The blended advising model is intended to integrate academic advising into the teaching and learning mission of UNG. Teachers and advisors provide a context for learning that helps students make sense of their education as a whole and not just as a series of isolated events. Like teaching, academic advising is made up of a curriculum, (the information advisors work with), and a pedagogy (the various approaches used in advising), that support positive student learning outcomes.
Maximize Your Major sessions at new student orientations, mandatory advising, faculty mentoring, degree sequence maps, and predictive analytic technology all capitalize on the similarities between advising and teaching. In this way, the blended advising model fosters intentional interactions between advisors and students to enhance progression and retention.
Effective Teachers
Master their subject matter
Plan, organize and prepare materials for the classroom
Engage students actively in the learning process
Provide regular feedback, reinforcement and encouragement
Help students learn independently
Teach students how to evaluate information
Serve as a resource to students
Provide problem-solving tasks to students
Deliver information clearly and understandably
Exhibit good questioning skills
Exhibit positive regard, concern and respect for students
Promote a climate of learning that supports diversity
Stimulate higher level thinking
Effective Advisors
Possess accurate information about policies, resources and programs
Prepare well for advising sessions
Engage advisees in the advising process through challenges involving alternative choices and encouragement to question and explore
Provide timely feedback, reinforce learning that has taken place and applaud student successes
Encourage advisees to be self-directed learners
Help advisees evaluate their progress toward personal, educational and career goals
Provide materials to advisees and make referrals when appropriate
Provide tasks to be completed before the next advising meeting that will require the advisee to use information-gathering, decision-making and problem-solving skills
Communicate in a clear and unambiguous manner with advisees
Ask questions and initiate discussions
Provide a caring, personal relationship by exhibiting a positive attitude toward students, their goals and their ability to learn
Respect diverse points of view by demonstrating sensitively to differences in culture and gender
Help student learn concepts, test validity, and confront attitudes and beliefs