Renee Babcock, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 7 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

• Appointed Chair, Technology in Advising Commission, to complete vacant chair position, 2006-2007 

Regional Activities/Offices Held, including accomplishments achieved while in office:

• Presented at Region VII conference, 2004 — session titled "Save the Trees! Transitioning from Paper to Electronic Files."

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

• Member, Advising Technology Innovation Awards selection committee, 2006-2008

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Steering Committee Member, Technology in Advising Commission, 2004-present
• Conference proposal reader, Technology in Advising Commission, 2005 and 2006
• Current member — Technology in Advising Commission, Advising Administration Commission, Probation/Dismissal/Reinstatement Issues Interest Group, Large Universities Potential Interest Group

Other:

• Presented at National Conference 1998, 2004 (Advising Administration Commission-sponsored session), 2005, 2006
• Wrote book review for NACADA Journal, Fall 1999 and Spring 2000 issues
• Activities and Honors, University of Texas at Austin:
  • Member, Academic Counselors' Association (ACA)
  • ACA Public Relations Coordinator, 2004-2005
  • ACA Scholarship and By-laws Committee chair, 2004-2005
  • Recipient of ACA Professional Development Scholarship (to present at Region VII conference), 2004  

Platform Statement:

• Highlight your previous involvement within this unit that will help you in leading this unit. What roles have you played within this particular unit as a member thus far?  

I have been a member of the Technology in Advising Commission for 7 years, and have been a member of the Steering Committee since October 2004. As a member of the Steering Committee (and as the currently appointed chair), I have participated in planning and implementing the goals and activities of the commission. In addition, I have served the past 2 years as a reader for commission sessions for the annual conference.

• What do you believe are the most important goals and initiatives for this unit in meeting the strategic plan for both the unit and the Association?

In meeting with and talking to commission members, I have found that there is a need for information sharing across the membership at a variety of levels. Our members have so much to offer each other, and I think it important that opportunities are available for commission members to become involved in the commission. There is a clear need for basic information on technology and its uses in advising offices, and I would like to see more resources available for those people seeking this information. This would include not just basic definitions, but also some "best practices" from all types of institutions and advising offices, for example.

In addition, the commission needs to help ensure that there are a variety of technology sessions at the annual conference for advisors of all levels of technological expertise and comfort levels, especially sessions of a more interactive nature. There was a discussion at the Indianapolis conference on ways to create a more interactive advising technology online resource (Wiki being one possibility), and I would like to see the commission further develop this idea, and bring it to fruition. This resource would draw on the expertise of the entire membership, to become a rich and useful tool. Technology is pervasive in all facets of our lives, and there are more and more tools available for us to use in our jobs. Collectively, we can learn from each other when and how it is appropriate to use them to help us all become better advisors and meet the needs of our students and institutions.

• Why are you interested in serving in this leadership position or what influenced you to run for this leadership position? 

I am interested in serving as commission chair because I have benefited so much from my membership in the commission, personally and professionally, and I wish to give back in return. By getting involved, we all help to make NACADA a more vital organization, and I am excited about the opportunity of moving our commission forward best to meet the needs of our members, and the association as a whole.

• Provide any additional comments or information (either personal or leadership-related) that you want potential voters to know about you that is not covered elsewhere in your platform information. 

I have appreciated the opportunity to lead the commission the past seven months. Because of the support I received from the steering committee and executive office, I was able to assume the duties of this role without difficulty. However, there is so much more that I feel I can accomplish and I would appreciate the chance to continue the work that I have so recently undertaken.