By Laura Angus, media relations assistant
The National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) announced that it will honor Oakland University’s Advising Week and three advisors during its annual conference in Chicago, Ill. in October.
This is the first time OU has submitted applicants for the NACADA awards, and all four of the submissions were selected to be honored.
Advising Week earned Outstanding Institutional Advising Program Award for its innovative and exemplary practices resulting in improved academic advising services.
The program takes place during the fall semester, and allows students to get to know their advisers and attract attention to the advising available on campus, said Paul Battle, academic adviser.
“It really connects the advisers to the students,” he said.
Carmen Etienne is the director of advising week, and she said they hand out candy and t-shirts with advising contact information. They also host raffles, advise in the dorms and coordinate with the Center for Student Activities for other events.
“It’s about outreach and getting the student to realize that they have someone who understands their major that they can talk to,” she said.
Etienne earned an Outstanding Advising Certificate of Merit in Academic Advising. She has worked at OU for 12 years, and has been an advisor in the engineering and computer science for four years.
“It’s amazing, it’s a national award,” she said. “It’s your peers looking at you as an advisor and choosing to honor you.”
Tricia Westergaard, coordinator for undergraduate advising for the School of Business and Administration, was awarded an Outstanding Advising Certificate of Merit in the Academic Advising Administrator category. Westergaard is an OU alumna, and has worked in advising at the university since 1998.
“I feel really great that they’re recognizing the things we’ve done at Oakland,” she said. “It’s such an honor for me.”
Finally, Kellie Klinck, academic advisor in the School of Business and Administration, received an Oustanding New Adviser Certificate of Merit for advisers who have worked for less than three years. She is also an OU graduate, and has been an adviser July 2006.
“I feel extremely honored to be recognized by my peers and on the national level,” Klinck said.
She attributes the success to the strong advisers at OU, especially in the School of Business and Administration.
“I’m really proud of the advising group as a whole,” she said. “It’s just a really good, supportive team to work with,” she said.
For more information about advising, visit the Academic Advising Web site.