A leadership journey: How advising shapes an institutional culture

• Published in: New directions for higher education Vol. 2021; no. 195-196; pp. 65 - 75
• Main Authors: Jones, Jacquelyn, Welker, Melissa, Charlton, Jonikka, Arney, Janna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley 2021; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Academic Advising; Data Use; Educational leadership; Equal Education; Higher education; Hispanic American Students; Leadership Responsibility; Minority Serving Institutions; School Culture; Strategic Planning; Success; University students; Texas
• ISSN: 0271-0560; 1536-0741
• DOI: 10.1002/he.20409

Although we know advising can be conceptualized as a critical component of an integrated and comprehensive student success strategy on a campus, it is often difficult to implement. This chapter will provide a case study of the development and execution of a leadership initiative at an American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) institution to transform advising in service of the goals of student equity and success. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's advising model grew out of a convergence of a handful of key momentum points including strategic planning processes and the use of emerging data surrounding their students as a majority‐minority Hispanic‐serving institution. Through these and other momentum points and the approach from leaders, their institutional transformation reflects the importance of the role and shared responsibility for building student success and equity on campus.