2022 Annual Symposium

Parking Lot Advising

• Patrick Dowling, Academic Advisor (College of Liberal Arts and Applied Sciences, Miami Regionals)
• This session highlights Fall 2021 pop-up advising events on the Hamilton and Middletown campuses. Based out of an appreciate advising example, these tabling events allowed for advising to leave our offices and connect with students as they entered/exited campus. The goals of these events were to raise awareness of advising services, push early registration, and create a sense of community.

By Working on Yourself, You Can Improve Your Team!

• Keisha Norris, Senior Academic Advisor (College of Engineering and Computing)
• To state the obvious, Miami University advising is going through changes.  It is up to us to adapt and grow with these changes as they are happening in what seems like a rapid pace.  To handle these changes better collaboration could be a key for us to move forward positively.  How we adjust to the changes and collaborate is important for us, our teams and our association.  My presentation addresses what we can do individually that will positively affect the teams we work in.
  I want to cover 3 or 4 articles from the Harvard business review about the dynamics of teamwork that are affected by us on a individual basis. I selected these because they are short and to the point but have extremely great insight on how self reflection is vital in group work especially when collaboration is required.  My presentation will cover ways to improve work teams by having individuals first work on themselves, use learning new information as a way to adapt in collaboration, and lastly a way to give effective feedback when collaborating. How EQ can effect who we embrace change positively. 

Do It Yourself Change of Program - How FSB Automated and Published their Change of Program form

• Jacob Drees, Senior Academic Advisor (Farmer School of Business)
• With now over 3,300 submissions, learn how the FSB Student Services office pivoted the way students changed, added, and removed academic programs. In this presentation, you will learn an overview of the formstack platform, how to create an all-encompassing Change of Program form, create an approver tree, and road blocks that FSB faced along the way

Helping Students Return to Good Standing

• Traci Strunk, Senior Academic Advisor (College of Liberal Arts and Applied Sciences, Miami Regionals)
• Do you work with students on academic probation? What do those conversations look like in your office? During this presentation, we will share how the Regional campuses support students who are on Academic Probation and the benefits of our Academic Recovery program implemented following the Fall 2020 semester to support this population. We will share some of the best practices we have learned and researched as well as areas for growth. I will make sure to leave time at the end of the presentation for some Q & A

The Full Spread: Using Spreadsheets in Your Everyday Worklife

• Cory Duchesneau, Academic Advisor (Farmer School of Business); Kourtney Spaulding, Assistant Director of Events and Operations (Armstrong Student Center)
• Spreadsheets are how we like to solve problems. In this workshop we will show ways we have utilized Excel and Google Sheets in our current roles, how to apply a data analytics process to your spreadsheet creation and utilization, and how to be a self-sufficient spreadsheet learner. If able, please bring a device to open/work with a spreadsheet.

The 411 on Your 911 CCA Questions.

• Chad Reynolds, Interim Assistant Dean (College of Creative Arts); Tracey Hayes, Academic Advisor (College of Creative Arts)
• We want to update interested parties on the programs in the College of Creative Arts and answer any questions on the portfolio process.

Student-Ready Assessment

• J Ravancho, Graduate Assistant (Rinella Learning Center)
• Assessment is a long and scary word for most individuals. For students, there is a lack of motivation for them to fill out assessments that are believed to be meant to help them. In this session, we will work through how to make assessments meaningful for the students, and what it means for them to be Student-Ready.

Students Helping Students: Maximizing Undergraduate Associate Effectiveness in First-Year Experience Courses

• Virginia Agee-Deaton, Academic Advisor (Farmer School of Business); Elizabeth Walsh, Director (Orientation and Transition Programs)
• This presentation aims to help advisors who teach FYE courses (UNV 101, BUS 106, CEC 101, etc.) to best utilize undergraduate associates in their classes. As a result of attending this session, FYE course instructors will understand the philosophy behind the role of FYE UAs, discuss the triumphs and challenges of previous semesters, and plan for future FYE UA partnerships. 

Pandemic Advising: Is it Here to Stay?

