Advisers receive national recognition
Two Utah State University advisers have been recognized by a national organization for outstanding advising work.
Advisers Sylvia Robinson and Mary Jo Blahna received awards from the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) for their work with students at USU.
NACADA is an organization that promotes quality academic advising in colleges and universities nationwide to enhance the educational development of students. The awards are given in order to honor advisers and institutions that make an effort to improve academic advising.
Robinson received her certificate of merit for her work as an academic adviser in the College of Education. She has been an adviser at USU for 17 years, overseeing more than 500 students not only on campus, but across the state in Extension programs.
“I feel very honored,” Robinson said. “It’s a nice thing.”
Counseling and advising were always in the back of her mind as she worked other jobs, including as a teacher and the owner of a fabric store. She saw an ad in the paper for the advising job at USU and said she thought it would be perfect for her.
“That is me,” she said of her reaction to the job opening 17 years ago. “It just sounded so fun.”
Likewise, Blahna said she enjoys her job as an adviser in the College of Business. She received a certificate of merit from NACADA for her work in the management and human resources program, but is now in charge of advising for the graduate studies program.
Blahna said she didn’t expect to get the award, but is grateful for it.
“It’s really an honor,” she said. “It just seems like I’m doing my job.”
According to information provided by the NACADA, awards are given based on the nominees’ interpersonal skills, availability and frequency of contact with advisees, use of appropriate information sources and evaluations by students and faculty members. Blahna and Robinson are especially skilled when it comes to interpersonal relationships with their advisees.
In her personal statement she gives to students on advising, Blahna describes her open-door policy. She said she believes that students should always feel comfortable coming to see her and be able to talk about classes or other topics.
“I truly look forward to spending time with students,” she wrote in the statement.
Robinson is described in an evaluation by Mark Bradford, director of USU-Blanding Extension program, as “a person who possesses many quality character traits, which include patience, understanding and support. She has the best interests of the students at heart as she advises them in different educational programs.”
Robinson said she stresses the importance of developing personal relationships with students.
“I think that the personal touch is always nice,” she said.
USU is no stranger to receiving awards from NACADA.
“We have won more awards than any other institution,” said John Mortensen, USU’s director of advising. The university has received 24 awards since 1984; the next closest institution has received 17.
Though on the right track, USU is always looking for ways to improve its advising. Many individuals on campus would like to see more advisers hired.
“Probably the biggest issue is reducing the student-to-adviser ratio,” Mortensen said.
He explained that sometimes advisers have so many advisees that they can’t get to know each one on a personal level.
Blahna said she agrees.
“In general – we need more advisers,” she said.
Blahna said she has more than 300 advisees across the state. Sometimes she never meets them face to face, just hears their voice.
Robinson said she also recognizes the shortage of advisers as a big problem. She also said she thinks it’s important to understand that advising is a volatile thing – each department is different and each individual has different needs when it comes to advising.
An excerpt from Robinson’s personal statement on advising explains how advising is much more than what most people think.
“Sometimes advising is merely giving information, but more often than not, much more is involved than handing out a sheet of classes,” she said.
Robinson and Blahna were both Robins Award winners last year for advising and were automatically nominated for the NACADA awards. 2003’s Robins Award winners in advising, Jana Kay Lunstad and Chris Luecke, are the nominees for the NACADA awards next year.
-lstapley@cc.usu.edu