- Office of the Provost
- Excellence in Academic Advising (EAA)
Office of the Provost
Wilson Hall, Room 205
371 Wilson Boulevard
Rochester,
MI
48309-4486
(location map)
(248) 370-2190

Excellence in Academic Advising (EAA)
Excellence in Academic Advising (EAA)
NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising has joined with the Gardner Institute to advance student learning, success, persistence, retention, and degree completion through a comprehensive, standards-based strategic planning process to promote excellence in academic advising.
Oakland University was selected as one of 12 institutions in the Urban Ecosystems Cohort of the Excellence in Academic Advising funded by The Kresge Foundation.
Highlights from the EAA launch are available here. If you are unable to view the Google doc, please email provost@oakland.edu and we will email the document to you.
Steering Committee
Anne Hitt*, Associate Provost
Shannon Esselink*, Director of Advising, College of Arts and Sciences
Sara Webb*, Senior Director of First Year Success
Song Yan*, Director, Office of Institutional Research and Assessment
Joe Shively, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Carrie Buch, Associate Dean, School of Nursing
Chris Kobus, Director of Outreach and Recruitment and Associate Professor, School of Engineering and Computer Science
Amanda Silvestri, OU student
Beth Talbert, Special Instructor & Senior Adviser for Communication
Chair, Institutional Commitment committee
Roberta Rea, Director of Advising, School of Education and Human Services
Chair, Learning committee
Willie Tuggle, Learning & Organizational Development Manager, University Human Resources
Chair, Adviser Selection and Development committee
Amy Tully, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences and Director, School of Music, Theatre and Dance
Chair, Improvement of the Scholarship of Advising committee
Sarah Jahimiak, Assistant Director for Advising, Bachelor of Integrative Studies
Co-Chair, Improvement of the Scholarship of Advising committee
Tricia Westergaard, Registrar
Chair, Collaboration and Communication committee
Carmen Etienne, Director of Advising, School of Engineering and Computer Science
Chair, Organization committee
Jason Pennington, Director of Advising, School of Nursing
Chair, Student Purpose and Pathways committee
Michelle Southward, Director of Academic Advising and Student Services, School of Health Sciences
Chair, Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity committee
Debbie Lengyel, Director of Advising Services, School of Business Administration
Chair, Technology Enabled Advising committee
*Also serve as Institutional Liaisons
Aspirational standards for colleges and universities to evaluate and improve academic advising, referred to as the “Conditions of Excellence in Academic Advising, will serve as the foundation of the nine committees for this process.
Institutions recognize that academic advising is a shared responsibility integral to the students’ educational experience and the institution’s teaching and learning mission. This commitment begins with an institutional academic advising mission statement that is informed by the values and beliefs of the institution. Both widely understood and articulated in institutional documents, this statement informs practice as well as the administration, organization, delivery, and assessment of academic advising.
Chair: Beth Talbert, Special Instructor and Senior Adviser for CommunicationCarmen Etienne , Director of Advising, School of Engineering and Computer Science
Sarah Jahimiak , Assistant Director for Advising, Bachelor of Integrative Studies
Debbie Lengyel, Director of Advising Services, School of Business Administration
Joe Shively , Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Amanda Silvestri, OU student
Michelle Southward , Director of Academic Advising and Student Services, School of Health Sciences
Beth Talbert , Special Instructor and Senior Adviser for Communication
Willie Tuggle , Learning and Organizational Development Manager, University Human Resources
Amy Tully , Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences and Director, School of Music, Theatre and Dance
Tricia Westergaard , Registrar
Song Yan, Director, Office of Institutional Research and Assessment
Institutions assure that academic advisors are knowledgeable about the institution’s expected learning outcomes, curriculum, pedagogy, and the student learning process. Excellent advising programs also establish curriculum, pedagogy, and student learning and developmental outcomes for academic advising throughout a student’s educational experience. Academic advising outcomes are aligned with the institution’s curriculum, academic advising mission, and goals. These outcomes are systematically assessed and refinements are made based upon documented assessment results.
Chair: Roberta Rea, Director of Advising, School of Education and Human ServicesInstitutions employ effective selection practices, professional development, and appropriate recognition and rewards for all advisors and advising administrators. Institutions and/or units establish clear expectations and requirements for advisors as well as systems for formative and summative feedback to advisors. Establishing position/role requirements for primary role advisors and processes for selecting, hiring, salary scales, and retaining quality academic advisors provide consistency for students and supports program sustainability. Ongoing professional development programs ensure that those in the academic advising community are current in advising skills and knowledge and that advising practice reflects the core values and competencies for excellent academic advising.
Chair: Willie Tuggle, Learning & Organizational Development Manager, University Human ResourcesInstitutions committed to systematic assessment and evaluation recognize the complexity of the educational process and its theoretical underpinnings. They operate under the principles of ongoing, evidence-based plans for assessment of both advisors and advising programs. Members of the academic advising community are both critical consumers of, and contributors to, the scholarly literature, including the effects that advising can have on students and the role of advising in higher education.
Chair: Amy Tully, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences and Director, School of Music, Theatre and DanceEffective academic advising requires coordination and collaborative partnerships among all units across campus. These partnerships foster ongoing communication and promote resource sharing. A collaboratively developed strategic communication plan, inclusive of all institutional stakeholders, involves frequent and intentional exchanges of information and ideas, is routinely reviewed and updated, and advances a shared aspirational vision for academic advising across all units.
Chair: Tricia Westergaard, RegistrarExcellent advising programs are intentionally organized across the institution to meet the institutional academic mission, goals, and intended outcomes. The organization of academic advising must have structured leadership, appropriate resources, and a systematic approach to continuous assessment and improvement. The organizational structure supports the roles of all academic advisors, regardless of title.
Chair: Carmen Etienne, Director of Advising, School of Engineering and Computer ScienceEffective academic advising directs students to explore and define their own purpose, goals, and curricular pathways to achieve learning and developmental outcomes. Curricular plans must be coherent, enrich students’ programs of study, and support their educational goals, career and life aspirations. Partners and key stakeholders collaboratively and closely examine all student transitions and develop policies and practices to overcome barriers and optimize learning and success.
Chair: Jason Pennington, Director of Advising, School of NursingExcellent academic advising demonstrates a commitment to the values and culture of inclusivity and social justice. It encourages individual and institutional conversations that promote understanding, respect, and honor diverse perspectives, ideas, and identities. Academic advising policies and practices reflect a commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity.
Chair: Michelle Southward, Director of Academic Advising and Student Services, School of Health SciencesExcellent academic advising incorporates appropriate technology to complement, support, and enhance advising practice. This requires institutions to include academic advisors in the selection, delivery, and assessment of advising technologies. Institutions must provide on-going training in the use and potential applicability of dynamic tools as a means to strengthen advising practice and culture.
Chair: Debbie Lengyel, Director of Advising Services, School of Business Administration