Victor Macaruso, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

Past Involvement in NACADA:

Years in NACADA: 5 years

National Offices Held and Accomplishments Achieved While in Office:

• Chair, Assessment of Advising Commission, 2004-2006 — Conducted a national survey on the status of the assessment of advising; began a project to annotate the bibliography on the commission's web site; chaired Hot Topic session at NACADA National Conference, 2006.

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

• Member, Wisconsin Academic Advising Association (WACADA)

Committee/Task Force/Advisory Board Activities and Accomplishments:

• Member, Assessment Institute Advisory Board, 2004-2006
• Member, NACADA Visibility Task Force, 2004-2005

Commission/Interest Group Activities and Accomplishments:

• Current Member — Assessment of Advising Commission, Advising Administration Commission, Multicultural Concerns Commission, Probation/Dismissal/Reinstatement Issues Interest Group
• Member, Task Force to Identify/Review Primary Distinctions between Commissions and Interest Groups, Commission and Interest Group Division, 2005-2007
• Member, Process for Moving to Commission Status Task Force, Commission and Interest Group Division, 2004-2005

Other:

• Co-chair, University of Wisconsin System Assessment and Career Services Committee 2005-present
• Co-chair, four state wide UW System Assessment Workshops, 2005-2006
• Attended NACADA Assessment Institute, 2005
• Presented national survey on the status of the assessment of advising findings at NACADA National Conference, 2004.
• Author, "Resources and Challenges in the Assessment of Advising," Academic Advising Today, Vol.27, no.4

Platform Statement:

• Highlight the goals you accomplished and the work you did while serving as a Unit Chair within this Division.

I was the first elected chair of the Assessment of Advising Commission from 2004-2006. In 2003, the year before the Interest Group became a Commission, it had the largest membership of any interest group or commission. As Commission Chair, I expanded the membership of the Steering Committee. We realized that no one knew the status of the assessment of advising on campuses all over the country. With help from NACADA staff and members of the Commission, we developed and distributed a national survey. The survey findings were presented at the 2004 NACADA National Conference and will soon be published. I led a campaign to increase the membership of the Commission and to promote participation in the annual Assessment of Advising Institute. We began a project to annotate the bibliography on the Commission's web site.

• What do you believe are the Division's most important goals and initiatives in meeting the strategic plan for both the Division and the Association? How do you feel you can be of benefit to the NACADA Council in meeting the Association's strategic plan and initiatives?

In the NACADA Vision statement, we read, "NACADA is the leader within the global education community for the theory, delivery, application and advancement of academic advising to enhance student learning and development."  The members of NACADA, practitioners and administrators, come together according to their interests or expertise and join in commissions and interest groups that focus on the theory, delivery, and application of advising. The conversations that the members have in their commissions and interest groups, on their list serves, and at state, regional, and national meetings, identify the issues and challenges we face as a profession. The leaders of the commissions and interest groups support the goals and initiatives of the strategic plan by keeping these conversations dynamic and engaging so they, the leaders, can bring issues and challenges to the Division meeting where they can be discussed, critiqued, and sent on to the Council for action.

The Division's most important goals and initiatives in meeting the strategic plan for both the Division and NACADA are to encourage the enthusiastic participation of the members, provide a forum for ideas, and a vehicle by which these ideas can be presented for action.

I bring to the position of Division Representative the experience I have gained as a Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs, a classroom teacher, an advising administrator, and an advisor. I have developed skills in facilitating communication, as a critical thinker, and have the ability to objectively represent the interests of the Division. My experience will enable me to frame the interests of the Division in the larger context of NACADA's strategic plan.

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

I believe that the commissions and interest groups are the very heart of NACADA. They allow members to cultivate passion for and interest in topics they value. The position of Commission and Interest Group Representative would allow me to actively support and encourage ever greater participation and engagement of the members. I would further empower the members by supporting the interests of each commission and interest group at the NACADA Council. As your Commission and Interest Division Representative, I would work to make our great organization even better.

• 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.