Academic Advising

A variety of academic advising models are listed here, but they all have at least one thing in common:  the advising is done by a faculty member. 

Algonquin College's Directive on Academic Advising is E31 (effective 29 April 2005) defines an advisor as "...a faculty member whose role is to assist students to define their goals and understand program expectations, while facilitating the students' achievement throughout their experience at the College" (page 1).

• Course Support and Remediation

• Workshop Models

• Personal Tutoring Models

• Online Models

• "Umbrella" or Institution-Wide Models

• School or Faculty-based Models
  

Course Support and Remediation

Re-entry program for Internationally Educated Nurses

Algonquin College

Academic advising and remediation 04/05 QAF funded project. 

Academic staff provided additional hours of coaching for students who required practice before they took part in preceptored clinicals. 

More information, Gail Gaffney (ESL teacher) gaffneg@algonquincollege.com

WISER workshops (Walk-In Study Enhancement through Review)

University of Central Lancashire 

Drop in, one-to-one tutorial consultations are provided by self-selected academic staff in a central location; available to all students during term- time; focus is on specific and individual needs.

More information, UCLan web site

Workshop Models

Lunch and Learn Workshops

Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley (Pembroke)

04/05, 05/06 and 06/07 funded projects. 

A series of 12 workshops given by academic staff  that have a focus on academic strategies.  Offered at the lunch hour, and lunch is provided as part of the workshop. 

More information,   Jamie Bramburger Manager, Community & Student Affairs

brambuj@algonquincollege.com

Ext. 2756

Group Academic Advising Seminars

Business Administration Core and Business Marketing, School of Business, Algonquin College 
05/06 QAF funded project. 

A promotions event targeting 125 – 150 students at a time.  Workshops answer student concerns, advertise the academic advising web site and introduce the automated appointment system. 

More information, Wayne McIntyre, Chair,

mcintyw@algonquincollege.com 

Ext. 5207

WISER workshops (Walk-In Study Enhancement through Review)

Example of topics:   http://www.uclan.ac.uk/facs/class/studyskills/wiser.htm

Personal Tutoring Models

Also known as Academic Tutors, Directors of Studies, Personal Advisors.  In this model, one faculty member is assigned to a predetermined number of students each term.

Personal Tutors

Aberdeen College
Faculty member appointed as student's first point of contact for guidance and other inquiries;  usually a course teacher for a first semester course;  remains the personal tutor for the student throughout the program (more than one year);  may include academic advising, but may also supplement existing academic advising by focusing on pastoral matters. 

More information, Case Study of Aberdeen College, pg 3-5 

Online Models

Online Academic Advising

04/05 and 05/06 QAF funded project. 

Managed by two advisors, the system allows the student to access up-to-date information, have questions answered and make appointments. 

More information, Wayne McIntyre, Chair Marketing and Management Studies (Business), mcintyw@algonquincollege.com

Institution-Wide Models

Central Academic Advising Service (CAAS)

University of Manchester 

Seconded faculty from various programs provide academic advising to all self-referred students in a central location;  advisors also have teaching duties;  service is parallel to that provided by Personal Tutors and is usually not program-specific.  Seconded advisors return to home faculty with improved knowledge of student services to share with colleagues. 

More information, Case Study of University of Manchester, pg 3-5

Link- http://www.campus.manchester.ac.uk/academicadvisoryservice/

School or Faculty-Based Models

Senior Tutors

University of Central Lancashire
‘Senior tutor’ in this context refers to an experienced teacher (faculty member) assigned to be the designated academic advisor for all students in the faculty of Design and Technology. The advising is in addition to more content-focused advising that takes place within each course or program.  (see below).  

More information, Case Study of University of Central Lancashire, pg 6

Senior Academic Advisor

Common in many institutions in the U.K., these advisors are associated with a particular school within an institution.  In some institutions, the academic advisor is a high ranking position given to teachers with lots of experience.  Advising is to a small group of students based on support for course work that is causing difficulty.  This type of advising is focused on academic support, and does not include counseling or housekeeping duties (such as section changes) often associated with advising.