Academic Adviser Performance Evaluation

Academic Adviser Responsibilities

PART I: Student Advising

Job Knowledge
Summary: Adviser knows relevant factual information, keeps this knowledge updated, and communicates it well.

Exceptional

• Is recognized campus-wide as a resource person on University, College, and department regulations, policies, and procedures related to this job.
• Other:

• Has broad knowledge of University, College, and department degree requirements, policies, regulations, and procedures. Can answer all but the most unusual questions.
• Has excellent knowledge of a variety of degree programs and career fields and can assist a wide range of students with their career choices.
• Perceives needs; proposes, develops, and produces written departmental information.
• Other:

• Has knowledge of University and department courses, including content, prerequisites, and scheduling.
• Can evaluate transfer work using articulation agreements and the Transfer Guide.
• Is familiar with degree programs and career fields related to the department.
• Is familiar with campus resources and can make appropriate referrals.
• Develops and produces written departmental information as requested.
• Other:

• Has not learned University, College, and department degree requirements, policies, regulations, and procedures.
• Has difficulty evaluating transfer work.
• Lacks knowledge of campus resources and other degree programs and career fields closely related to department.
• When lacking knowledge does not seek appropriate information.
• Other:

Counseling Skills
Summary: Adviser demonstrates skills that allow a positive student counseling session: listening, flexibility, patience, objectivity, receptivity, responsiveness, and facilitation of student decision-making processes.

Exceptional

• Demonstrates outstanding skills in one or more types of counseling.
• Other:

• Teaches students to take responsibility for their own behavior and decisions, while demonstrating willingness to help.
• Is able to probe, with discretion, problem areas influencing student behavior. Is sensitive to each student's psychological or emotional state.
• Expends extra time and energy to assist students when needed and appropriate.
• Is familiar with off-campus resources and is able to make skilled and appropriate referrals.
• Other:

• Establishes rapport with students.
• Listens attentively and with understanding.
• Facilitates students' planning and decision making, rather than making plans and decisions for students.
• Makes appropriate counseling referrals to campus resources.
• Other:

• Provides only mechanical responses to students' needs.
• Is unable to help students learn how to make decisions.
• Is seldom aware of a student's emotional state.
• Is abrasive and judgmental.
• Other:

Assessment of Student Needs
Summary: Adviser accurately assesses students' skills, background, needs, goals, concerns, and problems and provides appropriate responses.

Exceptional

• Has exceptional skill in facilitating the student's understanding of the situation
• Acts as a mentor, assisting the student in the determination of an academic goal.
• Other:

• Quickly determines the complexity of each student's needs and responds appropriately.
• Is able to recommend and/or interpret and utilize a variety of career and inventory testing procedures.
• Other:

• Is able to assess accurately the student's situation based on information discernible from student records and or information offered by the student.
• Is able to integrate the student's needs and interests when recommending academic programs.
• Is able to utilize admission criteria and basic testing information such as placement tests.
• Other:

• Fails to assess accurately student's situation based on information easily discernible from student records and information offered by the student.
• Recommends inappropriate academic programs based upon the student's academic history, interests and needs.
• Other:

Presentations
Summary: Adviser conducts well organized and informative group sessions and presentations as needed.

Exceptional

• Has exceptional public-speaking skills.
• Other:

• Is able to speak coherently and effectively on many aspects of the College or the University. Speaks with sensitivity to political and other considerations.
• Is able to present programs to specialized audiences, such as community-college advisers and UW administrators.
• Other:

• Is able to communicate effectively general education and program requirements and advice on course selection to small and large groups of prospective, entering, or continuing students and parents.
• Can answer a range of questions during these programs.
• Can effectively present information to a group of UW adviser colleagues or faculty.
• Public-speaking skills are acceptable.
• Other:

• Is unable to prepare an organized presentation for a group setting.
• Is unable to present advising or orientation sessions for groups of continuing students, prospective students, or parents.
• Other:

Professional Development
Summary: Adviser seeks to improve skills and effectiveness as a professional. Adviser participates in activities beyond the office which reflect a general concern for students and the University community.

