Outstanding Academic Advisor Award

Missouri Western State University recognizes academic advising to be a critical component of the educational experience. Successful advising includes providing the necessary tools and information regarding educational and career plans compatible with student goals, meeting institutional and degree requirements, and preparing for a life of change, challenge and individual fulfillment as active citizens. The purpose of this award is to encourage and recognize an academic advisor who demonstrates a pattern of excellence in academic advising.

• One person will be awarded a designated campus parking spot
• Nominations can be submitted by a faculty, department chair, staff, supervisor, or administrator
• No self-nominations are allowed
• This award is separate from the Shout-Out Awards. However, Shout-Out Award winners may also be nominated for the Outstanding Academic Advisor Award
• Previous Outstanding Academic Advisor Award winners may be nominated if a minimum of five years has passed since receiving the original award

Eligibility:

• Any individual serving as an academic advisor or faculty academic advisor and employed by Missouri Western may be nominated
• Nominees must have a minimum of three academic years of academic advising at Missouri Western at the time of submission

Award criteria – The Academic Advising Council will evaluate nominations based on the evidence of qualities and practices that distinguish the nominee as an outstanding academic advisor or faculty advisor. Nominations should provide evidence that the advisor demonstrates Best Practices in Advising, going beyond minimum departmental expectations for advisement. Examples of outstanding advising may include:

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Master of institutional regulations, policies and procedures
• Availability to advisees, faculty or staff
• Ability to engage in, promote and support developmental advising
• Frequency of contact with advisees
• Evidence of advising in an academic advising program that supports NACADA’s Core Values
• Appropriate referral activity
• Use and dissemination of appropriate information sources
• Caring, helpful attitude toward advisees, faculty and staff
• Meeting advisees in informal settings
• Monitoring of student progress toward academic and career goals as evidenced by clear, detailed, and timely notes in GPS

Process:

• Email required supporting documentation to advisor@missouriwestern.edu by Friday, April 11, 2025.
• Nominators should include their title and department with their nomination.
• Nominators should write a narrative of 1 to 2 pages. The narrative should contain adequate factual or narrative material that describes the extent to which an individual meets the award criteria,
• The nomination must include a minimum of one reference letter from students, faculty, department Chairs, staff, supervisors, or administrators and should also be submitted in PDF format.
• Selection of this award will be made by the members of the Academic Advising Council.
• Winner will be nominated for the MACADA (Missouri Academic Advising Association) Outstanding Academic Advisor Award (restrictions apply).
• The award recipient will be recognized at the annual campus awards ceremony. The recipient will receive a designated campus parking space for the next academic year.