Caressa Olivo Gearhart, academic advising manager and Division of Undergraduate Studies Programs Coordinator at Penn State Worthington Scranton, recently presented at the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) conference in New Brunswick, NJ.
The title of her presentation was, "From the Ground Up: Developing and Implementing and Effective Faculty Adviser Development Series."
"With enrollment units struggling, dwindling resources, and tighter budgets across the board, it is becoming increasingly clear that retention and student persistence is everyone's business," Ms. Gearhart stated.
"There is an increased focus on the role of academic advising in retention, and specifically on providing effective academic advising. However, we must consider that effective academic advising requires development programs grounded in theory and best practices."
During her session, Ms. Gearhart presented the theory grounding the advising development series, and information on the process of developing the Faculty Advising Development Series (FADS) at Penn State Worthington Scranton. Challenges and considerations were also addressed, including faculty buy-in and collaboration.
The goal was to give participants and attendees resources, tools, and action steps for developing and implementing and advisor development program.
NACADA is an association of professional advisors, counselors, faculty, administrators, and students working to enhance the educational development of students. It promotes and supports quality academic advising in institutions of higher education to enhance the educational development of students.
