Kathy Stockwell, NACADA President
Spring! A time to complete projects we started earlier in the academic year, a time to carry forward important initiatives that will extend beyond 2011, and a time to begin new, exciting initiatives that will impact NACADA and advising for many years to come. For advisors spring is a time to re-energize and enhance our advising skills so we are better prepared to help our advisees succeed. A great re-energizing step is attending NACADA Regional Conferences where we can meet advising colleagues from across our regions. What a great time to share successes, gain perspective on campus issues, and discuss current advising practices. Check the NACADA website for the Regional Conference dates. Can’t attend your region’s conference? Consider attending one of the nine other conferences held throughout the spring.
To continue the Association’s forward movement, the NACADA Board of Directors remains focused on our five strategic goals. We have made great progress since these goals were implemented in 2008. As reported previously, the globalization sub-committee has made great strides in recognizing the scope of our Association. The new tag line, NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising, was unveiled at the 2009 Annual Conference in San Antonio, and the revamped logo was adopted in summer 2010. Sub-committee members led by the Association’s Vice President Glenn Kepic are raising international awareness of NACADA by soliciting input regarding advising practices at institutions across the globe. In conjunction with the work of this sub-committee, the Board has charged the Membership Committee with developing a guidebook for international allied associations, has asked the Council to define how international members can best fit within our current regional structure, and has formed a sub-committee, under the leadership of Board members Beth Higgins and Susan Kolls, to create a glossary of advising-related terms that will benefit all members as we work with advisors from around the globe.
Two technology sub-committees are also hard at work. Board member Jennifer Joslin is chairing the committee charged with assessing the technology needs of the Association and determining our technology priorities. In addition to her work with the glossary team, Beth Higgins is chairing a separate technology committee charged with reviewing the functionality of the NACADA website to see how it can be more user-friendly for our members. Also within the technology arena, the Executive Office staff, under the leadership of Brad Popiolek (University of Texas-Austin) and Laura Pasquini (University of North Texas), received training on the use of social media tools to enhance the events and services provided by the Association.
Another Board priority is to educate university and college decision makers about the role of academic advising in higher education. A sub-committee under the direction of Board member Josh Smith is investigating the best and most efficient ways to make these connections. This sub-committee is also charged with increasing awareness of the annual Pacesetter Award and encouraging nominations for this prestigious award. To recognize deserving individuals, the criterion for this award have been expanded to include Academic and Student Affairs officers such as Vice Provosts, Vice Presidents, Deans, etc., who exemplify a commitment to advising across the institution.
To ensure the effectiveness of the Association, Board members Kazi Mamun and Celeste Pardee are developing a plan for scheduled and periodic reviews of our policies, by-laws, and long-term contracts. Under the leadership of Pardee and fellow Board member Peg Steele the annual assessment (360 degree review) of the Board and Executive Office is undergoing review and discussion is underway within the Council regarding how to best establish an assessment of that leadership body. To ensure that all voices are heard, the Board has committed to open lines of communication.
The restructure of the Commission and Interest Group Division (CIGD) is underway. In a vote held during the Annual Conference in Orlando, members of the CIGD leadership voted to substantially change the Division structure so that both the Commissions and Interest Groups work more in line with each other. A Restructuring Implementation Task Force, led by Dana Zahorik, Chair of the Peer Advising & Mentoring Commission, has been named and is beginning its work. Stay tuned for updates as this group works on restructuring the CIGD.
Many individuals are working on behalf of the Board and the Association. I look forward to communicating the progress of the various sub-committees in future articles so you, the members, know what is being done to ensure the viability of NACADA and the field of academic advising.
I wish you all the best this spring, the perfect time for renewal and growth across our campuses and within our Association!
Kathy Stockwell, President NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising Fox Valley Technical College [email protected]
Cite this article using APA style as: Stockwell, K. (2011, March). From the president: Spring! the time for renewal and growth within NACADA. Academic Advising Today, 34(1). Retrieved from [insert url here]
