Advising
The powerful opportunity that exists in the interaction between a student and her/his advisor does not exist in a vacuum. The student brings curricular, academic, personal, and professional goals that have been shaped by experience, social expectations, and increasingly, family, long before she/he enters college. The advisor brings philosophies that have also been shaped by a history of educational experiences, disciplinary perspectives, and a desire to help the student become a successful member of society. These perspectives must be balanced within a greater context of institutional history and curricular needs. Equally important is the acknowledgement that an engaged interaction can be hindered by the workload of both the student and the advisor as the student balances the classroom and social obligations that are part of the academic experience and the advisor balances classes and/or administrative duties, service, scholarship, and the needs of multiple advisees, all while both seek not to forget the people and places that affect their lives off campus.