Advising Perspectives Program

Old Main scenic photo

By facilitating meaningful dialogue and exchange, the Advising Perspectives Program offers staff in 精品SM在线影片鈥檚 advising community a unique opportunity to engage directly with campus leadership.  

Professional Growth and Development 

Advising Perspectives is an in-depth engagement program for advising staff from all levels of the organization. Participants will gain a cross-campus network of professional peers and deeper knowledge of 精品SM在线影片 operations. This experience will enhance their perspective on their daily work and on advising as a profession. 

The Office of Undergraduate Education sponsors the program. 

Through a series of workshops and networking events, participants gain insights into: 

 

The strategic direction of our campus.

 

Organizational structures of advising at 精品SM在线影片. 

 

Career ladder mentoring that supports their professional growth.   

Instructors

Suzanne Classen, Assistant Dean for Students, Continuing Education

Suzanne Classen serves as the Assistant Dean for Students in the Division of Continuing Education (CE) at 精品SM在线影片. Prior to moving into leadership roles, she was an academic advisor for ten years in CE, working with students from all schools and colleges, non-degree, online, and returning adult students. In addition to overseeing the Student Services team at CE, which comprises academic, career, and pre-health advisors and academic coaches, Suzanne teaches the EDUC 5020, College Academic Advising course through 精品SM在线影片鈥檚 MA in Higher Education (MAHE) program. 

Shelly Bacon, Senior Associate Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education

Shelly Bacon serves as the senior associate vice provost in the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE). She began her 精品SM在线影片 career in 2000 as a professional academic advisor. Before moving to OUE in 2016, she served as Assistant Dean in the College of Arts & Sciences, where she oversaw advising and student support services. Holding the most senior advising-related position on campus, Shelly sponsors the 精品SM在线影片 Advising Leadership Council and oversees a campuswide framework for undergraduate advising, which encompasses broadly shared practices and priorities. She created and taught the inaugural two semesters of EDUC 5020, College Academic Advising, for 精品SM在线影片鈥檚 MA in Higher Education (MAHE) program. 

Program Details

All members of the advising community are welcome to join the Advising Perspectives Program, regardless of role or experience level.

Participants will be in cohorts of 15-25 people with in-person modality. 

The program is offered once a year in the spring semester.

There will be light reading outside of sessions but no homework. 

  • The program begins during the last week of January and ends in the second week of March. 

  • Participants can expect to meet for 1.5 hours weekly for five weeks, with two longer half-days for the program launch and conclusion. 

Dates and Topics

 
Jan. 30 | 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Program launch, introductions and team building

 
Feb. 6 | 9-10:30 a.m.
University structures

 
Feb. 12 | 4-5:30 p.m.
Private networking reception at the Student Success Conference

 
Feb. 13 | 9-10:30 a.m.
Budget models

 
Feb. 20 | 9-10:30 a.m.
Campus leadership panel

 
Feb. 27 | 9-10:30 a.m.
Introduction of case studies  

 
March 6 | 9-10:30 a.m.
Case study discussion鈥攚here is the profession going from here? 

 
March 13 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Career mentorship鈥攚here do you go from here?

The deadline to apply for the spring 2025 cohort was Dec. 2. The next application cycle will open in fall 2025.

Questions? Reach out to Shelly Bacon or Suzanne Classen.