Recruiting , Training, and Retaining
Advisors
Stacy L. Jones, Ed. D.The University of Alabama
RECRUITINGIdentify Faculty or Staff:o Student Recommendationo Current Advisor Recommendationso Campus Media Outletso Contact Office that Registers/Recognize
Student Organizations for Recommendationso Contact College or Department related to
Specific Discipline or Focus of Honorary
RECRUITINGHighlight the Value of Service:oExtrinsic RewardsoPublic recognitionoNetworking opportunitiesoProfessional developmentoTenureoOthers?
RECRUITINGIndentifying Rewards:oIntrinsic RewardsoOrganization’s successoIndividual student successoPersonal growth and fulfillmentoOthers?
TRAININGDefine role of advisor:o Mentor - serve as resource, sounding boardo Team Builder – turn students with individual
goals and expectations into a teamo Conflict Mediator – remind students of
common goals and what is in the best interest of the organization
o Reflective Agent – help students identify their strengths and weaknesses
o Educator – model behavior, guide students in reflection, and answer questions
TRAININGo Motivator – encourage and recognize
accomplishments.o Policy Interpreter – guide students through
policies, procedures, and rules.
TRAINING
Clearly Define Role:o Use job description that you created for
recruitingo Help advisor identify skills or knowledge
that they have that they can use in these roles
o Encourage the advisor to make the role their own
TRAININGDefine Policies and Procedures:o National organization’s policies and
procedureso Institutional policies and procedureso Legal concerns
TRAININGAdvisior Training using Case Studieso Directions: You can use the following
progressive case study with groups of advisors. o Distribute the initial case to the
participants and allow them time to complete the first two questions.
o When the questions are completed, take ten to fifteen minutes to discuss participants’ answers.
o and so on…
RETAININGGRAPE Theory of Motivationo Growth – advisors will experience growth
through opportunities for personal development.
o Recognition – advisors may be recognized in a variety of ways such as personalized emails, letters to their supervisors, formal recognition ceremony, etc.
RETAININGo Achievement – advisor could experience
achievement through assisting students with goal setting, opportunities to scholarly activities provided by your organization.
o Participation – advisors will play a integral part in evaluating the effectiveness of the organization both internally and externally. They will also benefit from ongoing training opportunities.
RETAININGo Enjoyment – advisors will enjoy being a part
of an organization that enhances their life and that rewards them both intrinsically and extrinsically.
REFERENCESACPA Commission for Student Involvement. Advisor
Manual.Dunkel, N. W., & Schuh, J. H. (1998). Advising student
groups and organizations. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publisher.
Pearson, F., & Bownan, R.L. (2000) The faculty role: Implications for collaboration with student affairs. College Student Affairs Journal: Spring 2000: 18.2, 29-40.
CONTACTStacy L. Jones, Ed. D.
Director of Student DevelopmentOffice of the Dean of Students
The University of [email protected]
(205) 348-DEAN
