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| Laurie Shano, who advises OU students at the Macomb University Center in Clinton Township, won the 2014-2015 Outstanding Professional Advising Award. |
Shano works at the Macomb University Center (UC), based in Clinton Township, where she advises Macomb Community College (Macomb) students who are working toward eligibility to join the OU Elementary Education Macomb Cohort program. Once students are accepted into the program, Shano advises them through graduation.
In addition, Shano advises OU Human Resource Development students who are completing their general education requirements at Macomb, along with those completing their degree at the UC. She also advises prospective students for the Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education as they complete prerequisites to become eligible for admission into the program.
To help students pursue their education while navigating through different institutions, Shano keeps a close eye on program requirements and maintains strong connections with officials at each campus.
“I meet with the Macomb advisors and counselors regularly for program updates, and have built solid relationships,” Shano said. “I work with University Relations, the UC Dean and the Macomb Transfer Articulator to support students as they negotiate both colleges.”
Shano’s duties also include working with OU’s Teacher Development and Educational Studies Department to create the Elementary Education Macomb Cohort course schedule, as well as working with other department chairs to get OU courses offered at the UC location. She tailors her advising approach to each student and is a strong advocate for serving the educational needs of Macomb County residents.
“I meet every student at their level of understanding and walk beside them until they have a firm grasp on what it takes to succeed in college,” Shano said. “There is a very supportive environment for learning in the Macomb program and a financial advantage when students begin at the community college.”
Students describe her as a caring professional with a genuine interest in their personal and academic progress. In support of her award nomination, one student wrote, “She has built a relationship with me, where I know when I email her, she will know exactly who I am. She shows extremely strong leadership skills in her job, and she definitely gets high student satisfaction marks from me.”
Having completed her bachelor’s degree at OU’s main campus and her graduate degree at the UC, Shano knows the advantages of both locations.
“I am lucky enough to now be the voice of SEHS Macomb and advocate for students who want to go beyond community college and earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree,” Shano said. “I truly believe it is logistically impossible for some Macomb County residents to earn their degree if not for these amazing programs. They allow students to live, work and get a quality education right in their own community.”
The selection committee for the Outstanding Professional Advising Award includes the interim vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, the senior associate provost, faculty representatives from OU's schools and college, and the Student Body president. The committee chair is Renee Ligeski, winner of the 2013-14 advising award.
Shano will receive her award at a May reception.