Effective advising for postsecondary students: a practice guide for educators

Most postsecondary institutions have historically used advisors to help students select and register for courses, but postsecondary institutions are increasingly asking advisors to play an instrumental role in helping students progress through college. This expanded advising role often involves ensuring students are connected to both academic supports and non-academic supports that enable students to overcome barriers to persistence and completion. In this expanded role, advisors help students formulate personal, academic, and career goals; navigate college requirements and resources; develop study skills; make sound decisions about financing college; balance academic and non-academic obligations such as work or childcare; and overcome other social, emotional, or academic barriers they might face.

This practice guide draws upon studies of effective postsecondary student advising systems and practices to provide four evidence-based recommendations for designing and delivering comprehensive, integrated advising to support students' educational success: (1) Intentionally design and deliver comprehensive, integrated advising that incorporates academic and non-academic supports to empower students to reach their educational goals; (2) Transform advising to focus on the development of sustained, personalized relationships with individual students throughout their college career; (3) Use mentoring and coaching to enhance comprehensive, integrated advising in ways that support students' achievement and progression; and (4) Embed positive incentives in intentionally designed advising structures to encourage student participation and continued engagement.

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