1. Developing a Mission Statement for Academic Advising
Marsha Miller
NACADA Assistant Director, Resources & Services
With special thanks to:
Wes Habley in the NACADA Clearinghouse article
Susan Campbell in the 2nd edition of Academic
Advising: A Comprehensive Handbook
Rich Robbins NACADA Assessment Institute

2. Session Goal and Objectives
This presentation will answer the questions:
What is a mission statement?
Why do we need an advising mission statement?
What are the characteristics of an effective mission statement?
Participants will rate, critique, discuss and revise actual academic advising mission statements.

3. Building A Mission Statement
Our mission is to…

4. Dilbert’s Mission Statement Generator
©1998 United Feature Syndicate, Inc. ("UFS") and United Media ("UM") All Rights Reserved

5. Building a Mission Statement Insert a Word
See how easy it is...
Our mission is to efficiently build timely methods of empowerment while continuing to interactively create progressive catalysts for change while maintaining the highest standards.

6. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Our job is to draft a mission statement that adequately reflects academic advising on our campus

7. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
CAS Standards
Mission statements must…
be developed, recorded, disseminated, implemented, and regularly reviewed
incorporate student learning and student development
be consistent with the vision, mission, and goals of the institution

8. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
What is a mission statement?
A mission statement describes….
Who we serve
Why - Our reason for being
What we strive to achieve
Wes Habley
Developing a Mission Statement for the Academic Advising Program
NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources

9. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
What is a mission statement?
A mission statement articulates…
Our values
Our purpose
Our direction now and in the future
Susan Campbell
Vision, Mission, Goals, and Program Objectives for Academic Advising Programs
Academic Advising: A Comprehensive Handbook, 2nd edition

10. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
What is a mission statement?
A mission statement reflects:
Opportunities
Competence
Commitment
Drucker, P. F. (2003). What is our mission? In Business leadership: A Jossey–Bass reader. San Francisco: Jossey - Bass.

11. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Why do we need a mission statement?
Alice came to a fork in the road.
“Which road do I take?” she asked.
“Where do you want to go?” responded the Cheshire cat.
“I don’t know,” Alice answered.
“Then,” said the cat, “ it doesn’t matter.”
Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

12. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Why do we need a mission statement?
“Unless the mission is explicitly expressed, clearly understood, and supported by every member of the organization, the enterprise is at the mercy of events” (p. 371).
Peter Drucker
Drucker, P. F. (2003). What is our mission? In Business leadership:
A Jossey–Bass reader . San Francisco: Jossey - Bass.

13. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Why do we need a mission statement?
A mission statement guides the decisions we make about what we do and how we accomplish it. It is a vital portion of any institutional effort to restructure or revitalize academic advising.

14. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Designing a Mission Statement
Identify Key Stakeholders
Brainstorm Current State of Academic Advising
Identify the Ideal for Advising on Your Campus
Synthesize the Ideal with Existing Standards
Draft Tentative Vision and Mission Statements
Identify Goal Statements
Identify Objectives
Susan Campbell
Vision, Mission, Goals, and Program Objectives for Academic Advising Programs
Academic Advising: A Comprehensive Handbook, 2nd edition

15. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Consistent with institutional mission & vision
Includes a wide variety of constituencies
Serves as a guide to the decisions we make
Lays the foundation for assessment
Oregon State University academic advising is a teaching and learning process dedicated to student success. Academic advising engages students in developing a plan to realize their educational, career and life goals.
The mission of Engineering Advising is to provide services to assist Engineering students in achieving their academic goals and personal successes at Cornell University.

16. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Vision Statement
Vision statements represent the core priorities in the institution’s culture.
Advising vision statements connect to institution’s vision statement.
Advising vision statements drive the intent and planning for advising and advisors’ priorities.

17. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Vision Statement
Oregon State University aspires to be recognized nationally for excellence in academic advising among land grant institutions.
Indiana State University will be known as an institution where every student is matched with an academic advisor dedicated to aligning student talents and ambitions with sound curricular and co-curricular choices.
The McCoy College Academic Advising Center will be a national model for excellence and innovation in academic advising. (Texas State San Marcos)
Academic Advising at the University of Louisville aspires to be a dynamic, nationally- recognized system that sets standards of excellence focused on student learning, technological innovation, and a collaborative commitment to student success in a diverse and changing society.

18. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Vision Statement
The mission of Engineering Advising is to provide services to assist Engineering students
in achieving their academic goals and personal successes at Cornell University.
GOALS/OUTCOMES
1. to provide accurate and current information
2. to work in partnership to promote student success
3. to work with students in an environment emphasizing the developmental process
4. to constantly improve our services to students
5. to promote the shared responsibility of academic advising between student & advisor
6. to evaluate and assess our programs and services
Based upon Cornell University College of Engineering Goals and Objectives

19. MISSION STATEMENT Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Vision Statement
GOALS/OUTCOMES
Advising Program Strategies and Criteria
Assist students in their consideration and clarification of educational goals
Assist students in developing an educational plan consistent with their goals
Provide accurate information about institutional policies, procedures, and resources
Assist students in evaluation or re-evaluation of progress toward established goals
Make referrals to resources within and outside of the college as appropriate
Empower and encourage students to be self-directed learners
Based upon Eastern Michigan University

20. MISSION STATEMENT Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Vision Statement
GOALS/OUTCOMES
Advising Program Strategies and Criteria
Organization
Delivery
Roles/
Responsibilities
Training and Tools
Program and Advisor Assessment

21. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Characteristics of a quality mission statement
Visionary
Ties to the vision of what we aspire to be/deliver
Says what we want to be remembered for
Helps our people understand how they can contribute

22. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Characteristics of a quality mission statement
Broad
Does not claim to be all things to all people
Does not narrowly define what we do
Provides the umbrella for our services

23. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Characteristics of a quality mission statement
Realistic
Practical
Workable
Easily turned into program goals

24. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Characteristics of a quality mission statement
Motivational
Inspires commitment among
employees
Something to strive for
Presents an ideal

25. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Characteristics of a quality mission statement
Short and Concise
Elevator pitch
25 words or less
Tee shirt
No more than three sentences

26. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Characteristics of a quality mission statement
Easily understood
Plain language
Without jargon
Simple sentences

27. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Sample Advising Mission Statement
The Mission of University College Academic Advising is to assist new, transfer, and transitioning students to develop and implement individual plans for achieving educational and life goals.
University of Utah

28. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Sample Advising Mission Statement
The primary purpose of academic advising
is to assist students in the development of
meaningful curricular and co-curricular plans
and to align those plans with attainable life
goals.
Indiana State University

29. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Sample Advising Mission Statement
Academic Advising at the University of Louisville is an on-going, intentional, educational partnership dedicated to student academic success. The University is committed to an academic advising system that guides students to discover and pursue life goals, supports diverse and equitable educational experiences, advances students' intellectual and cultural development, and teaches students to become engaged, self-directed learners and competent decision makers.
University of Louisville

30. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Characteristic
Very Good
Good
Neutral
Weak
Poor
Visionary
Breadth
Realistic
Motivational
Short/Concise
Easy to Understand

31. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Small group exercise
Individually rate the advising mission statement assigned to your group using the rating form
Discuss your ratings with others in your group
Share your feedback with the group

32. Developing an Academic Advising Mission Statement
Share your thoughts
What did you like from the mission statements? Why?
What goals/outcomes could be drawn from this statement?

33. Pick one mission statement and rewrite to fit your situation.
What vision statement might you suggested?
What goals/outcomes could be drawn from the mission statement?
Share your mission statement and suggested goals/objectives with the session participants