Tips for Advising
Record KeepingÂ
You should keep accurate records on the content of your meetings with your advisees. You may do this on a piece of paper in a hard copy advising folder, or you can keep these electronically on your computer (either in a database program such as FileMaker Pro or Access, or just using a word processing file for each advisee). A useful guide for these records is:
- Record the date the advisee came to see you.
- Note any holds or alerts and what your advisee's plan was (based on your meeting) to take care of these. If you made any changes, such as exception to APAS, signed an orange form to substitute grade change, etc.
- Summarize key points of your meeting.
- Have a follow-up discussion based on key points you raised with the advisee at your last meeting. (Example: If GPA was low, what steps did s/he take to correct this, and how are classes going this semester?)
At the Start of the SemesterÂ
Send an email to your advisee alias, welcoming your advisees back for the semester, and reminding them of upcoming deadlines:
- Student teaching applications due end of week four. Candidates will need to have you review and sign their application, so warn them of this and remind them to schedule time in advance to meet with you prior to week four.
- Applications to program are due and of week six. Again, candidates will need to have you review and sign their application, so warn them of this and remind them to schedule time in advance to meet with you prior to week six.
In the Middle of the SemesterÂ
Email your advisee alias and warn students of upcoming advising and registration weeks. Remind them of your office hours and encourage them to come and see you to go over their plans for the upcoming semester.
Setting Up Advising MeetingsÂ
Post your office hours on your door. (You should have at least three hours of face-to-face, in-your-office office hours each week). Ideally, have a sign-up sheet each week, so candidates can be sure to secure a time to meet with you. Have them leave a contact number in case you need to get hold of them prior to this meeting.
Planning for Advising MeetingsÂ
Review your sign-up sheet to see which advisees are scheduled to meet with you. Then, prior to their meeting:
- Open their records (hard copy, or electronically by login to their online Portfolio) and review these, to see if there is anything that you need to bring to their attention. Example: Holds, tracking information, low GPA, time to apply for admission/student teaching/graduation.
- Make a note of points you want to bring to their attention, so you can check these off during your meeting.
Reviewing Applications for Program Application and Student TeachingÂ
You must meet in person with your advisees, to go over their application and check their accuracy before you sign the forms. (Your signature on these forms indicates that you have done so). Please also review their letter of application/essay and provide feedback and suggestions.
Near the End of the SemesterÂ
Email your advisee alias to remind your advisees of the following:
- There can be no incompletes in Education licensure courses, and no grades less than C- if they plan to student teach next semester.
- If you will not be available over the break, notify them, because otherwise they will assume that you will be around and be responding to email. If you will be available, say when (what days/hours) and how they can reach you.