Introduction
The Power of Academic Advising
Few experiences in students' postsecondary career have as much potential for influencing their development as does academic advising.
Through regular contact with students--whether face-to-face, through the mail, on the telephone, or through computer mediated systems--advisors gain meaningful insights into student's academic, social, and personal experiences and needs.
Advisors use these insights to help students feel a part of the academic community, develop sound academic and career goals, and ultimately be successful learners.
Because of the nature of academic advising, advisors often develop a broad vision of the institution. Advisors can therefore play an important interpretive role with administrators, faculty, and staff, helping them further understand students' academic and personal development needs. Advisors can teach others to identify students who, with additional attention from academic support staff, may achieve their goals to succeed academically and personally. As academic advisors, we must recognize our responsibility not only to students and the institutions in which our advising is done, but to society, to colleagues, and to ourselves.
---National Academic Advising Association (NACADA)
