Excellence in Advising Awards

Help us select three full time equivalent advisors who make a difference in the lives of undergraduate students at the University of Missouri.

Goal

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

Award

The award categories include:

  • Faculty Advisor – MU faculty member who is involved in the direct delivery of advising services as part of their job responsibilities to MU undergraduate students.
  • Primary Advisor (3+ years experience) – MU staff member who is involved in the direct delivery of advising services as part of their job responsibilities to MU undergraduate students and has served as a professional advisor for a period of three (3) or more years.
  • New Advisor (1-3 years experience) – MU staff member who is involved in the direct delivery of advising services as part of their job responsibilities to MU undergraduate students and has served as a professional advisor for a period of (1) one to three (3) years.

The three individuals selected will each receive a plaque. Support for each award has been provided by Advisors Forum and the Office of the Provost.

Criteria

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:

  1. Demonstration of a caring attitude toward students
  2. Effective interpersonal skills
  3. Monitoring of student progress toward academic and life goals
  4. Mastery of institutional regulations, policies, and procedures
  5. Ability to engage in developmental advising (career and life planning)
  6. Behavior designed to build a strong relationship with students
  7. Availability to students and other advisors
  8. Frequency of contact with students
  9. Seeking out students in informal settings
  10. Use of appropriate referrals
  11. Attendance and support of advisors’ developmental programs
  12. Perception by colleagues of nominee’s advising skills
  13. Enhancing programs for the direct benefit of students

The nominee must be involved in the direct delivery of advising services as part of their job responsibilities to MU undergraduate students.

Nomination Process

Each nomination must include:
  • A primary letter of at least one but no more than three pages outlining the ways in which the nominee meets the award criteria.
  • Three letters of support but no more than three. One letter must be from a current or former student.
  • If more than three letters per nomination form are submitted, the Awards Chair will select one student letter and two letters from other sources.

NOMINATION: https://missouri.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d3W3gwrrqpGkwF8

LETTERS OF SUPPORT: https://missouri.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cMj3NL0RoFRn31k

Timeline

The deadline for the 2024 Excellence in Advising Award nominations is Friday, February 23, 2024 at 4:00 PM. All nominations and letters of support must be submitted by this deadline.

Selection Committee

Five outside reviewers constitute the selection committee, which can include two current MU students, retired advisors, retired faculty, and administrators with at least one being a retired advisor or retired faculty and at least one administrator.

If you would like help initiating a nomination or with letters of support, contact Katie Ogan, Awards Committee Chair, at k.ogan@missouri.edu.