About NACADA

NACADA is an association of professional advisors, counselors, faculty, administrators, and students working to enhance the educational development of students.

NACADA promotes and supports quality academic advising in institutions of higher education to enhance the educational development of students. NACADA provides a forum for discussion, debate, and the exchange of ideas pertaining to academic advising through numerous activities and publications. NACADA also serves as an advocate for effective academic advising by providing a Consulting and Speaker Service, an Awards Program, and funding for Research related to academic advising.

NACADA evolved from the first National Conference on Academic Advising in 1977 and has over 12,000 members representing all 50 United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, and several other international countries. Members represent higher education institutions across the spectrum of Carnegie classifications and include professional advisors/counselors, faculty, administrators and students whose responsibilities include academic advising.

NACADA functions with volunteer leadership with support from the NACADA Executive Office. Members have full voting rights and elect the national board of directors as well as other leaders within the organization. NACADA is designated by the IRS as a 501(c)3 non-profit educational association incorporated in Kansas.

Diversity

NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising values and promotes inclusive practices within the association and the advising profession. NACADA provides opportunities for professional development, networking, and leadership for our diverse membership and fosters involvement and engagement across identity groups, geographic regions, and professional levels. NACADA promotes the principle of equity and respects the diversity of advising professionals across the vast array of intersections of identity, which includes but is not limited to age cohort, institutional type, employment role, location, nationality, socioeconomic status, faith, religion, ethnicity, ability/disability, gender identity, gender expression, and/or sexual orientation.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

NACADA does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or marital status

Historical Documents and Resources

To learn more about the history of NACADA, read the following documents:

What is academic advising? The Concept of Academic Advising provides an answer.

Beatty, J. D. (1991). The National Academic Advising Association: A brief history. NACADA Journal11(1): 5-25.

Gordon, Virginia. (1998). New Horizons: Learning From The Past and Preparing For The Future .NACADA Journal 18(2): 5-12.

Thurmond, Karen C. and Miller, M.A. (2006). The History of National Academic Advising Association: An Update. The NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources.

NACADA: Lighting Student Pathways for 25 Years. Power Point presentation utilized at the 2004 national conference.

Past Presidents and Charter Members

NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources article via the History of Academic Advising