By Avanti Herczeg, Department of Art and Art History, CFPCA
The first week of October kicked off the with the NACADA annual conference, “Together, All Things are Possible,” both in Cincinnati and virtually! As members gathered, a renewed energy emerged surrounding the advising community with presentations, networking sessions, workshops, and more. Over the span of four days, advisors and administrators gathered for the conference with opportunities “to learn…from experts in the field, gain knowledge and review best practices with colleagues.” Events (ksu.edu)
The annual conference, however, is just one of the many membership benefits of joining NACADA.
So, now that you have joined NACADA, what are some of the best ways to utilize your membership?
NACADA, or National Academic Advising Association, “promotes student success by advancing the field of academic advising globally…[and] opportunities for professional development, networking, and leadership for our diverse membership.” A quick peek at the NACADA Benefits & Services website offers a vast array of membership benefits including (among others) discounts on advising publications, job postings, speaker services, award programs.
As a member of NACADA, you’ll receive email communications featuring newsletters, upcoming events, and academic resources. Membership to NACADA allows advisors from across its regions to take part in various professional development opportunities such as volunteer, leadership and committee positions, webinars and conferences (many free or with reduced fees!), scholarships for graduate education and research grants, and academic advising resources.
NACADA also houses 40 advising communities (Student Athletes, Appreciative Advising, Adult Learners, First-Generation College Student Advising, LGBTQA Advising and Advocacy, etc.) and members can select to join up to four of these communities, which provide a space to engage with others and participate in professional development activities surrounding a specific area of interest, or a similar institutional structure or student population.
Finally, how does WSU (and you!) put all of this into action? Wayne State is part of the (Great Lakes) Region 5, with CFPCA ASO Maya Calloway Richardson serving as the Michigan Liaison, and Honors College Academic Advisor Rachel Pawlowski serving as the Awards Chair. Over the years, many members of the WSU family have taken an active role by presenting at NACADA conferences, holding leadership positions, serving on conference planning committees and/or having been nominated (and winning!) advising awards through NACADA. Chances are, you could turn to and ask your friendly neighborhood WSU advisor for advice on how to make the most of your NACADA membership and get lots of ideas! Check out the resource links below for additional information.
References:
Events. NACADA. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2021, from https://nacada.ksu.edu/Events.aspx.
Resources: