MU Excellence in Advising Award

Purpose

To recognize two individuals (one MU faculty member and one full-time MU staff member) who have demonstrated the qualities associated with outstanding undergraduate student advising. Please refer to the Advisors Forum Mission Statement.

Award

The two individuals selected will each receive a $1,000 award and a plaque. Support for each award has been provided by Advisors Forum, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and the Office of the Provost General Education Program. In addition, the University Club provides a gift certificate.

Selection Committee

Five outside reviewers (two MU students, two MU retirees (faculty/professional advisors) and one MU administrator) who are not members of Advisors Forum will constitute the Selection Committee.

Eligibility

Any individuals involved in the direct delivery of advising services to undergraduate students can be nominated.  The nominee need not be an Advisors Forum member. Any MU faculty or staff member is eligible to be nominated.  The Selection Committee will evaluate nominations on the evidence of effective advising qualities and practices that distinguish the nominee as an outstanding advisor. Such evidence may include, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:

• Demonstration of a caring attitude toward students.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Monitoring of student progress toward academic and life goals.
• Mastery of institutional regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to engage in developmental advising (career and life planning).
• Behavior designed to build a strong relationship with students.
• Availability to students and other advisors.
• Frequency of contact with students.
• Seeking out students in informal settings.
• Use of appropriate referrals.
• Attendance and support of advisors’ developmental programs.
• Perception by colleagues of nominee’s advising skills.

Nominations

Please include the following.

• A nomination form signed by the nominator, including a one-page summary or letter including the following:
  1. How is the nominee involved in the advising of students?
  2. How does the criteria and/or measurements (subjective and objective) determine that this person should be nominated for the award?
  3. Examples of specific characteristics that qualify this person for this award. In what ways has this person demonstrated these characteristics?
  4. What contributions has the nominee made to the campus advising program, as well as to individual student growth and development.

• In addition, the nomination packet must include three letters of support in addition to the nominator’s summary or letter. One letter must be from a current or former student.

Note: Incomplete or late nominations will not be reviewed.