Academic Advising Continuum – the Abertay Strategy
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
STUDENT SUCCESS AND GRADUATE OUTCOMES
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Session Outline
Abertay University has created its first Student Success Strategy. This amalgamation of learning and teaching and student experience perspectives seeks to recognise that the key focus for all our institutional efforts is student success. The challenge is how to align those efforts for the most impact across a constantly changing student population. At the heart of the strategy is personalisation and community (Lizzio (2006), McNair et al (2016) and Felten and Lambert (2020)) and how we advise and support holistic student development.
Grey and Wijngaard’s (2023) Academic Advising Continuum offers a model to test the institutional structures and processes that Abertay has in place to support that ‘whole student’ development. Mapping against the Continuum, we will share where Abertay is and where it might go, drawing upon your expertise to advise us on our continuing path. We will also consider how this can be bolstered through an enhanced transitional student experience into University from College that better prepares and supports students at this challenging time.
The workshop will review the Abertay model and participants will be involved in considering how this approach and the specific examples might support their own work, whilst also advising Abertay on future developments and challenges, from their own experiences.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will understand and critique the Abertay student success model and consider how it might fit into their work
Bibliography
project. Griffith University.
McNair, T. B., Albertine, S., Cooper, M. A., McDonald, N., & Major, T., Jr. (2016). Becoming a student-ready college: A new culture of leadership for student success.
Grey, D. & Van den Wijngaard, O. 2023. The Academic Advising Continuuum. A tool for reflecting on the how and why of advising.
Felten, P. & Lambert L.M. 2020. Relationship Rich Education - How Human Connections Drive Success in College
Competencies
This session addresses the following competencies of the UKAT Professional Framework for Advising and Tutoring
C1 - Core values of academic advising and tutoring
C2 - Theory relevant to academic advising and tutoring
C3 - Academic advising and tutoring approaches and strategies
C4 - Expected outcomes of academic advising and tutoring
C5 - How equitable and inclusive environments are created and maintained
I1 - HE Provider mission, vision, values, and culture
I2 - Curriculum, degree programmes and pathways, including options
I3 - HE Provider policies, procedures, rules, and regulations
I4 - Legal guidelines and tutoring practice, including privacy regulations and confidentiality
I5 - The characteristics, needs, and experiences of major and emerging student populations
I6 - Campus and community resources that support student success
I7 - Data and information technology applicable to tutoring
R1 - Build advising and tutoring relationships through empathetic listening and compassion for students, and be accessible in ways that challenge, support, nurture, and teach
R2 - Communicate in an inclusive and respectful manner
R3 - Motivate, encourage, and support students to recognize their potential, meet challenges, and respect individuality
R4 - Plan and conduct successful advising and tutoring interactions
R5 - Promote student understanding of the logic and purpose of the curriculum
R6 - Facilitate problem solving, decision-making, meaning-making, planning, and goal setting
R7 - Collaborate effectively with campus services to provide support to students
P1 - Create and support environments that consider the needs and perspectives of students, and respect individual learners
P2 - Appreciate students’ views and cultures, maintain a student-centred approach and mindset, and treat students with sensitivity and fairness
P3 - Commit to students, colleagues, and their institutions through engagement in continuing professional development, scholarly enquiry, and the evaluation of professional practices
P4 - Understand the implications of quality assurance and quality enhancement, and engage in on-going evaluation and development of advising and tutoring practice