Academic advisors play a key role in supporting students to ensure they have a successful college experience. Training and professional development prepare advisors to provide the highest level of expertise and is the primary reason that the Master Advisor Program was developed.

Once advisors complete the initial intensive workshop, they gain a designation of Master Advisor. This distinction makes them eligible for the annual Outstanding Academic Advising Award.

• Basic and advanced advising strategies and techniques
• Ethical issues related to advising
• Technologies and resources used in advising
• Academic policies and procedures
• Changes to curriculum that impact advisors

• Email advisees or selected groups regarding registration, advising appointments, other deadlines
• Use the department’s website for academic advising information or utilize the university’s advising website
• Schedule regular meetings once a semester, at minimum, informing your advisees how to schedule an appointment (i.e. schedule by email, phone, or posted sign-up sheet, etc.)
• Follow up with advisees who are having academic difficulties

• Develop rapport with advisees: greet them by name, inquire as to how the semester is going, etc.
• Educate students about advisor and advisee roles and responsibilities
• Maintain up-to-date advising notes
• Address the needs of diverse students (e.g., nontraditional, international)
• Respond to emails and return phone calls within two business days
• Communicate absences by using out of office messages with alternate contact when you will be unable to respond within 2 business days
• Be cognizant of issues surrounding students from diverse populations (non-traditional, international, etc.)

• Know the major, general education, and graduation requirements and communicate them to advisees
• Know department and university deadlines
• Communicate pertinent information to advisees or selected groups
• Know and be able to refer students to appropriate university resources as appropriate to students’ needs
• Know about and be able to refer students to appropriate websites for specialized information
• Know about and be able to recommend to the students appropriate organizations for their professional development (e.g., departmental student professional organizations, etc.)

• Know how to use the Southeast Missouri State’s Transfer Equivalencies System (TES) on the Registrar’s website
• Be willing to work with prospective freshmen and transfer students

• Encourage the development of advisees’ decision-making skills
• Use an academic advising syllabus
• Show students how to look up courses and enroll via the student portal
• Coach students on appropriate ways to advocate for themselves
• Teach students to use Degree Works by modeling its use during advising sessions

• Model and promote appreciation for diversity within the University
• Promote study abroad opportunities
• Promote professional engagement through involvement in internships, cooperative learning, and other departmental activities
• Email advisees regularly about relevant Common Hour events, lectures, and activities

• Maintain posted office hours. If these hours are to be used for advising appointments, consider setting up office hours in SupportNET to enable student’s online appointment scheduling
• Keep advising appointments
• Keep up to date on changing major, General Education, and General Education requirements (and old University Studies program)
• Prepare for advising appointments and document advising sessions utilizing SupportNET Advising Notes 
• Maintain a positive attitude regarding department and University colleagues and programs
• Maintain confidentiality
• When conflicts arise between advisee and advisor, allow either party to request a change in advisor

• Attain Master Advisor status
• Maintain Master Advisor status by attending topical workshops, forums, and/or refresher training related to academic advisement
• Take advantage of opportunities for professional growth through the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) and the Missouri Academic Advising Association (MACADA)
• Keep up to date on current advising techniques and strategies
• Attend appropriate discipline-specific professional development opportunities related to student advising, retention, and success