Carol Heisserer, interim director of Academic Advising at Southeast Missouri State University, has been named director of Academic Advising at the University.Heisserer was tapped for the position after serving as assistant director of academic advising. In that role, she successfully implemented centralized academic advising on campus in 2015 with north and south advising centers, and was instrumental in the launch of the Universitys Master Advisor Program last year.The Master Advisor Program is designed to improve the quality of academic advising for Southeast students by providing faculty and professional staff advisors with appropriate training, professional development, evaluation and recognition. The training offered through the program explores basic and advanced advising strategies and techniques; ethical issues related to advising; technologies and resources used in advising; academic policies and procedures; and changes to curriculum that impact advisors.The program is creating a core of highly skilled academic advisors who provide high quality advising to undergraduate students. Upon completion of the program, participants are equipped with a variety of resources to serve as advising leaders in their home departments. The program is a step towards the Universitys goal to retain at least 80 percent of all first-time, full-time students to the second year and graduate at least 60 percent of this group in six years.In her new role as director of Academic Advising, which she began Feb. 9, Heisserer is responsible for overseeing the operation of an advising center and providing vision, leadership and comprehensive planning for the unit.Carols many years of service and dedication to students have prepared her to provide leadership in all areas of advising and student success," said Dr. Debbie Below, vice president for enrollment management and student success. "I am looking forward to working with her as she works collaboratively with faculty and the advising team to help students identify and achieve their goals.Heisserer has been serving as interim director of Academic Advising since 2017, during which she has conducted new faculty advisor training, led a team of eight academic advisors and collaborated with academic departments and various student service areas to improve the student advising experience. At Southeast, Heisserer is a member of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), chair of the Academic Advising Council, member and past chair of the Professional Advisor Team and a member of the BPI Workgroup, formerly known as the Enrollment Development Team.Heisserer joined Southeast in 1989 as an administrative assistant to the College of Liberal Arts advising coordinator. Since then, she has served as an academic advisor and coordinator of academic advising in the College of Liberal Arts, senior coordinator of academic advising and assistant director of academic advising before becoming interim director of academic advising.Heisserer also is active outside of the University, having previously served on the school board of Notre Dame Regional High School.She holds a Master of Arts in guidance and counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Education, social studies education, both from Southeast. She is a 1985 graduate of Leopold High School. A resident of Kelso, Missouri, Heisserer and her husband, Charles, are the parents of two daughters and a son.
Heisserer Named Director of Academic Advising
Continue to main contentCarol Heisserer, interim director of Academic Advising at Southeast Missouri State University, has been named director of Academic Advising at the University.Heisserer was tapped for the position after serving as assistant director of academic advising. In that role, she successfully implemented centralized academic advising on campus in 2015 with north and south advising centers, and was instrumental in the launch of the Universitys Master Advisor Program last year.The Master Advisor Program is designed to improve the quality of academic advising for Southeast students by providing faculty and professional staff advisors with appropriate training, professional development, evaluation and recognition. The training offered through the program explores basic and advanced advising strategies and techniques; ethical issues related to advising; technologies and resources used in advising; academic policies and procedures; and changes to curriculum that impact advisors.The program is creating a core of highly skilled academic advisors who provide high quality advising to undergraduate students. Upon completion of the program, participants are equipped with a variety of resources to serve as advising leaders in their home departments. The program is a step towards the Universitys goal to retain at least 80 percent of all first-time, full-time students to the second year and graduate at least 60 percent of this group in six years.In her new role as director of Academic Advising, which she began Feb. 9, Heisserer is responsible for overseeing the operation of an advising center and providing vision, leadership and comprehensive planning for the unit.Carols many years of service and dedication to students have prepared her to provide leadership in all areas of advising and student success," said Dr. Debbie Below, vice president for enrollment management and student success. "I am looking forward to working with her as she works collaboratively with faculty and the advising team to help students identify and achieve their goals.Heisserer has been serving as interim director of Academic Advising since 2017, during which she has conducted new faculty advisor training, led a team of eight academic advisors and collaborated with academic departments and various student service areas to improve the student advising experience. At Southeast, Heisserer is a member of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), chair of the Academic Advising Council, member and past chair of the Professional Advisor Team and a member of the BPI Workgroup, formerly known as the Enrollment Development Team.Heisserer joined Southeast in 1989 as an administrative assistant to the College of Liberal Arts advising coordinator. Since then, she has served as an academic advisor and coordinator of academic advising in the College of Liberal Arts, senior coordinator of academic advising and assistant director of academic advising before becoming interim director of academic advising.Heisserer also is active outside of the University, having previously served on the school board of Notre Dame Regional High School.She holds a Master of Arts in guidance and counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Education, social studies education, both from Southeast. She is a 1985 graduate of Leopold High School. A resident of Kelso, Missouri, Heisserer and her husband, Charles, are the parents of two daughters and a son.