Advising Buddies Program Connects Advisors Across Campus
The Academic Advising Professional Development Council at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville created a program that helps connect advisors from different offices, experience levels, and backgrounds across the university to learn from each other. The Advising Buddies program launched in spring 2020 and will be further developed this year.
Claire Teichman, academic advisor, leads the mentoring program that creates a more well-rounded advising experience.
“This program was developed to help advisors make connections across campus,” said Teichman. “Advising is set up in a decentralized manner, so it is easy to become isolated and only make connections within your specific school or department. Advising Buddies was created to break down barriers so that advisors could connect with colleagues from other departments and learn from one another.”
All SIUE academic advisors are invited to participate in the program. Through the program’s two cycles, 30 advisors have taken part in the program and have been paired with a “buddy.”
“I have gained valuable knowledge from other colleagues,” said Nancy Wilson, lead academic advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences, who has previously participated in the program. “I was paired with a graduate academic advisor in the School of Business. He offered a different perspective from SIUE’s standpoint. I believe this program is a door of opportunity for many advisors across this institution of higher learning. It is a pathway for us to learn on various levels both professionally and personally.”
The opportunity to connect, share tips and tricks, and ask questions through the Advising Buddies program will help deliver a more well-rounded experience for advisors, as they provide the best possible advising experience to students.
“We have so many knowledgeable advisors on campus, and we can learn a tremendous amount from each other. There is a lot of good that can come from this program,” said Teichman.
Photo: SIUE advisors (L-R) Autumn Ismail and Claire Teichman connecting through the Advising Buddies program.
