Don't miss the registration discount deadlines for these three Professional Development Events:

Event Registration Discount Deadline - Register by January 5, 2007 and save $50 per event!

Hotel Registration Discount Deadline - Register at the Hotel by January 10, 2007 for BIG savings. Room rates will jump significantly after this date.

Components of a Successful Faculty Advising Program:

Institutional Commitment, Professional Development, Incentives, and Recognition

Don't miss this live Webinar Event, which will be broadcast over the Internet on Thursday, February 22, 2007

Most colleges and universities around the country understand that faculty advisors are absolutely critical to the health and well being of advising programs, and so faculty advising responsibilities are deeply embedded in the institutional mission. Yet surprisingly little is being done systemically to encourage quality faculty advising, to craft faculty advisor development programs, and to recognize and offer incentives for excellence in advising.

In this NACADA-sponsored Webinar presentation, Jayne Drake (Associate Professor of English and Associate Dean for Graduate Affairs, Temple University) will address four critical points:

1. the need for broad institutional commitment to faculty advising from key stakeholders;
2. the importance of clearly articulated mission, process, and goal statements;
3. the components of a successful faculty advisor development program; and
4. the incentives and "rewards" important in acknowledging and promoting excellence in advising.

Registration will open on January 16, 2007. Participation is limited by our Service Provider, so plan ahead to ensure your participation - Secure your funding today!

Visit the Webinar webpage to learn more.

Presentation Proposals are still being accepted for Regions 3, 6, 8 & 9!  Don't miss out on this opportunity to submit your presentation proposal through our on-line submission site. Then get ready to take advantage of a great professional development activity in your Region!

Register now and reserve your hotel room for the early rates!

NACADA extends congratulations to the December 2006 recipients of the Graduate Certificate in Academic Advising Program: Shannon Burton (Michigan State University), Carmen Butler (Gardner-Webb University), Emily Chaffin (Brigham Young University), Julie Fischer-Kinney (University of Toledo), Cristi Gale (Sterling College), Jennifer Edwards (Eugene, OR), Carol Harding (Milliken University), Loni Jensen (Manhattan, KS), Shoshana Kalfon (Concordia University), John Lowrance (Independence Community College), Phyllis Palmer (Mundelein, IL), Christine Radakovich (Western Wyoming Community College), Eliza Sieswerda (Forsyth Tech Community College), and Cara Wiley (Brigham Young University).  The Graduate Certificate in Academic Advising, developed by Kansas State University and NACADA, is an intensive graduate program offered on-line to teaching faculty, professional advisors, administrators, graduate students, and others interested in the advising field.

It's not too late to register for Spring online courses:

EDCEP 829 Learning Principles - Instructor: Fred Newton

EDCEP 851 Multicultural Academic Advising - Instructor: Ata Karim

Students enrolling in the Program must be admitted to the K-State Graduate School. You can find out how to begin the application process here. Students desiring to only take one or two courses may be enrolled as a "special student" and transfer the credits to another institution.

Online classes meet from January 11, 2007 through May 11, 2007.

Last day for ENROLLMENT is January 25, 2007.

For more information, visit this webpage.

The final slate of candidates for the 2007 NACADA Leadership elections is available on the NACADA website. Each candidate's platform statement is linked to her/his name on this list for your review prior to the elections.  Additional details on the 2007 elections and online voting procedures is available on the election webpage and will also be sent directly to members in early February.

All voting must be done online - no printed ballots will be mailed for this election. The online voting system will be activated by 9:00 a.m. CST on Friday, February 2, 2007. The deadline to vote is 9:00 a.m. CST on Friday, February 23. Login and password information will be sent to members just prior to the activation of the online voting system.

NOTE: Only those individuals whose NACADA memberships are current and paid in full as of Friday, January 26, 2007 will be eligible to vote in the 2007 elections. If you know of individuals who have not yet renewed their memberships that expired on September 1, 2006, please encourage them to complete this renewal immediately to secure their voting privileges for NACADA's future leadership.

