Effective academic advising is recognized as an essential strategy to improving persistence and graduate rates. But how can we assess whether an advising program is effective? Where to start?

An assessment-based, strategic planning framework can be employed for purposes of accountability and improvement. As institutions seek to align their programs and structures to better meet the current and emerging demands of the higher education landscape, it is imperative that student success professionals gain a working understanding of assessment practice and its vital role in facilitating program revitalization, including efforts to improve academic advising.

This presentation seeks to provide practitioners with a practical yet comprehensive framework that can be used to assess the effectiveness of an academic advising program using a mixed-methods approach. The presenter, who has provided collaborative leadership for two campus-wide advising redesign initiatives, will share lessons learned, tips on cultivating stakeholder commitment, the development of a clear rationale for change, and more.

Attendees will walk away with a framework that can be adapted to suit their institutional context and culture. They will also gain a deeper understanding for the various interrelated aspects of the process as well as guidance on where to focus their efforts to build and sustain momentum. Further, attendees will gain confidence in their ability to foster a collaborative, evidence-based initiative for change.