Volume 57 - Num. 2, June 2013

In this non-experimental study preliminary data collection, the authors sought to better understand perceptions of advising by faculty in a Midwestern, college of agriculture and natural resources. Participants were asked to respond to a variety of questions on a five-point Likert-type scale, rating the process and perceptions of undergraduate advising by both the advisor and students. Respondents were also given the opportunity to respond to open-ended questions regarding the advising process and their perception of student’s advising experiences. The results of the survey indicated that the majority of advisors found the advising process to be effective, 87% found advising pleasant and rewarding and 72% believed students were neutral in their perceptions of advising. Six broad themes emerged from the open-ended questions: relationships with students, faculty perceptions of students’ attitude of advising, degree of effectiveness, frustrations with advising, recognition and reward and areas for improvement. Faculty valued building relationships with students, but felt that it was not properly rewarded and that more training should be done to prepare advisors. The results of this survey could pave an opening for a more extensive assessment interpretation study of faculty advising within this college at a later time.

 

 

Key words: undergraduate, advising, faculty