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MaryKathyrine Tran found her major. Then, she found her adviser – Dr. Christie Launius. It made all the difference.

Tran, a University of Wisconsin Oshkosh alumna, earned a double-major in English and Women’s and Gender Studies. She also earned a minor in music and was among the first students to earn UW Oshkosh’s LGBTQ certificate, which is available to students who want to add some studies concentrating on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer studies.

With Launius advising support and guidance, Tran, earned a job three months before graduation in spring. She currently works through Americorps Vista at the Waterville, Maine nonprofit “Hardy Girls Healthy Women,” an organization empowering girls whose mission is strongly aligned with her field of study and her goal of a career in nonprofits.

“What was really cool was when I switched to Women’s and Gender Studies, I had Dr. (Christie) Launius, and she would send out an email each semester to come in and talk about classes and about our major and what we wanted,” Tran said. “So, I think that’s why I got so interested and involved in advising. She opened the door wide open.”

Launius said the advising relationship with Tran was mutually rewarding.

“This is the field I have chosen and am extremely passionate about, and I try to convey that to students,” Launius said. “So, having those conversations about what they might imagine themselves doing one year out of college, five years out of college and all throughout their career is extremely exciting and rewarding.”

With a steady, strong enrollment of 14,000 students, UW Oshkosh continues to nurture as many new advising success stories as possible, strengthening its efforts to identify and prepare more faculty advisers as it reflects on the successes of the campus switch to a new advising model a decade ago.

 

Evolution of the TIM

In 2004, the University began implementation of a new campus wide advising model; the Total Intake Model (TIM). Commissioned by then-Chancellor Richard Wells, a consultant study documented two different advising models on campus.

The study concluded the two systems were not working in concert with one another, neither proving as effective as UW Oshkosh students deserved.

One campus-wide model was recommended — the TIM, which more elegantly moves a student from the early support of the UARC to a specific faculty adviser once a student attains a threshold of credits and meets other academic major requirements.

“It has been 10 years since we began this change to the TIM, and advising has experienced a remarkable transformation,” said Elizabeth Whalley, UW Oshkosh director of academic advising. “However, we want to continue to encourage and prepare faculty members to step into and embrace advising roles, as the results for student retention, confidence, graduation and career success are proven.”

“It’s important to look back at what precipitated the change and the success it has led to at UW Oshkosh while we also consider what the future can bring,” Whalley said.

Recognizing adviser excellence

In the last three years, Whalley and UW Oshkosh have brightened the spotlight on advising success stories like Tran’s and Launius’. Launius earned the 2014 Provost’s “Faculty and Instructional Academic Staff Advisor Award” based on Tran’s nomination.

“She helped you with whatever you needed,” Tran said. “She was there and was accessible all the time. I really took advantage of that. I got really involved because I knew Dr. Launius was an expert in my field. I knew that she knew who I should be talking to to make connections on campus or beyond.”

In 2013, student Amanda Burch nominated instructional academic staff adviser and director of the Medical Technology program in the College of Letters and Science, John Strous, who earned the Adviser Award. Burch cited Strous as a critical ally and resource in her pursuit of a degree in medical technology. Her nomination was echoed by Geology Department chair Professor Bill Mode.

 

(from left) Provost Lane Earns, student Vanessa Bailey and Bailey’s faculty adviser, Department of Geography Associate Professor and Chair Colin Long, pose for a picture after Long was awarded the fall 2014 UW Oshkosh Faculty and Instructional Academic Staff Advisor Award on Dec. 1.

On Dec. 1, Whalley joined UW Oshkosh Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Lane Earns and student Vanessa Bailey to present the latest Adviser Award to Department of Geography Chair and Associate Professor Colin Long.

Bailey met Long in her freshman year in 2013. Their advising relationship helped her solidify her choice to major in geography, which she plans to propel her into graduate school and an emphasis on climate modeling.

“Fast forward two years to today, and I can truly say that my time here at Oshkosh is better because of (Long) and his advice,” Bailey wrote in her letter nominating Long for the award.

“His friendly demeanor and genuine kindness make me feel like I belong in the department, at the university and in the world. I have spent a lot of time around the department lately, and he often checks in on me, making sure that my classes are going well, that I am not having any problems, and even that I am simply happy. He truly cares about my wellbeing… I have no doubt that it is people like Dr. Long that make UW Oshkosh a great campus community.”

 

The first Adviser Award was earned in 2012 by Kinesiology instructor Craig Biwer. The Advisory Council for Comprehensive Academic Advising selected Biwer because of the number and diversity of nominations he received. Kinesiology alumna Amanda Bergesen was among the nominators, citing Biwer’s roles as both a quality adviser and teacher. He received three nominations for the award from students and faculty on campus.

JoAnn Cross, professor of accounting, received the spring 2013 Advisor Award based on the nomination of student, Liza Skinkis.

“There are so many similar advising success stories on campus—outstanding partnerships that are being recognized by both students and faculty members,” Whalley said. “We are challenging ourselves to develop more, and we are ready to train faculty members so that they are best prepared to help students face the everyday challenges and guide them to a degree and a fulfilling career or graduate school experience.”

Someone ‘in your corner’

For her advising commitment and dedication, Launius also won the Wisconsin Academic Advising Association (WACADA) 2014 Faculty Adviser Excellence Award. Nominees are evaluated on effective advising qualities and practices that distinguish the nominee as an outstanding faculty adviser. Other, past WACADA winners from UW Oshkosh include current Professors Joann Cross (College of Business), David Jones (College of Letters and Science) and Dana Merriman (College of Letters and Science).

“I really strive to meet students where they are at,… to see what they are presenting and what it is that they need from me,” Launius said.  “… It feels like a responsible to map them through a path.”

“I feel like I kind of reap the benefits of it indirectly,” she said. “It makes me hugely proud to go off and see students do good things.”

Tran said faculty members potentially on the fence about stepping into the adviser role do not have to be “superhuman.” She said they need only consider how even a sliver of their time and guidance to a student pursuing a degree in their field is priceless.

“Twenty minutes may seem like so little,” Tran said. “But it can be groundbreaking… College is great, and it’s a great bubble to be in. It’s super-exciting and there’s so much to do. But there’s always the lingering fear of the real world and what that will look like. And being able to talk to somebody who has experienced that and who kind of knows what you’re going through in the college bubble but also knows what’s coming up, was really comforting to me.”

“It’s nice to have someone rooting for you, in your corner.”

 

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