Advisor
Certification at Utah Valley State College
Jeffrey
L. McClellan, Clint
Moser, J. Waterreus
Advisor
Training and Development
Utah
Valley
State
College
Advisor
training at Utah Valley State College (UVSC), soon to become Utah
Valley University , began in 2001 through a collaborative effort
among multiple campus entities. Since then, the program has become
a national “best practice” in advisor training, as demonstrated
by the programs inclusion in two NACADA monographs on advisor
training. In spite of this success, however, leadership at UVSC
has been striving to take advising and advisor training to new
levels over the past few years. Consequently, using NACADA resources
and literature, the CAS standards,
and a collaborative development process, UVSC has completely revamped
advisor training. In July 2007, UVSC launched a new advisor certification
program. This article overviews the structure and content of this
program.
Program
Structure and Content
The
certification program structure is based on advising literature
which suggests the typical learning curve of academic and career
advisors and counselors is approximately 2 years (Folsom,
Joslin, & Yoder, 2005)
and involves development in five training areas: conceptual, informational,
relational, technological, and personal (Habley,
1995; Higginson, 2000; McClellan, 2007) .
It also builds on the proposed NACADA certification standards
or competencies (NACADA Certification
Task Force, 2003) . Consistent
with this literature, the structure consists of four stages of
academic advisors development, each of which has a different focus
and requirements: initial training, first year training, second
year training, on-going certification.
Training
Stage |
Initial
Training |
1st
Year Training |
2nd
Year Training |
3rd
to 5th Year (Cycle) |
Purpose
of Training |
Foundation
|
Familiarity
|
Fluency
|
Focused
Professional
Development
|
Requirements
for Certification/
Recertification
|
New
Advisor Training
|
Skill
Development Workshops ( SDW
)(4 sessions)
Observational
Visit (6 months)
Advisor
Forum (80% attendance)
Annual
Advisor Conference |
Advising
Course
Advisor
Forum (80% attendance)
Annual
Advisor Conference
SDW
(4 sessions)
|
3
Year Cycle
Annual
Advisor Conference (3)
SDW
(12sessions)
Advisor
Forum (80% attendance)
Continuing
Development hours (TBD) |
Certification
Level |
Basic
|
Level
I Advisor |
Level
II Advisor
|
Advisor
Recertification |
Initial
Training/Certification
The
first stage is initial training. This stage assists advisors to
begin their work at the college with a sufficient foundation of
knowledge and skill in advising. This initial stage consists of
nearly two weeks of training wherein advisors spend the morning
in training sessions and the afternoon in their departments shadowing,
observing, and applying what they have learned. The training includes
a conceptual overview of advising in general and at UVSC, training
in the use of Banner and other technological resources, information
regarding basic policies, procedures, and resources, and development
of relational advising skills. Throughout the process, the personal
aspect is also addressed through discussion of what it means to
be an advisor and why advising matters. The personal values that
contribute to successful advising of students are also explored
and discussed. The content has been designed to insure that the
training is not only adequate to build a solid foundation but
is outcomes and assessment oriented. Following the initial training,
the advisors receive a certificate documenting their completion
of the initial advisor training.
First
Year Training: Level 1 Certification
Following
the initial certification, academic and career advisors and counselors
move into their first year of training. The focus of this training
level is on furthering and strengthening the advisors familiarity
with policies, procedures, processes, and programs specific to
the institution. During this year, academic and career advisors
and counselors are be required to attend the annual advisement
conference, at least 80% of advisement forum meetings, and 4 skill
development workshops (for more information on these, see the
monographs Advisor Training and the New Advisor Guidebook). Skill
development workshops in the first year largely consist of mandatory
sessions designed to develop critical competencies related to
the first-year outcomes for advisors.
In
addition, academic and career advisors and counselors receive
at least 1 six-month visit from an advisor trainer to review their
progress and development, the purpose of this visit is assess
the training programs effectiveness and to insure that the academic
and career advisors and counselors are progressing towards certification.
This visit is assessment oriented and outcomes based and focuses
on strengthening the development of the advisor to ensure that
the advisor is developing the skills necessary to achieve certification
and that the training program is meeting the developmental needs
of advisors and counselors. Near the advisor’s one-year anniversary,
an assessment is conducted to verify the achievement of advisor
outcomes and to assess the effectiveness of the program (This
process is under development). Upon demonstrating achievement
of the appropriate competencies and documentation of training,
he or she will receive a level 1 certificate.
