Academic Advising Council Newsletter

Fall Semester 2025

Advising News

As the campus comes alive with the energy of a new academic year, we as academic advisors step into a fresh season of possibilities, challenges and opportunities to support our students in meaningful ways.

Each fall brings a unique blend of excitement and uncertainty for students and advisors. Whether it's helping first-year students navigate the transition to college life, supporting returning students as they refine their academic goals, or guiding seniors toward graduation, our role remains a vital connection point in each student’s journey.

As students face increasing pressures, from adjusting to college, managing mental health and financial concerns, our conversations often go beyond course schedules. We are listeners, problem-solvers and cheerleaders.

As an advising council we want to be a direct voice to the provost’s office on behalf of advisors and help provide you with opportunities to connect with other advisors across campus, celebrate the good work you do and provide additional events for you to expand your training and professional development. 

Remember, our work matters – not just in the moment, but in the long-term success of every student we guide. Here’s to a purposeful, supportive and successful academic year ahead!

Advising Council Updates

The council wants to thank members whose terms have ended for their service on the council:

  • Alex Owens: College of Education
  • Rebekah Kohli: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Melissa Burlingame: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Julia Broome-Robinson: Academic Advising Center

Current 2025-26 Academic Advising Council representatives:

  • Megan Woodruff: College of Business (chair)
  • Rachel Lower: College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (vice chair)
  • Alex Blake: College of Health and Human Sciences (secretary)
  • Ray Jenkins: Academic Advising Center
  • Julie Oberheim: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Bethany Geiseman: College of Education
  • Cherena Pollard: program advisors
  • Virginia Naples: faculty academic advisors

Upcoming Events

Save the Date! Official information will be sent closer to each event.

Professional Development Opportunities:

  • 1:30 p.m. Sept. 30 (online) CHANCE update
  • 1:30 p.m. Dec. 3 (online)

Social Activities:

Take a moment to unwind, meet and connect with other advisors across campus in an informal setting.

  • 5 p.m. Oct. 8 at El Jimador

Holiday Celebration:

  • 10 a.m. Dec.10 (location TBD)

Professional Development

We are all aware of the impact our work has, and we see it every day in the successes of our students. This article from the most recent NACADA Journal examines the importance and need for proactive academic advising strategies, technologies to assist and implementation recommendations that can have the greatest impact on student success.

Health and Wellbeing

The start of the semester can be one of the most demanding times of the year for advisors. Packed calendars, walk-in traffic, emails and urgent student needs can lead to stress buildup. As advisors, we often prioritize others, but sustaining our own mental well-being is essential to doing our work effectively.

Let’s normalize taking care of ourselves while we take care of students. A healthy advisor is a more present, empathetic and effective one.

Here are a few reminders as we head into the fall semester:

  • Set boundaries where possible. Block time for lunch, short breaks and uninterrupted work. Even 10 minutes of breathing space can reset your focus.
  • Check in with your stress levels. Are you feeling overwhelmed, fatigued or emotionally drained? Acknowledge those feelings, don’t push them aside.
  • Lean on your colleagues. Share challenges, ideas, chat over coffee or come to our upcoming events. A supportive advising community can make a big difference.
  • Use campus resources. Don’t forget that mental health services, employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives are here for you, too.

Communication and Feedback

While the Academic Advising Council is not an official voting body within the university governance, our goal is to help serve as a direct voice on advising issues to both the Office of the Provost and the advising directors.

We encourage you to speak directly with your council representative regarding any issues or suggestions you may have. We also invite you to fill out the advising feedback survey. Some issues, like direct personnel concerns, may not be appropriate for this survey and may be better addressed to Human Resources or the Office of the Ombudsperson.

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Northern Illinois University's vision is to be an engine for innovation to advance social mobility; promote personal, professional and intellectual growth; and transform the world through research, artistry, teaching and outreach. Learn more about NIU’s vision, mission and values.

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