Excellence in Advising Awards

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

Goal

To recognize two individuals (one MU faculty member and one 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 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_bOtKGLv5mXsArmS

LETTERS OF SUPPORT: https://missouri.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3vZjP5DRehFbibI

Timeline

The deadline for the 2023 Excellence in Advising Award nominations is March 8, 2023 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 Kibby Smith, Awards Committee Chair, at smithkib@missouri.edu.