Academic Advising Portfolio - Division of Continuing Education ...

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Philosophy of Academic Advising Statement
“He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in danger!”
‐ Confucius
Academic advising is a unique campus function in that it explicitly interprets the college
environment for the student in a comprehensive, holistic way that few other campus services
can. Advisors assist students in processing what has happened to the student as a result of
entering the college experience, monitoring what is expected of the student in the present, and
anticipating the need to be proactive for the future. Advisors act as filters that help students
see themselves and their roles in the institution in bright, clear light. At the core of my personal
filter, I believe that academic advising:
• Promotes personal and academic success.
• Supports the individual, not the aggregate.
• Connects academic skills to transferrable skills.
• Empowers students’ personal choice and self‐advocacy
• Like learning, cannot occur in isolation.
The cornerstone of academic advising is promoting personal and academic success. If
advising is a function of the environment, then it can begin with a common factor of
coursework. Choosing courses or not doing satisfactorily in a course may be among the primary
reasons an advising relationship forms. A discussion with an advisee in the present concerning
study habits, motivation, and interests can provide the neutral ground necessary for building
rapport. From a strong foundation of trust and partnership, I can then assist the student in
identifying and exploring other talents, external support, and personal success strategies.