Academic advisers help students do more than just build their next semester’s class schedule.
They give students access to the knowledge and resources they need to be successful at the University of Idaho. Sometimes, that is a connection with faculty and sometimes it’s as simple as making sure a new student checks their email every day.
The job is more complex than most imagine, as was true for Lexi Schaar, an academic advising specialist at UI.
“I thought it was like, you know the catalogue, and you recommend classes and that’s it,” Schaar said. “And so getting into it, I realized it’s so much more than that.”
Schaar primarily advises students in general studies and those on academic probation. She said she works mostly with first and second-year students, before handing them off to a faculty member who can give the student more detailed information and connections within their field. As a professional adviser, in contrast to a faculty adviser, she focuses on class scheduling as well as providing an introduction to the university.
“It’s a lot of teaching students how do you navigate being a college student,” Schaar said. “How do you ask for help? How do you register for classes? How do you figure out what Degree Audit is? What does that even mean, and how do I use that as a checklist?”
A large part of advising is making connections with students, Schaar said. Being “super introverted,” she said she was intimidated at first by that aspect.
“It was really challenging, but I think when you work through those kinds of challenges, you learn new things about yourself and you learn things that come out of that that you wouldn’t have anticipated like ‘I actually love talking to people all the time,’” Schaar said.
Schaar said what she realized while advising is people want to connect with other people. She said the connections she’s made have helped her beyond advising.
“So before I was doing advising I was more, like, in my own head a little bit, and afterward I’ve seen this appreciation for — everyone is on their own path trying to make progress,” Schaar said.
Director of Academic Advising Andrew Brewick said a successful adviser first and foremost must enjoy working with college students.
“Most advisers have a profound understanding of how important the work is. They really value this opportunity to help students make meaning of the experience,” Brewick said. “They enjoy building rapport with individuals, and also like to see people accumulate skills and knowledge to be successful.”
Brewick said he was impressed with Schaar’s ability to build rapport and overcome significant obstacles. He said students in general studies are often not sure what they want to pursue at the university or later in life. These students can make a bittersweet experience for an adviser, Brewick said.
“We invest our time, energy, resources and empathy in a student and then send them off in their area to do super cool, amazing things,” Brewick said.
Schaar said students should try to meet with their adviser, or perhaps more than just one, and to bring up any issues they may have. She said advisers can also help with small issues like time management or finding tutoring sessions for a difficult class. Students can ask for help outside the classroom as well.
“There’s the academic pieces that happen, but that’s just one part of people’s lives,” Schaar said. “Overcoming an obstacle here is learning something that’s going to help you the next time you have an obstacle in whatever arena that’s in.”
Helping students and making connections is rewarding, and Schaar said she intends to continue advising for the foreseeable future.
“Maybe it sounds cheesy, but it’s such a privilege to get to see into their life a little bit and see what makes them tick,” Schaar said. “There are just so many people who care about their success. I hope that they really get that — that they really see that advisers are here for them and want to help.”
Jack Olson can be reached at [email protected]