Advising With a Learning Management System
Jamie Thomas-Ward, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign

Advisors are using websites, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and all manner of social media to connect with students now. Have you considered how to integrate the use of a Learning Management System (LMS) such as Compass, Blackboard, or Moodle into your advising? Pre-Law Advising Services at the University of Illinois piloted use of a Compass page (a Blackboard LMS) to complement our use of social media in the fall of 2014. We’ve gathered extensive student use data over the 2014-15 academic year and will share the results of our Compass experiment. First, we will share why an advising office should consider using an LMS. Then, we will share what we have learned thus far about the benefits and the pitfalls of using an LMS, including: potential security advantages of using an LMS; restrictions when using an LMS; types of analytics provided by an LMS; and time and training considerations. We will share what the data show about how our students are utilizing our Compass page in comparison to our other advising outlets (website, Facebook, blog, Twitter).

ILACADA Orientation for First-Time Attendees
Shawn Schultz, Eastern Illinois University, Anjie Almeda, Illinois State University, Dan Turner, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, Stuart Robinson, University of Illinois at Chicago

This session is designed to provide new or first-time conference attendees with an overview of ILACADA, exploring various membership benefits and opportunities to partner with the organization for your success! Come and meet new members, as well as members of the ILACADA leadership team, and learn more about how you can get involved and/or become a part of this exciting and growing organization.

Advising DACAmented and Undocumented Students in Illinois
Melissa Newell, Moises Orozco, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign

This presentation will inform advisors and higher education professionals on the federal and state policies that impact undocumented students attending two-year and four-year institutions of higher education in the state of Illinois, the unique challenges and barriers these students face, and resources and assistance advisors may provide to these students. The immigration climate is in a state of limbo with the lack of comprehensive immigration reform setting a federal precedent, but states like Illinois have passed legislation to encourage undocumented students to attend higher education. This presentation will offer powerful accounts of undocumented students’ resiliency to obtain a college education. Most importantly, participants will learn how to navigate the bipolar immigration context and become an “undocually” on your two-year or four-year campus so you are prepared to support and assist these students along their college path. You will be provided with helpful guides and resources, and receive information on the national ‘United We Dream’ initiative.

Innovation in Advising: Individual Development Plan
Laura West, Paloma Vargas, Northeastern Illinois University

Individual development plans (IDP’s) have become an integral part of advising and professional development in doctoral and post-doctoral programs. In these communities, IDPs have been employed to help students to self-identify strengths and weaknesses as they relate to their professional lives. In addition, IDPs are used to teach students how to create SMART career-oriented goals. Individual Development Plans are a powerful tool, which can be incorporated into advising sessions at the undergraduate level. We will present how an Individual Development Plan can be adjusted to address the needs of undergraduate STEM majors participating in a summer research program. In this environment, IDPs were used to assess student skill sets and to create a plan aimed at further developing those skills. We will provide relevant examples from Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) and practical tips for implementation. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss these concepts and brainstorm strategies for application on their own campuses.

Advising Collaborations in the First Year Classroom
Carmalita Kemayo, University of Illinois Springfield

This round table discussion is an opportunity to share and compare current practices at Illinois institutions that integrate advising and advisors and their First Year Experience/Freshmen Seminar courses. At some institutions, the advisor is the course instructor. At others, the FYE course is independent of advising, and in some cases, other academic departments as well. Still at others, participation in designated advising activities is integrated into the learning activities of the course and included in the assessment of the student’s learning. Participants are encouraged to read Bigger, J. J. (2005). Improving the odds for freshman success and Farlowe, A. (2006). Working advising magic: Using a Freshman orientation course as an advising tool prior to attending to add context and depth to the round table discussion. The moderator will provide a few prepared questions, and will also solicit group-generated questions. This discussion will allow participants an opportunity to share their experiences and discuss 1) the rationales for the type of involvement related to institutional goals and resources, 2) the role of advisors as educators in both curricular and co-curricular settings; and 3) the value of learning in advising to the student, the advisor, and the institution. Participants will gain exposure to methods employed at other institutions, have an opportunity to showcase best practices from their institutions, and glean insights to create effective instructor/advisor collaborations that benefit student learning outcomes. This will be a lively interactive session with opportunities for networking and team building within and across institutions.