This document summarizes an educational advising and customer service session from the 2009 NACADA National Convention. The session aimed to critically examine the differences and similarities between customer service and developmental advising. It included discussions on communication methods, working boundaries, policies and procedures, and specific case studies. Participants would learn how to balance student needs with advisor goals and discuss implications for advising practices, including how to handle difficult situations and prioritize student and advisor safety.

1. Educational Advising ANDCustomer Service2009 NACADA National ConventionFriday, October 10, 2009, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Tammy LoudVice President of Student ServicesDavenport University Joshua BarronAssociate Director University Advising CenterTexas Tech University © 2009 Barron, Loud, ©2007 Barron, Elias

2. Session Objectives Participants will have the opportunity to: Critically examine differences and similarities in customer service and developmental advising Learn about and practice communication methods that encourage student receptivity and empower student development Examine working boundaries in their current office environments and critique their usefulness in specific case study scenarios Learn about and discuss specific policies and procedures that further student and advisor safety Network with others

3. Session Outline Introductions Expectations, Expectations Culture Club Setting the Stage Case Studies Implications for Practice

4. Expectations, Expectations! Let’s talk about it … What do you think students really want in their relationship with the advisor? What factors influence a student’s satisfaction with the advising experience? What are the top three goals of an academic advisor during an initial appointment? What are the top three goals of a student during an initial appointment?

5. Expectations, Expectations! Let’s talk about it … The academic advising staff will be civil and professional Academic Advisors will be efficient and punctual Advisors will understand and effectively communicate university/college requirements, policies, and procedures Advisors will be accessible to students and maintain accurate records Should there be more? Do they expect more?

6. Culture Club Expected vs. Appropriate Review of Customer Service in Education Responsibility of the Academy for Learning Expected vs. Needed Prescriptive Model Developmental Model Praxis Model Expected vs. Beneficial Innovation Total Quality Management

7. Setting the STage Knowing the Audience Customer Service Basics Generational Generalities @ History with Parents Coming of Age Treat Me How You’d Want to be Treated Streamlined and Efficient Timeline: Now. Implications of Parental Involvement

8. Case Studies #1: Just Do This For Me #2: Just Do This For Me Do-Over #3: I Pay Your Salary – Parent Side #4: I Pay Your Salary – Student Side #5: What Do You Mean I Am Not Going To Graduate? – How To Deliver Bad News #6: What Do You I Am Not Going To Graduate?– Threat Of Physical Violence #7: I Don’t Really Need Your Help

9. Case Studies 3 Questions for Following Up: What was the most difficult piece of your situation/case study? How did you balance the needs of the student versus your goals as advisors? How did you get there?What was the process?

10. Implications for Practice Break it Down Advance Communications Advising Appointments Accessibility/Waiting Seating Openers Issues Solutions Referrals Documentation Follow-Up

11. Implications for Practice When Things Get Sticky Uninterested Unprepared Underprepared Difficult

12. Implications for Practice A Word on Safety Staff alerts/support Emergency phone calls Back-up? Safety plan?

13. Educational AdvisingANDCustomer Service Session Appendix

14. Appendix: References(1 of 2) Allen, Mike, Witt, Paul L. & Wheeless, Lawrence R. (2006). The Role of Teacher Immediacy as a Motivational Factor in Student Learning: Using Meta-Analysis to Test a Causal Model. Communication Education, 55 (1), 0363-4523. Retrieved September 21, 2007, from http://www.informaworld.com/10.1080/03634520500343368 Continuous Quality Improvement in Higher Education, by Robert V. Hogg; Mary C. HoggInternational Statistical Review / Revue Internationale de Statistique © 1995 International Statistical Institute (ISI). Retrieved online September 20, 2007, from http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0306-7734%28199504%2963%3A1%3C35%3ACQIIHE%3E2.0.CO%3B2-7 Evans, N.J, Forney, D.S. & Guido-DiBrito, F. (1998). Student development in college: Theory, practice, and research. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers. Howe, N. & Strauss, W. (2000). Millennials rising: The next great generation. New York : Vintage Books. http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/cda/doc/content/us_consulting_millennialfactsheet_080606.pdf http://www.psu.edu/dus/mentor/foru0211.htm Keeling, S. (2003). Advising the millennial generation. NACADA Journal, 23 (1&2), 30-36. Keppler, K., Mullendore, R. H., & Carey, A. (2005). Partnering with the parents of today’s college students . Washington , DC : NASPA. Montano, C., Hunt, M., Boudreaux, L. “Improving the quality of student advising in higher education – A case study.” Total Quality Management & Business Excellence; Dec2005, Vol. 16 Issue 10, p1103-1125. Retrieved on September 20, 2007, from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,cookie,url,uid&db=bth&AN=19019698&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live

