In addition to the significant strides faculty have made in assessing and streamlining academic programs to continuously improve student outcomes, MSU must also adopt a strategic approach to realize the full influence our advising system has on student outcomes.  To initiate the process, the Faculty Advising Assessment Task Force (FAATF) with faculty representatives from each college along with our collaborative advising partner representatives has set forth an initial set of advising goals to which all advisors contribute.    

Goal 1. Provide timely and effective advising communication.

Goal 2. Prioritize knowledgeable advising.

Goal 3. Provide student-centered, individualized guidance

Goal 4. Foster student self-reliance.

The overarching goal is to annually assess advising outcomes and student satisfaction, using tools including student surveys, feedback forums, and success metrics (such as retention, graduation, adequate progress, and time-to-degree rates) to continuously improve advising.  The first step this year is to understand the foundation for advising assessment that many programs and departments have already laid. 

FALL 2025 Report - due date Nov 26

Departments/Units complete the Faculty Advising Assessment Template for 2025:

Year 0 - survey of current faculty advising assessment processes  (downloadable .docx)

The FAATF recommends a faculty discussion to reflect on your current departmental faculty’s advising process and to complete the following survey.   The intention is to jump-start a conversation about how to continuously improve faculty advising and meet student advising outcomes. Your answers will also help guide the FAATF in developing the advising assessment process, recommending resources and workshops, and building collaborations for a more effective network of advising.

Example practices, ideas, and metrics for advising assessment  (pdf for download)

For each of the four goals: current practices, future ideas, and metrics are examples gathered from across the university by members of the Faculty Advising Assessment Task Force.  These are not necessarily widespread practices or policy.  They are a starting point for discussion about each department/unit's advising assessment.

Goal 1: Provide timely and effective advising communication

Theme: Communication

current practices:

·         using NAV scheduler and campaigns

·         post-appointment survey

·         program leaders provide advising about program of study (faculty advisors provide advising in terms of career, leadership, research, etc.)

·         online advising shells - within academic units

·         Commons communications calendar and Nav Templates

future ideas:

·         (Centralized) communications schedule plan

·         Peer mentoring to help connect with students

metrics:

·         pre-reg advising communications in NAV

·         DW notes

·         students make appt in timely fashion in NAV

·         student handbook - states advising 1/semester, documented in DW

·         Peer review of advising in orientation and advisor meetings

 

Goal 2: Prioritize knowledgeable advising

Theme: well-informed advisors

current practices:

·         NAV training

·         Advising Commons website

·         Advising Commons training

·         chair offers trainings

·         Monthly Advisor Updates meetings

·         GARC feedback to advisors when errors

·         advising boot camp

·         peer mentoring

·         faculty meeting trainings

·         self-assessment of advising knowledge

·         working with college staff (advisors, staff responsible for programmatic accreditation)

future ideas:

·         MSU advising website with webpage for updates

·         peer shadowing

·         Review advisor participation in training – have post training/professional development assessments to assess adv knowledge

·         Advising “cheat sheets” with most common task instructions that only happen 1x/semester, acronyms, banner codes, etc.

·         Modify Commons’ online advisor training for faculty

·         Increase CFE faculty advising training sessions

·         mock virtual advising appointment

metrics:

·         advisor training assignments in Commons modules

·         review GARC and CERC petitions due to advising/clerical errors

·         Student survey results

 

Goal 3: Provide student-centered, individualized guidance

Theme: Individualized and holistic advising

current practices:

·         current industry needs/demands

·         plan in DW

·         pre-survey at orientation about academic & career plans

·         graduation survey about job placement & salary

·         MSU student survey biannually

·         student-led advising meetings (with faculty support to fill in their gaps in knowledge)

·         career exploration exercises (attend career fair)

·         Student Survey -end of semester asking about advising experience

·         Advising for additional or changing majors, minors, exchange programs, internships

·         Referring students to campus/community resources

future ideas:

·         Peer mentoring certification (NASPA)

·         Software and/or class to help students identify passions, goals, careers

metrics:

·         one-on-one appointments – peer review

·         superfluous credits

·         Review of MSU student survey (questions related to academic, personal, career goals; questions related to providing support to students)

 

Goal 4: Foster self-reliance

Theme: Student empowered responsibility

current practices:

·         students must make a plan before they are given a pin

·         create an appointment with advisor in NAV

·         formal review meetings held 1-2 times a year with advisor

future ideas:

·         mapping the process

·         MSU advising website

·         Students understand how and when to access support/resources

metrics:

·         students registering on their priority-reg day

·         student generates a plan in DW

·         students logging in to DW/NAV

·         Rate (and/or date) of drops/UW’s

·         graduation application dates