Second
Year Training: Level 2 Certification
Following
the first year certification, academic and career advisors and
counselors begin their second year. This year is focused on fostering
fluency in relation to advising knowledge and skills. This is
achieved through continued participation at the advisement forum
(80% or better), the advisement conference, and the completion
of four skill development workshops. These trainings consist of
some mandatory and some optional sessions. In addition, academic
and career advisors and counselors complete a college course on
academic and career advising, an undergraduate course offered
through the college’s behavioral science program, to deepen their
knowledge and understanding of advising. Advisors and counselors
can audit the course if they wish, but must satisfactorily complete
training specific assignments and maintain 80% attendance in the
course. This course was piloted in spring 2007 and the training
office is working with the behavioral science department to establish
it as a regular course offering.
At
the end of the second year, as at the end of the first year, a
program assessment and advisor evaluation takes place. Based on
the outcome of this evaluation, and based on the recommendation
of the Director of Advisor Training and Development and their
supervisors, advisors/counselors are awarded second-level certification
as academic and career advisors at UVSC.
Ongoing
Certification
On-going
certification is focused on professional development. Once certification
as a level 2 advisor is achieved, advisors maintain their certification
by continuing to attend the advisement forum (80% min.), the annual
conference, and 12 skill development workshops over a three year
period of time. For the most part, these workshops consist of
optional development trainings during this stage of ongoing certification;
however, some mandatory training does occur as a result of changes
in policies, procedures, technology, etc. In addition, advisors
complete 15 hours of supervisor approved development during the
three year period of time. How these hours are to be spent is
determined by the advisor and his or her supervisor based on the
developmental goals and needs of the advisor and the department.
Performance
Management
In
order to insure that the certification process is managed appropriately
and effectively, it is integrated into the performance management
process. Academic advisors and their supervisors meet to review
and discuss performance evaluation according to college policy.
As part of this process they and their supervisors review and
discuss advisor certification and personal/professional development
plans as well as the other aspects of the performance management
process. The Director of Advisor Training and Development is responsible
for facilitating and tracking the advisement certification process.
Progress and fulfillment of certification requirements are overseen
by supervisors in collaboration with Advisor Training and Development
under the purview of performance management guidelines.
Conclusion
Over
the past year, major changes have taken place in the advisor training
program at UVSC. These changes are moving toward full implementation.
The results appear positive as qualitative and quantitative are
assessment results are coming in. While the program still faces
some challenges and minor roadblocks, it is well on its way to
being fully implemented, largely as a result of the support, contributions,
and efforts of advisors across campus and of the administration.
With this continued support, the program will continue to develop
and improve in the future.
References
Folsom,
P., Joslin, J., & Yoder, F. (2005). From advisor training
to advisor development: Creating a blueprint for first-year advisors.
NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources Web site Retrieved
February 15, 2007, from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Clearinghouse/AdvisingIssues/First-Year-Advisors.htm
Habley,
W. R. (1995). Advisor Training in the Context of a Teaching Enhancement
Center. In R. E. Glennen & F. N. Vowell (Eds.), Academic Advising
as a Comprehensive Campus Process (Vol. National Academic Advising
Association Monograph Series, no. 2., pp. 76). Manhattan, KS:
National Academic Advising Association.
Higginson,
L. C. (2000). A frame work for training program content revisited.
In V. N. Gordon, Habley, W. R., and Associates (Ed.), Academic
advising: A comprehensive handbook (pp. 298-306). San Francisco:
Jossey-Bass.
McClellan,
J. (2007). Content Components for Advisor Training: Revisited.
NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources, Online at
http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Clearinghouse/AdvisingIssues/Training-Revisited.htm
NACADA
Certification Task Force. (2003). Proposed Advisor certification.
NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources Web site Retrieved
February 6, 2008, from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Clearinghouse/Research_Related/competencies.htm#comp
Cite
the above resource using APA style as:
McClellan,
J., Moser, C. and Waterreus J.
(2008). Advisor Certification at Utah Valley State College. Retrieved
-insert today's date- from the NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic
Advising Resources Web site: http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Clearinghouse/AdvisingIssues/Adv-Cert.htm