15. Appendix: References(2 of 2) Mottarella, K., Fritzsche, B., & Cerabino, K. (2004). “What do Students Want in Advising? A Policy Capturing Study.” NACADA Journal v. 24, no. 49 (48-61). Retrieved online September 20, 2007, from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Clearinghouse/Research_Related/blue.pdf Raisman, N. (2002). Embrace the oxymoron: Customer service in higher education. Publisher: Year. Reynolds, M. (2004). “Faculty Advising in a Learner-Center Environment: A Small College Perspective.” Academic Advising Today. Volume 27, Number 2. NACADA. Retrieved online September 20, 2007, from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/AAT/NW27_2.htm Rozell, E., Pettijohn, C., Parker, R. S. (2004). “Customer-Oriented Selling: Exploring the Roles of Emotional Intelligence and Organizational Commitment.” Psychology & Marketing, Jun2004, Vol. 21 Issue 6, p405-424. Shields, Peggy. (1995). “Service Quality And Academic Advising: Practicing What We Preach.” Retrieved online September 20, 2007, from http://www.sbaer.uca.edu/research/swma/1995/pdf/22.pdf Smith, Joshua. (2002). “First-Year Student Perceptions of Academic Advisement: A Qualitative Study and Reality Check” NACADA Journal v. 22, no. 2 (29-49). Retrieved online September 20, 2007, from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Clearinghouse/Research_Related/red.pdf Spicuzza, Frank J. “A Customer Service Approach to Advising: Theory and Application.” NACADA Journal 12 (2): 49-58. Strauss, W., & Howe, N. (1991). Generations: The history of America’s future, 1584 to 2069. New York: Quill/William/Morrow. Upcraft, M.L., Gardner, J.N., & Barefoot, B.O. (2005). ”Challenging & supporting the first-year student: A handbook for improving the first year of college.” San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

16. Appendix: Session Abstract Exhaustion happens. The wear and tear of investing in students and the struggles of difficult interactions can culminate in silent resignation. Advisors are inclined to abandon principled protocols in favor of survival; even our advising veterans resort to prescriptive solutions and avoid expending energy in student guidance and constructive challenge. Considering student and parent expectations alongside advisor safety and sanity, our interactive discussion will deconstruct the typical advising session. We will explore the balance and tension between learning-centered advising and quality customer service en route to policies and practices that simultaneously achieve institutional goals and benefit students. Goal: free advisors for what they do best ... engaging with and investing in student success.

17. Appendix: Session Description (1 of 3) Brief Outline/Description It is a controversial topic in higher education, and we reject that the two are mutually exclusive. Whether poor customer service comes from exhaustion or indifference, its ultimate end is a failure to provide the ideal environment for real student learning. If academic advising in higher education is to be about these things, then customer service is not a necessary evil; it may even be a necessary good.

18. Appendix: Session Description (2 of 3) For example, consider the realities of our advisors' responsibilities. Especially when burdened by many relationships, confrontation and conflict are inevitable in every quality relationship. As the field of academic advising further values and invests in substantive and meaningful engagement with students, difficult conversations are bound to happen.Administrators are doubly responsible for supporting theirteam members and the students they serve. Advisors charged with building bridges to facilitate student persistence are also urged to encourage and exhort students to achieve their potential. Unfortunately for both groups, these sometimes conflicting responsibilities often result in confusion, frustration, and error.

19. Appendix: Session Description (3of 3) This presentation will consider the ethical and legal responsibilities of advisors, and balance the pressures of achieving learning outcomes in an environment where many students are resistant to learning. The presentation will briefly consider the important component of parental over/under-involvement, and will explore current literature and practice in management strategies and techniques. An interactive Q&A session will highlight our time together through a facilitated participant discussion of personal insights, valuable resources, and creative ideas. Session Web Site - www.advising.ttu.edu/nacada2009