Exceptional

• Publishes articles and/or research in the professional literature.
• Serves as a presenter at staff development seminars and workshops.
• Holds office or provides leadership in local, regional, and/or national professional associations.
• Mentors the professional development of other advisers.
• Other:

• Maintains a working knowledge of the literature of the profession, participates in professional organizations, attends professional conferences.
• Conducts programmatic research to affirm current office practices or suggest possible improvements.
• Other:

• Consults and networks with colleagues to enhance job performance.
• Participates in appropriate training and classes, including continuing education in an academic discipline or in skill areas related to professional performance.
• Is knowledgable about the profession and/or University policies related to the position.
• Other:

• Does not participate in campus professional networks.
• Does not participate in professional activities inside or outside the office; does not take advantage of opportunities for self-improvement.
• Does not remain current on professional and University issues.
• Other:

PART II: Administrative Responsibilities

Exceptional

• Demonstrates exceptional skills in relationships with supervisor, coworkers, and staff.
• Other:

• Is able to help resolve conflicts and propose creative solutions.
• Other:

• Works cooperatively; provides a supportive atmosphere for coworkers.
• Demonstrates consideration, diplomacy, and foresight.
• Other:

• Demonstrates consistently poor interpersonal relations; fails to develop and maintain positive working relationships.
• Other:

Exceptional

• Finds innovative ways in which to solve difficult and complex problems.
• Other:

• Demonstrates superior skill in screening and prioritizing assignments; completes projects before deadlines.
• Works well under stressful conditions.
• Other:

• Manages time effectively and schedules tasks realistically
• Decisions are consistently sound and reflect careful consideration.
• Identifies problem areas and works toward solutions.
• Other:

• Unproductive use of time; work frequently incomplete and/or late.
• Some decisions are poorly developed, resulting in inappropriate action or no action taken.
• Other:

Curriculum Planning
Summary: Adviser participates in curriculum and program management to meet student, faculty, department, College, and University needs, and to ensure accurate dissemination and publication of curriculum and program information.

Exceptional

• Serves as a resource on curriculum issues at departmental, College, and/or University levels.
• Initiates new policies and procedures.
• Other:

• Demonstrates understanding of larger forces and issues that shape College and University curriculum policy.
• Maintains excellent relationships with department faculty and staff over curriculum issues.
• Is able to anticipate, identify, and prevent problems related to curriculum and program planning.
• Other:

• In consultation with chair and faculty, in a timely and accurate manner, prepares degree and course revisions and updates for the University Curriculum Committee, the General Catalog, and the Time Schedule.
• Knows which offices perform key curriculum functions on campus and is able to get assistance.
• On a quarterly basis, in conjunction with faculty, assesses time, room, equipment, grading, credit, enrollments controls, joint status, and textbook and related materials for each course.
• Meets regularly with departmental curriculum committee at least in the capacity of ex-officio member, and keeps abreast of changes at College and University levels that directly affect curriculum planning.
• Drafts policy revisions in response to current trends, upon request.
• Other:

• Schedules course conflicts and consistently fails in preparation for course needs.
• Does not communicate information and arrangements effectively.
• Does not keep abreast of important changes at College and University levels that directly affect curriculum planning.
• Other:

Administration and Planning
Summary: Adviser serves alone or is lead or director of an advising office and/or has administrative responsibilities for diverse areas that affect the type, quantity, and quality of services offered to students.

Exceptional

• On own initiative, develops new programs for the enhancement of services offered by the department or unit.
• Identifies new sources of funding for the department or unit, thus facilitating the development of new programs and services.
• Other:

• Enhances productivity by establishing priorities among special projects and general procedures.
• Is receptive to innovative ideas and suggestions from students, alums, superiors, subordinates, and peers.
• Represents the department on College or University committees.
• Other:

• Plans and coordinates the work of others (e.g., department staff, curriculum committees, or faculty members' teaching schedules).
• Completes administrative tasks in a timely manner.
• Maintains files of department's students, as well as registration, scholarship, and curriculum records.
• Develops or assists in planning the budget and manages the activities of the office within the budget.
• Makes decisions with awareness of the long-term effect on students and the department.
• Other:

• Makes decisions without consideration of long-term effects upon students and the department, including budget restraints.
• Does not maintain adequate student and statistical files, or is unable to provide information in response to requests.
• Does not maintain a consistent level of professionalism and productivity within the office.
• Is unreceptive to ideas and suggestions.
• Other:

Supervisory Responsibilities
Summary: Adviser demonstrates planning and interpersonal skills needed to supervise others.

