1. Advising is Not a
Profession…or is it?
Josh Larson, Anna Adams,
Jason Barkemeyer, Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski
University of Utah

2. Test Your Clicker – What state are you
from?
1. Alaska
2. Oregon
3. Washington
4. Yukon Territory
5. Montana
6. Idaho
7. Alberta
8. Outside Region 8
9. (British Colombia)

3. How many years have you been
advising?
A. Less than 3
B. 3-6
C. 7-10
D. 11-15
E. 16-29
F. 30+

4. Are you a full time or part time
advisor?
1. Full time (30 hrs +)
2. Part time

5. What is your highest education level?
1. No degree
2. Associate’s
3. Certificate
4. Bachelor’s
5. Master’s
6. Doctorate

6. Is Academic Advising a profession?
1. Yes
2. No

7. Do you think advising should be
considered a profession?
1. Yes
2. No
3. Not Sure

8. Objectives For Our Presentation
Consider the historical development and
current state of the field of advising.
Discuss the term “Profession” and how it
relates to the occupation of advising.
Discuss how advising might change if it
obtained the status of a profession.

9. Advising Timeline Highlights
1600’s
(1636) Harvard College is founded with the president responsible for
advising students.
1800’s
(1841) Kenyon College introduces the (1876) John Hopkins University
first known formal system of advising establishes a faculty advising system
Early 1900’s
(1906) Universities begin using (1920) Duties begin to be split among
advisor systems to supervise selection entities on campus and away from
of courses faculty

10. Mid 1900’s
(1930s) “Student personnel work” was (1932) University of Chicago
coined. Advising was rooted under this implements faculty departmental
term counselors
1940-1960
(1941) A call goes out to end the (1959) Faculty advisors still recognized
perpetual tension between faculty and as primary academic advisor for
professional advisors students
1961-1972
(1972) Carnegie Commission on Higher
(1961) Terms “advising” & “counseling”
Ed recommends an enhanced emphasis
differentiated
on advising

11. 1972
Crookston & O’Banion establish student development theories in advising, in
separate, independent articles
1976
First statewide academic advising conference held in California
Late 1970’s
(1977) First national academic (1979) NACADA established with the
advising conference held in Vermont purpose of professionalization

12. 1981
First NACADA Journal published
1999
The Mentor: An Academic Advising Journal, first published
2000’s
(2003) Kansas State offers Graduate (2008) Kansas State offers M.S. in
Certificate in Academic Advising Academic Advising

13. What is a profession?
Sole
jurisdiction
Education
Self regulation Profession w/theoretical
background
Field is a
public service

14. What is a profession?
Sole
jurisdiction
Education
Self regulation Profession w/theoretical
background
Field is a
public service

15. Tertiary Education
• Long, tertiary education with theoretical learning
– Education is based in theory - Not step by step or
prescriptive
– Cannot just be learned on the job
– Usually PhD but could be MS/MA

16. Educational Programs
• NACADA Clearinghouse currently lists 29 institutions
with graduate programs that mention academic
advising in their profile.
• Certificate
– Kansas State University (2003)
– Sam Houston State University (2008)
– Eastern Michigan University (2010)
• Graduate Degree
– Kansas State University (2008)
THAT’S ABOUT IT…

17. Why is that all?
• Need research to offer a degree.
• Need a theory of advising to guide research,
education, and practice
McGillin (2000) states in her chapter in
Academic Advising: A Comprehensive
Handbook, “We must first clarify what
advising is and is not by generating a theory of
academic advising.”

18. Do you think the Advising Occupation
warrants a long-tertiary education?
1. Yes
2. No

19. What is a profession?
Sole
jurisdiction
Education
Self regulation Profession w/theoretical
background
Field is a
public service

20. Self Regulation
• Create a Professional organization that advocates
for profession and provides professional guidelines
or standards
• No managers, other colleagues monitor
• Determine the scope of practice and
responsibilities
• Other Advisors enforce standards and practices –
remove professional title when necessary

21. Are you aware of NACADA or CAS'
standards?
1. Yes
2. No
3. Not sure

22. Do we currently self-regulate?
NACADA
“The NATIONAL ACADEMIC ADVISING ASSOCIATION (NACADA),
promotes and supports quality academic advising in
institutions of higher education to enhance the educational
development of students. NACADA provides a forum for
discussion, debate, and the exchange of ideas pertaining to
academic advising through numerous activities and
publications.”
~Retrieved electronically May 12, 2011 from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/AboutNACADA/index.htm

