grades Quickly and Easily
Developed by UF advisors, this calculator can sum grades from both the old UF grade system and the new minus grade system. The site also features a conversion table for old and new grade values, plus links to UF grading policies.

Helping UF Students Weather the Tough Economic Climate
The UF Career Resource Center (CRC) posted this open letter to students on their website, providing them with resources and direct strategies for increasing their employment prospects during these challenging economic times.

Common Reading Program: The Devil’s Highway
If you’re teaching First Year Florida and want to incorporate the Common Reading Book into your course, check out the UF Dean of Students’ Common Reading Program webpage. There, you’ll find a list of related resources and a useful classroom discussion guide.