Exceptional

• Consistently supports and motivates staff to increased levels of self-esteem and high performance.
• Other:

• Develops rationale and support for new positions in response to office needs.
• Creatively recruits for a diverse applicant pool.
• Acts as coordinator between personnel, department, and administration.
• Prepares professional development plans for staff.
• Other:

• Meets regularly with staff members to plan and assess the activities of the office.
• Manages work schedules to ensure smooth functioning of the office.
• Maintains individual personnel records and official record of hours worked, vacation, sick leave, etc., in an accurate and timely manner.
• Instructions to staff are clear and complete.
• Sets realistic goals for the office or program.
• Ensures that staff are trained in their duties and provides opportunities for professional development.
• Earns the respect and trust of employees.
• Works out staff conflicts and settles disputes fairly. Seeks appropriate assistance early in difficult conflict situations.
• Provides annual employee evaluations.
• Makes new employee selection recommendations on the basis of an objective appraisal of applicants' qualifications and references; negotiates salary and benefits of new employees.
• Other:

• Does not set realistic goals for the office.
• Does not ensure that staff are trained in their duties, or provide opportunities for their professional development.
• Does not complete annual performance evaluations with staff.
• Does not always maintain the confidentiality of private meetings with individual staff members.
• Has difficulty remaining objective when staff members voice concerns regarding operation of the office.
• Needs assistance in making new employee selection. Is unfamiliar with University employment procedures.
• Other:

Liaison Responsibilities
Summary: Adviser is responsible for maintaining contacts outside the department. Purposes may include disseminating, acquiring, and evaluating information on pertinent issues, policies, and regulations.

Exceptional

• Maintains an extensive network of professional contacts on a national level.
• Is invited as a guest speaker because of exceptional ability and knowledge.
• Other:

• Publishes newsletters, handbooks, and/or other materials to improve communications with students, colleagues, other departments, agencies, and the public; creates written materials that receive recognition or awards.
• Extends extra effort to provide personal resource information (i.e., scholarship, internship, career, and graduate school) to students.
• Provides in-service training to advisers in other campus departments and colleges.
• Networks with other advisers and advising departments on a regional level, to further knowledge of higher-education practices and acquire new ideas for improving programs.
• Other:

• Provides updated written departmental information to colleagues, other campus departments, colleges, and the general public in a timely manner.
• Maintains an updated resource and referral base on relevant campus departments, colleges, and other agencies that offer assistance to students.
• Provides information to department staff when requested.
• Requests information from other campus departments when needed.
• Other:

• Does not develop a resource and referral base.
• Fails to update written departmental information; does not provide accurate and timely departmental information to advisers in other campus departments, colleges, and the general public.
• Does not establish working relationships with professional peers and administrative offices.
• Other:

Special Projects and Additional Responsibilities
Summary: Adviser may be asked to participate in or initiate special projects. Adviser's performance in each project can be evaluated using the criteria below. Additional criteria may be necessary for some projects.

Sample projects:

• Conducts research related to position
• Authors manuscripts or papers for publication
• Presents programs to the public or colleagues
• Develops community contacts for special educational programs

Exceeds expectations

• Works independently with minimal guidance.
• Identifies the need for and defines the parameters of a special long-term or ad hoc project.
• Seeks creative solutions.
• Other:

• Completes special projects as assigned.
• Plans effectively, follows through to conclusion, and evaluates final results.
• Finds appropriate resources to complete the project.
• Presents information in an organized fashion and conveys project results to appropriate parties.
• Other:

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University of Washington
Undergraduate Gateway Center
Prepared by UW's Association of Professional Advisers and Counselors
advice@u.washington.edu
February 2001