23. CAS
“The Mission of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher
Education (CAS) is to promote the improvement of programs and
services to enhance the quality of student learning and development.
CAS is a consortium of professional associations who work
collaboratively to develop and promulgate standards and guidelines and
to encourage self-assessment.”
“The primary purpose of Academic Advising Programs (AAP) is to assist
students in the development of meaningful educational plans.”
Retrieved electronically April 18, 2011 from http://www.cas.edu/getpdf.cfm?PDF=E864D2C4-D655-8F74-2E647CDECD29B7D0.

24. Scope of practice: Common Advisor
Responsibilities registration materials
Prepare
Evaluate transfer credit
Monitor degree audits
1/3 of
programs
Coordinate orientation programs
Train advisors campus-wide
1/2 of Develop advising handbooks
programs
Participate in academic policy
committees
All
programs General education guidance
Liaison to academic
0 50 100 departments/schools
Maintaining academic records

25. Advisor roles (2000): Advising at the
Millennium
• Results reported from a survey to NACADA members
• Generalizability is limited.
• Survey Demographics (n=2,597)
 76% Female
 61% advising 1-10 years
 62% master’s degrees
 89% FT advising appointment
 40% from public research institution

26. Reported areas of advising responsibilities (by
institution type)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30 public
20 private
10 2 year
0
total

27. Circled responsibilities are most consistent with
graduate level education?
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30 public
20 private
10
0 2 year
total

28. What is a profession?
Sole
jurisdiction
Education
Self regulation Profession w/theoretical
background
Field is a
public service

29. Public Service
• The service is needed by individuals
• The client is vulnerable, an expert is needed
and great trust is placed on individuals
• Moral and professional obligation to client
regardless of time, pay, preference, or other
“9-5 norms”.

30. Vulnerable Population?
• Only 30% of the US population will earn a bachelor
degree or higher.
– 40% of the population does not even attempt college
– For the 60% that attend college, only ½ will earn a bachelor
degree or higher.
• Education is a costly, life-changing event:
– $8,244 per year, public four-year colleges
– $14,092 more per year with a Bachelor’s Degree than w/o
– $16,952 Associate Degree and more than a person with
“some college, no degree”
– 42% less likely to be unemployed with a Bachelor’s Degree
than those with “some college, no degree.”
– The more educated the longer the life-span

31. Academic Advising as a Necessary Public Service
1980
Empirical link between student satisfaction with academic advising & retention
(1st National Survey of “What Works in Student Retention”)
2007-2009
(2009) Students who experienced congruence between
(2007) Academic Advising does not negatively affect
their preferred style and their advisors’ style were more
underprepared students’ chance of success, as was
likely to be and feel integrated into the campus
previously theorized in the “cooling out” phenomenon
environment.
2010
Since the 1980 survey, over 50% of colleges have improved or developed academic advising programs to increase
retention
(4th national survey)

32. What is a profession?
Sole
jurisdiction
Education
Self regulation Profession w/theoretical
background
Field is a
public service

33. Sole Jurisdiction
– Legally recognized sole jurisdiction over profession
• No one else creates the rules, laws, or standards that
govern the profession
• No one else can practice as an advisor
• Often requiring licensure or additional
certifications

34. Who else practices as an advisor?
1. Students
2. Faculty
3. Any one available (AA, Chair, etc.)
4. Other offices
1. No one (you)
2. The person before you
3. Chairs
4. Students
5. The institution

35. Impact on advising?
Sole
Masters Degree or Higher
Only Credentialed Advisors jurisdiction (in the field) - cannot
be learned on the job
Increased Pay Autonomy
Loss of “9
to 5
norms” Education
Self regulation Profession w/theoretical
background
Recognition and Respect
National standards
Increased
created by other Field is a
public service responsibility
advising professionals
and culpability

36. Get your clickers
ready….!

37. I _____ that advisors should be involved with these types of these
activities:
~general education guidance
~new student orientation
~develop advising handbooks
~evaluate transfer credit
~monitor degree audits
~liaison to academic departments/schools
1. Strongly Agree
2. Agree
3. Disagree
4. Strongly Disagree

