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K-State Today

March 30, 2015

Global academic advising association celebrates 25 years at K-State

Submitted by Patrice Scott

The world's leading association for academic advising in higher education is celebrating an important milestone this year.

National Academic Advising Association: The Global Community for Academic Advising is celebrating its 25th anniversary of being headquartered at K-State. The association formalized its relationship with the university in 1990 when it established its executive office at K-State, and the College of Education serves as the association's host institution. Charlie Nutt, association executive director, joined the association in 2002 and assumed the top leadership role in 2007.

"The insight and wisdom of Dr. Michael Holen and the NACADA board of directors in 1990 ensured the foundation for our growth," Nutt said. "Dean Debbie Mercer's continued support has allowed us to explore new opportunities."

Nutt said the association grew out of the first national academic advising conference in 1977 and was officially chartered in 1979. Prior to the agreement with K-State, NACADA was managed by a group of volunteer leaders at institutions across the country. The association's sustained growth resulted in the need to establish a centralized base of operations as well as a professional staff.

"The College of Education provided the association with a home in the beginning so the association could support its members through a professional staff that managed the financial growth as well as the coordination of the annual conference," he said. "It is only through the support of and collaboration with the College of Education that NACADA has been able to not only expand its professional development opportunities for academic advisors across the globe, but also to support the field of academic advising in its expansion of research and publications focused on the profession."

NACADA made history in 2014 when it was the first organization to hold a conference on academic advising in the Middle East. It is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and boasts more than 12,000 members worldwide who are professional advisors, counselors, faculty and administrators working to enhance the professional development of students.

"This collaborative partnership continues to be a role model for how a university and a higher education association can work together in a symbiotic relationship that is a true win-win for both parties," Nutt said. "NACADA is proud of and grateful to the College of Education for its support and is even more proud to have become an integral part of the college's and the university's academic mission."