In February 2007, the National Center for Students in Transition held their annual conference on the Freshman Year Experience. Attendance at this conference revealed that institutions are recognizing and formalizing the connections between an FYE-type course and the advisement experience.

Sessions offered at this conference revealed that many institutions are beginning to make structured connections between FYE-type courses and the integration of advisement personnel and topics in these courses. Several sessions highlighted advisement issues in relationship to transitional courses for first-year students. One such session was a roundtable discussion entitled “Integrating Advisement Into New Student Orientation Courses.” The attendees participated in a lively discussion about various models based on institutional type and size. It quickly became evident that individuals at many diverse institutions have either already begun to take steps in this direction or are planning to do so; a NACADA interest group would allow for exchange of ideas and best practices among those at various stages of implementation and outcomes assessment.

From this conference session alone, 12 names were gathered from approximately 16-18 participants who indicated interest in the formation of such a group. It is highly likely that posing this option to the NACADA membership will yield many members with similar interest in this topic. There is currently no structured forum in any professional organization for advisement professionals and faculty members to share information on the models being utilized, strategies for successfully incorporating advisement-related information and/or advisement professionals, training and development for those involved, and possible outcomes for implementation of such a model. It is apparent that NACADA can be on the forefront and is integral in bringing stakeholders together by forming this interest group and permitting a gathering at the annual conference in 2007.

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