• Conor Burns, Academic Advisor; Jennifer Troutman, Academic Advisor (Farmer School of Business)
• In our presentation, we will be discussing the continuing effects of the pandemic on student success and engagement, particularly through the lens of academic advising. Furthermore, we will be examining our FSB student data to highlight this worrying trend (as a case study). To conclude, we will present strategies for academic advisors to utilize moving forward.

Extending the Learning Environment: How Residence Life Supports the Academic Mission of the University

• Sarah Meaney, Associate Director for Residential Academic Initiatives (Office of Residence Life)
• You know students live on campus, but what do they actually do in the residence halls?  This session exposes those unfamiliar with Residence Life at Miami to our five residential pillars with a focus on Extending the Learning Environment.  Specifically, attendees will learn about our living learning communities, current academic support efforts, and other academic support initiatives.  

Navigate, Slate, or BI? Where do I get Information to Support Students?

• David Schaefer, Director, Business Intelligence Team (IT Services); Amy Locke, Software Developer (IT Services); Becki Bleikamp, Senior Associate Director (Student Success Center); Jon Cherry, Senior Associate Director (Office of Enrollment Operations); and Michael Light, Senior Data Analyst (Office of Institutional Research)
• Ever wonder where to get information about an advisee?  Miami offers several options.  This session will cover Navigate, Slate, and Business Intelligence; including when each is appropriate, and how to use it.

Post-Graduate Opportunities for Non-Business Students

• Isabelle Eaton, Director of FSB Graduate Programs (Farmer School of Business)
• A bright future gets even brighter with a business degree. At Miami, our master in business programs help students achieve their purpose and make a real difference. Join staff from Farmer School of Business and Graduate Admissions to learn about business graduate programs, including new opportunities for non-business grads. They're excited to share how these programs prepare students to start their career with confidence.

Roundtable

• 10:00am: Valerie Westin, Academic Advisor (University Honors)
• 11:00am: Erin Wahler, Assistant Director of Student Enrichment (University Honors)
• 11:30am: Teresa Radomski-Bomba, Associate Director of the Honors College (University Honors)
• Attend a roundtable session to chat with a small group about relevant topics in advising and higher education! Facilitators will have a list of topics to choose from and the group will decide what is most pertinent to discuss.

Join the MUASAA Planning Team

2022-23 Expression of Interest Form

Spring Meeting Dates

To join a MUASAA Planning Meeting, contact Jacob Drees

March 10, 10:30a-11:30a, Virtual
April 14, 10:30a-11:30a, Virtual

MUASSA Leadership

President: Jacob Drees, Farmer School of Business Advising

Treasurer: Madeleine Hood, College of Arts and Sciences Advising

Secretary: Anne Bonanno, Farmer School of Business Advising

Annual Symposium Committee:

Manages all details and logistics for the annual MUASAA symposium, budgeting, the call for proposals, and awards.

• Laura Birkenhauer, University Libraries (Co-Chair)
• Valerie Westin, Honors College Advising (Co-Chair)
• Maryanne White, College of Arts and Sciences Advising
• Irena Kola, American Culture and Education (ACE) Faculty
• Connor Goodpaster, Farmer School of Business Advising

Professional & Community Development Committee:

Plans monthly professional and community development events including selecting topics, securing speakers, and executing the event. Arranges and picks up (as needed) catering for monthly events and secures thank you gifts for speakers. Annually distributes professional development survey to members.

• Maryanne White, College of Arts and Sciences Advising (Chair)
• Jordyn Clark, Honors College Advising
• Ghada Mahdi, Rinella Learning Center
• Keisha Norris, College of Engineering and Computing Advising
• Julia Pond, Regional Campus Advising
• Nick Stanford, College of Engineering and Computing Advising

Communications Committee:

Committee co-creates monthly newsletter. Each member is assigned an area of the newsletter to work on and submit each month. Committee members assist with MUASAA website updates.

• Virginia Agee-Deaton, Farmer School of Business Advising (Chair)
• Connor Goodpaster, Farmer School of Business Advising

Join the MUASAA Planning Team