Faculty & Staff Advising Resources

Advising is Teaching

Our mission is to facilitate student learning, development, and success through high-quality advising. 

Good quality academic advising is educational and is part of helping the student attain UMD's 6 broad learning goals and 9 campus level student learning outcomes. 

UMD Campus-Level Student Learning Goals and Outcomes

Toward this end, student learning outcomes for academic advising at UMD have been written. To see how the UMD Advising Student Learning Outcomes map to the UMD goals and outcomes, and to see examples of advisor practices that contribute to these learning outcomes, click here:

UMD Advising Learning Outcomes, Curriculum, & Pedagogy

UMD Advising Student Learning Outcomes

• Students competently seek out relevant and credible information through multiple resources

• Students employ complex thinking skills in managing their lives

• Students reflect on and make meaning of their college experiences toward developing self-authorship

• Students are aware of campus and community opportunities and understand how these contribute to their educational and life goals

• Students clarify their own goals and plan & implement strategies to accomplish them

Academic Advising in the New Global Century

"When viewed as an educational process and done well, academic advising plays a critical role in connecting students with learning opportunities to foster and support their engagement, success, and the attainment of key learning outcomes.  Viewing  academic advising as an educational process moves it from a paradigm of teaching that focuses on information or inputs to a paradigm of learning that focuses on outcomes for student learning.  In this way, academic advising supports key institutional conditions that have been identified with promoting student success" (Campbell and Nutt, 2008). 
To see the full article, use the link in the left hand column under articles.

Advisor's Role

• Invite advisees to meet with you each semester 
• Help students clarify their educational values and goals
• Engage student's in discussion about plans for courses and degree completion
• Guide students toward internships, UROP, and opportunities for engagement in the campus community (clubs, organizations, volunteering, etc.) and discuss the connection to their educational and life goals
• Know campus resources that support academic and personal success
• Follow the FERPA law regarding educational records
• Help students reflect upon and make meaning of their college experiences
• Be familiar with the use of UMD advising tools (APAS Reports, Graduation Planner, Adviser Connect)
• Challenge students to think critically, reflectively, and creatively
• Help students determine credible sources of information when choosing criteria and making decisions

Advisee's Role

• Responsible for scheduling, preparing for, and keeping advising appointments
• Meet with their Academic Advisor at least once a semester 
• Ask questions
• Bring a printed copy of their APAS report to advisor meetings or bring laptop
• Know the requirements of the liberal education program
• Know the requirements of their degree program
• Prepare a plan for degree completion using Graduation Planner