Undergraduate Academic Advising Strategic Plan
Advising Matters at Virginia Tech
Advising plays a pivotal role in student success and is provided by roughly 400 academic advisors across 9 different colleges. Following the completion of our 2019-25 advising strategic plan, advisors were given the opportunity to help shape the future of advising by providing feedback on their priorities within the advising profession and suggestions on areas they would like to see the University work towards for the next 5 years. The request for input via a survey was shaped around the Conditions of Excellence in Academic Advising established by NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising and the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education as well as the Beyond Boundaries strategic framework supporting the mission of Virginia Tech.
Vision
Advising at Virginia Tech is a collaborative process between student and advisor, which empowers students to make informed academic and career decisions.
Philosophy
Virginia Tech demonstrates a commitment to advising through recognizing and supporting the needs of students and advisors. Each undergraduate student at the University is provided information and assistance, which aids the individual student in making responsible academic and career decisions. Each advisor is provided the necessary tools to respond to student needs and the opportunity to be recognized and rewarded for exemplary advising. Virginia Tech, in support of this philosophy will provide student focused advising and assist students in developing skills that lead them to take active responsibility for the advising process.
Goals of the Strategic Plan
The goals of the strategic plan continue the efforts of the Virginia Tech advising community to achieve distinction for holistic student advising, through implementation of initiatives that will enhance the coordinated approach to student support, promote timely graduation, and support the growth and development of the advising community.
Goal 1: Develop a set of guidelines for appointment summaries to aid in coordinated care and holistic advising.
Strategies:
- Continue to work towards a high percentage of appointment summary completions in Navigate
- Explore recommendations for appointment summary content which would include ways to support the assessment of advising
- Effectively communicate to students the intended uses of appointment summaries
Connections to other initiatives:
- Beyond Boundaries: Destination for Talent (4 year graduation rates)
- Beyond Boundaries: Increase in Retention to support National Rankings
- NACADA Conditions of Excellence:
- Communication and Collaboration
- Technology informed advising
Goal 2: Educate students on new approaches to academic planning as they begin their time at Virginia Tech.
Strategies:
- Establish best practices for utilizing academic plans in the advising session
- Collaborate with campus partners such as, but not limited to, the Office of the University Registrar, Bridge Experience, Career and Professional Development, and Experience VT to support a holistic approach to an academic plan
- Communicate and incorporate new technologies as part of academic planning to include the Course Catalog and other components of the Banner upgrades.
Connections to other initiatives:
- Beyond Boundaries: Destination for Talent (4 year graduation rates)
- Beyond Boundaries: Increase in Retention to support National Rankings
- NACADA Conditions of Excellence:
- Communication and Collaboration
- Technology informed advising
Goal 3: Enhance growth and development opportunities for the advising community.
Strategies:
- Establish a professional development growth plan for academic advisors
- Review current professional development offerings and evaluate new opportunities
- Increase recognition of advising at the national level
Connections to other initiatives:
- Beyond Boundaries: Advance Regional, National, and Global Impact
- Beyond Boundaries: Elevate Ut Prosim by supporting the retention of advisors
- Beyond Boundaries: Destination for Talent
- NACADA Conditions of Excellence:
- Institutional Commitment
- Advisor Selection and Development
- Scholarly Work