Who votes for the various positions being elected?  As outlined in the NACADA bylaws, the positions of President, Vice President, and Board of Directors members are voted upon by all current NACADA members.  Region Chairs are elected by their respective regional members. Commission Chairs are elected by the members of their respective commissions; thus, the commissions in which members have designated official membership as of January 26, 2007 will determine those Commission Chair elections in which they will be eligible to vote.  The elected Division Representatives are elected by the Chairs whom they will represent within that Division (i.e., Commission and Interest Group Division Representative is elected by only Commission Chairs). Standing Committee Chairs are elected by the members of the respective committees.

Why are the elections held in February?  After several years of holding elections, we have determined that February seems to be a good time for a majority of members. The Spring semester has begun on many campuses by this time so many members have a few moments to spare for the voting process.  With the voting now online, the amount of time needed to vote is minimal. Members can review the platform statements ahead of time and have a good idea for whom they plan to vote even before logging into the online voting tool.  Another important reason for holding elections in February is to allow ample time for the newly elected officials to become involved in early leadership orientation and training activities prior to taking office, and to make plans to attend the fall annual conference to complete their training and take over their new leadership roles. In many cases, these new leaders also have an opportunity to participate in training at the regional conferences held in the spring.

Where can members read about the qualifications of the candidates?  Information, including past involvement in NACADA activities and platform statements, becomes available several weeks prior to the elections and can be reviewed online via the Candidates List posted on our Web site. A direct link to this list is also printed in the monthly Highlights sent to members a couple of months prior to the elections. Access to this information is also available on applicable ballots during the online voting process.

The editing process for the March edition of NACADA's quarterly e-Publication, Academic Advising Today, is currently underway, and among those accepted for publication are:

• How We Spent Our Summer Vacation. Oregon State University 's Journey to Colorado and Beyond! by Susie Leslie, Oregon State University
• Changing Culture: A New Program for Liberal Arts Advisement at an Urban Community College by Glenn Miller & Holly Messitt, Borough of Manhattan Community College/City University of New York
• A New Trend in Advising: ESL Advising by Aura Rios Erickson, Shoreline Community College

We are currently accepting submissions for the June edition (submission deadline is March 15). If you are interested in sharing your thoughts with your colleagues in this format, check out the Guidelines today!

It takes but one SPARK to ignite the flame for an idea. Does your campus have an unusual or exceptional process or program that could spark an idea on another campus? If so, tell us about it in 350 words or less. Send your 'Sparkler' to Leigh Cunningham.

Featured this month in the Clearinghouse: Probation, Suspension & Reinstatement Issues and Links.  January challenges academic advisors as a whole new group of students grapple with academic probation, suspension and reinstatement.  As advisors, we hope that, with support, students will improve their academic situation. How can we best support their efforts?  What resources exist in this important arena? The Clearinghouse links to resources from a variety of college and universities along with articles that can help you assist these students. 

21st Annual

Academic Advising Summer Institutes

Burlington, VT & Salt Lake City, UT

Third Annual

Effectively Engaging Faculty in Academic Advising Seminar

Burlington, VT

June 21-22, 2007

Faculty members have an essential and vital role in the academic advising experiences of students on most campuses. Data in the NACADA 2004 publication, The Status of Academic Advising, indicates that over 80% of 4-year institutions, almost 50% of public 2-year colleges and 80% of private 2 year institutions utilize models which rely on faculty involvement in academic advising.

Since faculty play such an integral role in academic advising, it is imperative that faculty and administrators work together to ensure that faculty have the information, tools and resources to effectively engage in the advising process. This two-day seminar will provide participants with the opportunity to enhance faculty advising and programs as well as gain essential insights on ways to foster collaboration between faculty and administrators responsible for advising.

Click here to learn more.

Don't miss your opportunity to register for the 5th Annual Institute for the Study of Transfer Students!   The conference will be held Sunday, January 28 - Tuesday, January 30, 2007 in Fort Worth, Texas. The Institute is a national forum that addresses the needs of transfer students from both 2-year and 4-year perspectives. The deadline for the $295 early bird registration is Friday, January 5, 2007. Regular registration fee is $350. For additional registration information and registration forms, please visit the Institute website.