38. I _____ that advisors should be involved with these types of
activities:
~research & publications
~curriculum: assessment & development
~service (academic committees, national committees)
~accreditation
~student mentoring
1. Strongly Agree
2. Agree
3. Depends
4. Disagree
5. Strongly Disagree

39. If the occupation of advising required advisors to conduct
research and assessment, publish scholarly articles,
participate in curriculum development and accreditation,
complete service activities (serve on academic committees,
volunteer time), what should be the minimum educational
requirement for an academic advisor?
1. Certification
2. Bachelor’s
3. Master’s
4. Doctorate
5. Licensure w/ Degree

40. Advisors provide a necessary public service to a
vulnerable population who relies heavily on the
advising expert?
1. Strongly Agree
2. Agree
3. Disagree
4. Strongly Disagree

41. The occupation of advising (the duties,
norms, and skills) should:
1. Be relatively consistent
nationally
2. Be determined within a
State
3. Be local to each
institution

42. Are you willing to forgo 9-5 norms (guaranteed
hours, schedules, sleep) to become a profession?
1. Yes
2. No
3. Maybe

43. Last Two
Questions

44. Is Academic Advising a Profession?
1. Yes
2. No

45. Should Academic Advising become a
profession?
1. Yes
2. No
3. No, but career
opportunities need to
be provided

46. THANK YOU!
• Anna Adams – anna.adams@utah.edu
• Jason Barkemeyer – jason.barkemeyer@utah.edu
• Josh Larson – joshua.larson@health.utah.edu
• Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski – saiken@uc.utah.edu

47. References
Analytic Quality Glossary. www.qualityresearchinternational.com/glossary/profession/htm.
Bahr, P.R. (2007). Cooling Out in the Community College: What is the effect of Academic Advising
on Students’ Chance of Success?
Beal, RE. & Noel, L. (1980). What Works in Student Retention: The Report on American College
Testing Program and National Center for Higher Education Management Systems.
Boston Globe: http://www.boston.com/news/health/blog/2008/03/life_expectancy.html
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey:
http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm
College Board: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/add-it-up/4494.html
Cook, Sandra. Important Events in the Development of Academic Advising in the United States.
NACADA Journal. Vol 29 (2). Fall 2009. pp. 18-26.

48. Crookston, B.B. A Developmental View of Academic Advising As Teaching. Journal of College
Student Personnel. Vol 13, January 13, pp. 395-415.
Evetts, Julia. The Sociological Analysis of Professionalism, Occupational Change in the Modern
World. International Sociology. Vol 18(2), June, 2003. pp. 395-415.
Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget. Standard Occupational
Classification Manual: What is a Profession?, pp. xxviii and 51.
Gordon V. & Habley, W. Academic Advising: A Comprehensive Handbook. 2000.
Habley, W., Valiga, M., McClanahan, R. & Burkum, K. (2010). What Works in Student Retention.
Fourth National Survey. Public Four-Year Colleges and Universities Report. Retrieved
electronically from: http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED515220.pdf.

49. References continued
Hale, M., Graham, D., Johnson, D. & Donald, M. (2009). Are Students More Satisfied with
Academic Advising When There is Congruence between Current and Preferred Advising Styles.
College Student Journal, v43, n2, pp 313-324.
Kolb, Robert W., Editor. Encyclopedia of Business Ethics and Society, 4th Ed., Pgs. 1694-1696
Klass, Alan A., M.D., What is a Profession? Canadian M. A. J., Sept. 16, 1961, vol. 85, pp. 698 –
701.
Lumina Foundation: http://www.luminafoundation.org/publications/A_stronger_nation.pdf
McGillin, V. A. (2000). Current issues in advising research. In V. N. Gordon & W. R. Habley (Eds.),
Academic advising: A comprehensive handbook: San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

50. References continued
O*Net Online Help. www.onetonline.org/help/online/zones,
www.onetonline.org/help/online/scales.
O’Banion, Terry. An Academic Advising Model. Junior College Journal. Vol 42, 1972. pp. 62, 64, &
66-69.
Shaffer, Leigh S. et al. (2010) The professionalization of Academic Advising: Where are we in
2010? NACADA Journal, Volume 30(1), pp. 66-77.
Tuttle, Kathryn Nemeth. Academic Advising. New Directions For Higher Education, no. 111, Fall
2000. pp. 15-24
Wilensky, Harold L. The Professionalization of Everyone. The American Journal of Sociology,
Volume LXX, Number 2, September, 1964. p. 137-158.