Spring Advisor Week
13th Annual Advisor Week: March 24-27, 2025!
The 13th Annual Advisor Week was March 24-27, 2005
Spring Advisor Week 2025: Schedule, Descriptions, Recordings and Materials
Check out the – Spring 2025 Advisor Week Playlist on Spotify
CONGRATULATIONS “Advisor Scavenger Hunt CHAMPIONS” – Jo Wagner, Brandi France and Laura Kaczmarczyk!!!!!
Session Details with Links to Presentation Materials and Recordings
Monday, March 24th
Session: Getting Students to Swipe Right on Your Content: Making Communication More Effective – Starfish
Presenter(s): Elaine Sheehan, Senior Strategic Leader, Student Success, EAB
Description: In this Workshop, we will discuss the challenges of communicating with today’s students. We will share industry metrics, best practices, and examples from your peers to help attendees set realistic goals and expectations for student outreach strategies. Attendees will work together to craft engaging communications that will have them connecting better with students and students hitting “like” and “subscribe” in response to their messages.
Session: DatACTION: Turning Data into Meaningful Action
Presenter(s): Partnership between Office of Research on Student Success and Office of Advising Development
Description: The Office for Research on Student Success (ORSS) and the Office for Advising Development and Student Systems (ADSS) will come together to discuss the availability of data in iAdvise and its potential to drive data-informed advising. This session will explore how leveraging accessible data can enhance decision processes, improve advising strategies, and foster more effective student outcomes. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the practical applications of data in advising and how to use it to make informed, strategic choices.
Tuesday, March 25th
Session: Keep Calm and Carry On
Presenter(s): Kiely Fletcher, Vice Provost Enrollment Management
Tanya Cabrera, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Inclusion
Description: In this session, a panel will discuss how federal mandates and policy changes can feel overwhelming, especially for those working directly with students and must adapt quickly to new regulations. This session is designed to help staff manage the stress and uncertainty that come with these shifts. Leadership will share insights on how they approach large-scale policy decisions, offering perspective on why changes happen and how the institution navigates them. We will focus on practical strategies for staying calm, processing big changes without panic, and maintaining a student-centered approach.
Session: Common Reading: Help Students Overcome Cognitive Overload
Presenter(s): PAVE Continuing Education Working Group
Description: Once a participant RSVPs for this session, you will receive a quick-read, two-page article, entitled: “Teaching Young Students How to Overcome Cognitive Overload.” Using the article as a guide, PAVE members of the Continuing Education working group will lead a discussion about the article and how it can be applied to our UIC advising practice.
Session: Get Messy with NSSE: Digging into Dashboards
Presenter(s): Dr. Nick Ardinger, Office for Advising Development and Student Systems
Description: This interactive discussion will give advisors and coaches an opportunity to see responses to the latest administration of the NSSE (which includes a section reviewing of advising).
Session: Part 1: Managing Your Mood: Caring for Ourselves to Support our Students – The Mindful Way
Presenter(s): Liya Ghiday, Advanced Psychotherapy Extern, UIC Counseling Center
Description: Mindfulness is “the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us,” and the practice of mindfulness is associated with several mental and physical health benefits. Participants in this workshop will be introduced to mindfulness principles and common types of meditation practice. We will learn how to integrate mindfulness as a daily practice in our life to support self-care. We will end with a brief guided mindfulness activity led by the instructor.
Wednesday, March 26th
Session: Advisor Conference – Undergrad to Grad Advising: A Sequel with New Challenges
Presenter(s): Monique Williams, Scholarship & Career Services Coordinator, College of Nursing
Description: Navigating the unexpected transition from advising undergraduate students to graduate students in a specialized profession comes with a unique set of challenges and learning experiences. This sequel follows the fast-paced shift defined by rapid adaptation, transparency with students, and learning on the go. Join me on this journey as I explore the evolving role of an advisor in the graduate education space, uncovering key differences, challenges, and strategies for success.