The Transfer Institute is co-sponsored by the National Orientation Directors Association (NODA), the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), The National Resource Center for the First-year Experience (NRCFYE),and the University of North Texas Division of Student Development with additional support from Tau Sigma, the national honorary society for transfer students.

The 2007 NACADA Awards Call for Nominations, including nomination/application criteria, deadlines and forms, is available online.   All information and forms can be accessed on the NACADA Annual Awards Program website. The deadline for the receipt of nomination materials for most award categories is March 5, 2007. Please closely review the applicable information in the 2007 Awards Call before submitting your final nomination materials, as there have been changes in the criteria for certain awards. Refer to the 2007 Call for Nominations on the Awards website for more detailed information about all award categories and applicable eligibility criteria and submission procedures.

Coming Soon!  Academic Advising: New Insights for Teaching and Learning in the First Year
Mary Stuart Hunter, Betsy McCalla-Wriggins, & Eric R. White, Editors

A joint publication of the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition and the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA).

This new monograph challenges readers to embrace the tremendous potential that academic advising has for educating today's college students and adds significantly to the engaging dialogue on advising as teaching. Chapter authors explore the advising as teaching and learning paradigm, examine current student demographics, and address learning patterns, self-assessment, and technology as key components of advising. Chapters also explore academic advising before enrollment and beyond the advising office, as well as the critical issue of advising assessment. The needs of diverse populations of first-year students are also addressed.   Click here to order.

Copies should be available by mid-January, 2007.

Coming Soon!  The New Advisor Guidebook: Mastering the Art of Academic Advising Through the First Year & Beyond

New academic advisors note that watching a skilled veteran advisor with students is like watching an artist at work. Their conferences are "jam-packed" with information, yet have the ease and fluidity of a conversation. Until now becoming an excellent advisor has been entirely an experiential journey. Now there is a guidebook that can help new professionals master the art of academic advising.

Insightful contributions from more than 30 academic advising professionals provide new advisors with the essentials needed to help students grow and make the most out of their college experiences. A professional growth chart helps new professionals not just survive, but thrive, during their first year and beyond. Exemplary Practices from across the country highlight what colleges and universities can do to help new advisors succeed. "Voices from the Field" commentaries in each chapter offer reflections from new and experienced advisors on what it takes to move from new hire to successful advising professional. Click here to order.

Copies should be available by mid to late February, 2007.

Order Today !  Pocket Guides Series

Pocket Guide #1 was developed from the content of the Foundations of Academic Advising CD1 - What is Academic Advising? This read-anywhere publication contains information from each of the modules of CD1. The Table of Contents is listed below.

• The History and Definitions of Academic Advising
• The Process and Content of Academic Advising
• The Pedagogy and Outcomes of Academic Advising
• Understanding Advising on Your Campus

Whether an accompaniment to the CD or a stand alone publication, the Pocket Guide is a great resource for an introduction to or a refresher on the basics of academic advising, especially for new professionals, faculty advisors, and administrators. Priced to encourage campus-wide distribution. Click here to order.

Pocket Guide #2 was developed from the content of the Foundations in Academic Advising CD2 - Academic Advising Delivery Models.  This handy, carry-along publication contains information from each of the modules of CD2. Makes an excellent handout for group training that accompanies use of the CD. You'll definitely want to add the Pocket Guides to your Advising Library!

Topics include:

• Three basic types of organizational structures: Centralized, Decentralized, and Shared
• Seven Basic Delivery Models: Self-Contained, Faculty Only, Satellite, Supplementary, Split, Dual, and Total Intake
• Advantages and Challenges of each model
• Usage of each model at various institutional types
• Three crucial question to ask to determine the appropriate model for a particular institution

• Variables to consider in selecting an appropriate organizational structure
• Determining the effectiveness of the organizational structure

Click here to order.