Research shows that academic advising is the most impactful when advisees are engaged in the process. Yet, as academic advisors we often find advisees who are not engaged. This article will examine student agency theory as a tool to engage advisees in academic advising. In this article, readers will learn strategies to 1) foster an advising relationship that centers on student agency, 2) promote student awareness of student responsibilities in advising and 3) maintain an advising space in which students are active co-agents. In fostering our advisee’s agency, we are able to unleash the various possibilities and opportunities for their academic and career success.

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