Session: No More Solo Leveling: Best Practices for Asian American Student Success at UIC
Presenter(s): Celeste Aguirre and Eli Vang, Academic Advisor and Program Specialists
Asian American Student Academic Program
Description: This presentation explores effective strategies for supporting Asian American students at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). It examines the unique challenges and strengths of AAPI students, including the impact of intersectionality, mental health, and cultural expectations on their success. The session will highlight actionable best practices such as culturally responsive advising, mentoring, and student engagement, while also addressing systemic barriers.
Session: Advising with Impact: Tools for Accessible and Transformative Student Support
Presenter(s): James Alford, Academic Advisor, College of Business Administration
Description: This workshop explores practical strategies to make advising more accessible and impactful for diverse populations. Designed for academic advisors and student support staff, this session delves into tools and techniques that foster inclusivity and student success. The workshop will also highlight practical tools, like adaptive technology and communication aids, that advisors can implement immediately.
Session: Let Me Upgrade You: Using change, project, and risk management to elevate your advising leadership game
Presenter(s): Whitney Harris, Associate Vice President of Student Success Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (former UIC AHS Advisor)
Description: What mid-level management and leadership roles entail does not need to be a mystery or a surprise once you ascend the sometimes-elusive advising career ladder. For academic advisors who aspire to climb said ladder, or for those who are new to formal leadership positions, it is important we engage in opportunities that directly grow our skills, especially within areas we may be less familiar. Join us for an immersive conversation as we examine the different elements of leadership, risk, project, and change management within academic advising. With the right amount of intentionality, collaboration, and vulnerability, we have a better chance of transitioning from surviving in mid-level leadership to thriving in it.
Session: Using Mental Health First Aid for Student Success and Belonging
Presenter(s): Sharon Hayes, CUPPA, Assistant Dean for Student Success
Kevin Price, School of Public Health, Senior Academic Advisor
Description: It is no secret that there has been a significant increase in college students expressing mental health challenges. Mental Health First Aid is a program designed to train individuals on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a potential mental health challenge. The program also reduces the stigma around mental health and equips first aiders with the skills to assist an individual experiencing a mental health challenge. It is important for advisors and mentors to be trained in the program to help students increase their #belonging by reducing the stigma around mental health and improve #studentsuccess.
Thursday, March 27th
Session: On the Edge of the Enrollment Cliff
Presenter(s): Brad Gardner, Director of Enrollment Analytics, Enrollment Management
Description: Colleges and universities across the country are preparing for the impact of the “enrollment cliff”; join this session to find out what this means for UIC. Additionally, we will discuss the broader enrollment trends, to better understand undergraduate student “stop-out” and transfer patterns. The session will preview enrollment challenges ahead and adapting to a changing higher education landscape.
Session: Part 2: Managing Your Mood: Caring for Ourselves to Support our Students – Self Compassion
Presenter(s): Nicole Puertas, Crisis Counselor, UIC Counseling Center
Description: Self-Compassion is the practice of showing ourselves kindness, understanding, and empathy, specifically through difficult times. This workshop will teach practical ways to be mindful of when you are struggling and respond with kindness and caring, therein helping you work through those uncomfortable emotions. It will teach skills for tolerating distress and decreasing your worries about concerns or perceived mistakes. It will also help you to feel more connected to others and less alone in your struggles and inevitable blunders.
Session: FOIA Uncovered: Rights, Responsibilities, and Exemptions
Presenter(s): Dr. Jessica Joslin, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Diversity Initiatives
Description: This presentation will provide an overview of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), describe our obligations under FOIA, and some common exemptions.
Session: PAVE the Way: Tips and Tricks of the Trade
Presenter(s): Advisors coming together to share best practices
Description: The intention of PAVE the Way sessions are for advisors to come together and discuss best practices around a given topic. In this PAVE the Way, advisors will “show and tell” tips, tricks, and tools of the trade they have found to make life more efficient. Topics explored will be: GPA Calculators, Outlook Calendar Management, Email Management/Organization, iAdvise Calendar Management, and using AI for email writing. If you have a tip or trick….join us for the session and SHARE!!!