For me academic advising is not simply a day job; rather it is a lifestyle that one should adopt as holistically as possible in order to best serve students. Great advisors do not leave their offices at 5:00 pm and return again at 9:00 am. Rather, they check their email during the evening and respond to requests as soon as possible. They are constantly on the look out for news articles, university programming, and internet resources that may benefit their student population. They get up early during registration week to answer last minute questions or triage Sunday morning emergencies when a student doesn't get into any of the classes they have pre-selected. Great advisors are constantly looking out for innovative programs to adopt or new technology to use.
Goal-setting is also an integral part of my advising philosophy. I believe that one must know where they want to go if they ever want to get there. Each semester I try to come up with goals that I want to achieve and then assess them at the end. My supervisor doesn't require it, but it helps me to see where I am functioning and if I have overextended myself in a certain area.
Maintaining the same level of service day-in and day-out with student after student isn't always an easy feat, however it is one that we must strive for. To do this, advisors must remind themselves to take time for themselves each day to recharge their batteries. We can do this in a number of ways from just taking a walk at lunch time to engaging in professional development. Anything to get ourselves inspired and ready for the next student is what we should do.
Above all, great advisors are student-centered. Everything we do is for them.
No comments:
Post a Comment