ACADEMIC ADVISING UPDATE
KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

April 1999

Serving as a direct link between the students and the University, effective academic advisors assist individual students throughout their entire undergraduate academic careers. In 1993 the Educational Experience Task Force was charged with improving various aspects of advising and made several recommendations, many of which have been implemented. The 1995 Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Subcommittee of the Strategic Planning Committee continued to focus on advising and made additional recommendations. The recommendations from these two committees include the Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS), the Open Options in Arts and Sciences, and recognition of advising in annual evaluation, salary, promotion and tenure decisions.

The 1996 report, Interpreting Assessment Reports on Undergraduate Degree Programs at Kansas State University, showed a wide range in student satisfaction with advising across all departments with percentages of satisfaction ranging from 23% to 100%. A second cycle of survey administrations to graduating seniors and first-year and fourth-year alumni will be reported in the fall of 1999. During the past two years, the University conducted workshops on advising for faculty and department heads, and dramatic changes have been implemented in some departments. At the end of the 1998-99 academic year, a longitudinal comparison of changes in satisfaction with advising will be conducted.

A proposed student survey to assess advising effectiveness was presented to the Deans Council in September of 1998. The survey has three parts: (1) a core of six items to be reported university-wide, (2) a section of items to be adapted according to the department's or unit's expectations of academic advising, and (3) an optional section to assess advisor effectiveness, again modified by the department or unit. One department is piloting the survey this spring semester. One college plans to use the survey in the development of an advising assessment tool later this year.

In the fall of 1998, undergraduate advising flag procedures were implemented as part of the KATS enrollment system. No undergraduate can enroll until his/her advising flag has been appropriately set by an advisor or someone authorized by the student's academic unit.

In October of 1998, the KSU Academic Advising Web Site was established. The site serves as a portal or hub site to assist students and advisors, as well as prospective students and their parents, to find information about academic advising at K-State. The site does not replace contact with an advisor. A counter was added to the site on February 10, 1999. During the past month, more than 1300 users have visited the site. The ATalk to Us@ button on the site has been especially popular with off-campus users seeking information about advising. The effort to enhance the site is constant. Currently, departments and colleges have been asked to designate or develop more focused advising pages to better accommodate the needs of students and advisors.

A student resolution for an Academic Advising Baseline Initiative, presented to the University administration during the 1998-99 academic year, clearly outlines the responsibilities and expectations of students in the academic advising process. The resolution also calls for study and action to enhance the advising systems across our campus.

In February of 1999, Provost Coffman appointed the Advising Enhancement Task Force. The group is charged with the tasks of identifying areas of potential enhancement and examining the administrative structure associated with advising at Kansas State. The primary goal of the task force is to provide students with an advising system that efficiently and effectively serves their needs.

The President's Office and the Curtin Companies are providing support this year for the Presidential Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Advising. The award includes an honorarium of $2,500 and enables Kansas State University to showcase those who are dedicated to providing quality advising to undergraduates.