Committee Members From This Past Year

• Mike Saldana (Chair)
• Nick Woodward (Vice Chair)
• Brian Eikenhout (Secretary)

Vacancies for F22/W23

Vice Chair (3 year term)

During the past year, how did the committee work positively impact your advising skills?

Because of its nature, LAAN provides advisors the opportunity to meet with and learn about how different advising centers run and operate.  On the executive committee, you also get more interaction with the Undergraduate Academic Advising Leadership Council as well as with the Provost office.  These interactions require advisors to think in a macro level rather than just about their specific unit.

Being a part of the executive committee has strengthened our various skillsets.  Skills such as verbal/written communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and flexibility are needed to be successful on this committee.  Each of us can confidently say we have enhanced these specific skills through the various projects and meetings associated with this committee. 

All in all, having the opportunity to represent advisors on the executive committee has been an extremely positive experience.  Due to the work of the LAAN committees, the word is getting out about the insights and experiences advisors bring to the table.  We understand that process is ongoing and look forward to building on that reputation in the coming years.     

What accomplishments did your committee achieve during this past academic year? Projects and initiatives worked on?

The committee was tasked with adding some general advising information to the LAAN website.  In particular, this information would tell a story of who advisors are and how they spend their time.  The committee worked alongside three advising directors and a representative from the tech committee.  Time was spent throughout the year creating webpages that outlined hard data on the number of students advisors are meeting (including student classification – FYAR, TSAR, continuing, etc.) with along with the other tasks and responsibilities advisors do every day.  These webpages can be found on the LAAN website and will be updated as needed.

Two tasks that go hand in hand with each other relate to turnover of committee membership.  Starting with the 2022/2023 academic year, most committees will have at least two new members.  In that same light, two of the committees will have new leadership in the chair position.  Because of that, we wanted to make sure information was not lost in the transfer of leadership.  So, a LAAN Blackboard site was created.  Each committee has a folder it can use to store information and as well as save documents.  It also provides a resource for new members so they can review materials prior to their first committee meeting.  In order to fill those committee spots, the executive committee created a recruitment plan and met throughout the year to prepare for the departures.

Lastly, the executive committee was brought in to assist a team of advising directors in creating guidelines for the mandatory first year advising that will begin in 2022/2023.  The committee met with the advising directors and helped organize an update session in April for the LAAN membership.  The group will also provide an update at the start-up meeting in August. 

What work will you carry over that was unfinished to the next academic year?

The committee finished it’s main task this academic year.  However, it will need to be more hands-on in 2022/2023 with the other committees because of the large number of new members.  That work will center on making sure the new chairs feel comfortable with their roles and understand what will be expected of them. 

Additionally, with mandatory advising starting in the Fall semester, the committee will more than likely be brought in to assist with changes/adjustments that need to be made to the process.  It’s important to remember that 2022/2023 is a trial run, the process will not be perfect.  Feedback will need to be gathered to ensure the process runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

What benefits would advisors gain by joining your committee for F22/W23?

There are countless benefits to joining a LAAN committee!  First and foremost are the relationships you’ll build with the other committee members.  Too often, we find ourselves so focused on our own students that we miss the opportunity to get out and talk with other advisors.  Joining a committee allows for increased interaction with advisors outside of your college.  Establishing these relationships also helps when you inevitably meet with a student who wants to change majors.  Having a name to give the student makes that transition that much easier.

More specifically, the executive committee will help develop an advisor’s leadership skills.  Because this committee oversees LAAN as a whole, advisors are given the opportunity to think on a macro level.  As you can read above, the projects and tasks associated with the committee center on finding the best way to support advising across campus.  Any advisor who wants to develop their leadership skills should consider joining a committee – especially executive!

To end, one of LAAN’s main objectives is to provide professional development opportunities for advisors.  Advisors do important work that’s vital to the retention and success of students.  For someone who wants to enhance their leadership skills, establish better relationships with their advising colleagues, and grow as a professional, consider joining the LAAN executive committee.