but you are not too late to recognize the outstanding advising work that happens around you!

The NACADA Region 8 Awards are a great way to recognize excellence in your colleagues and honor the fantastic advising-related work that takes place in our region. Nominations are still being accepted (January 27 deadline) for qualified individuals in the following categories:

• New Advisor Award
• Academic Advising Award
• Advising Administrator Award
• Institutional Administrator Award

Award winners and certificate of merit winners will be given in each category, and all will be recognized at the 2012 Regional Conference in Portland, Oregon. Don’t miss this chance to honor your amazing colleagues!

Happy New Year!

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Top 10 Reasons to Submit A Proposal for the 2012 Region 8 Conference in Portland, Oregon.

10. The proposal is just the start of the process: Even if you don’t have a presentation fully fleshed-out yet, don’t panic! Submit a proposal now. Creating the outline, thinking about learning outcomes and writing an abstract (all required components of the proposal) will help you begin to sink your teeth into what you hope to do. Remember, you are not on the hook until your proposal is accepted! (See “Start thinking about your proposal” for the 2011 pep talk. Change the date/location of the conference. The post still holds up.)

9. Higher-ups understand “presenting at a conference”: We don’t like to admit it publicly but some of us do work with bosses (and their bosses!) who don’t understand why professional staff might need to attend a conference. But they do understand “I am presenting at a conference.” You may have better luck at obtaining full or partial funding if you can convince them your attendance is as good for them (raising your department’s/office’s/school’s profile) as it is for you.

8. There is no sales tax in Oregon. (No, that has nothing to do with submitting a proposal but we had to get that reminder in somewhere!)

7. Be the conference you want to attend. With apologies to the Gandhi quote, the strength of the conference relies 100 percent on the strength of the region. Academic advisers are a sharing community. We learn best when we learn from each other: best practices, new practices, tried and true old practices.

6. It’s a great way to get involved: Presenting at a regional conference is a good way to “get your feet wet.” It’s less intimidating than the ten-times-larger annual conference and you are amongst friends. If it helps to imagine we are all naked as you are presenting, that’s fine. But since it’s Oregon in March, can we all at least be wearing ponchos?

5. It’s a great way to raise your professional profile: Present a topic. Colleagues see you present said topic. Colleagues who attend tell other colleagues you are a good person to to talk to about your topic. You get associated with that topic from here on. The end.

4. Presenters get a cool “PRESENTER” ribbon for their name tag. It’s all about the ribbon, baby…

3. All abstracts and presenters’ names and institutions are listed in the program. Look Ma, they’ve got my name in here!

2. It looks good on a resume. [Insert all other obvious consequences of having a good looking resume.]

1. Because you want to. Yes, you know you want to. There’s a little being in you screaming, “I WANT TO!”

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*Image for illustration purposes only. No actual currency will be awarded to the scholarship recipients!

Top Reason to Submit a Scholarship Application:

1. Didn’t think you needed more than one reason: If you don’t apply, you stand no chance of getting one. And, in case you haven’t heard, these seven scholarships have teeth: two hotel nights, the conference registration fee AND your annual NACADA membership! (Five more have less teeth – just the conference registration fee – but still! Are you going to say “no” to free money?!?!?!)

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So get going! You’ve got seven days. Happy New Year again. 2012 is going to be great year. Why wouldn’t it be? There’s still no sales tax in Oregon.

See you in Portland!

This joint effort set a record attendance with over 200 attendees, representing 14 institutions:  Walla Walla Community College, College of Western Idaho, Boise State University, Eastern Oregon University, Eastern Washington University, Heritage University, Idaho Peace Officer Standards & Training, Lewis-Clark State College, North Idaho College, Northwest Nazarene university, Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, Spokane Falls Community College, and Washington State University (WSU) (Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, and Tri-Cities).  The symposium was funded from numerous colleges and departments from UI and WSU.  This successful collaborative effort will likely be repeated for future advising symposiums.

This day-long event included 20 sessions covering an array of advising topics.  Presentations were give by faculty and staff from an array of institutions including Boise State University, Pierce College, Washington State University, Northwest Nazarene University, and Idaho Peace Officer Standards & Training.

Dr. Charlie Nutt, NACADA Executive Director, gave the keynote address on “Academic Advising, Student Learning and Success.”  Charlie’s enthusiastic speech was well received and was the highlight of the symposium.

The region leadership donated two NACADA memberships as door prizes. Both were awarded to University of Idaho attendees: Heather Page, Director, Student Services, College of Natural Resources, and Ricardo Buenrostro, Assistant Director, Admissions. Congratulations Heather and Ricardo!

~ Karen Gillespie, Idaho Liaison

The deadline for the Portland 2012 scholarships is December 15, 2011. If you haven’t already submitted an application, do so ASAP. This year, the scholarship package has some serious mileage: Seven scholarship packages will be awarded to cover a recipient’s annual NACADA membership dues, the regional conference registration AND two nights accommodations at the Hilton Portland & Executive Towers hotel. In addition, five more applicants will receive a scholarship that will cover the conference registration fee.

The application form is online: http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/conferences/awards/NM01Login.php

Applications will be reviewed by the region’s scholarship committee manned by several members of the region’s steering committee and chaired by Kimber Shaw of Boise State University.

Welcome NACADA attendees! These banners lines the streets leading to the conference center.

Three weeks out, there’s finally a pocket of time to stop and reflect on the 2011 NACADA annual conference in Denver. It was nice having the annual conference this far west. Some of us were lucky enough to only have one flight to Denver; others enjoyed no change in time zones.

First, the postcard info: the weather was great! Warm, sunny and a little breezy now and again. Locals told us it easily could have gone the other way  so…phew!…our silent prayers to the weather gods were answered. Overall, the hotel consensus was positive and the downtown location was indeed a crowd-pleaser. Different folks had differing levels of altitude adjustments; it was so easy to forget one was a mile above sea level. A slight headache and chapped lips were usually the first reminder to keep hydrated.

Hello? Is anyone home? The giant blue bear statue outside the conference center was hard to miss. Many a photo op happened with Blue Bear.

The Colorado Convention Center was huge. And it had a giant blue bear looking in at the entrance. Our conference started in the convention center at the butt end of the 2011 Great American Beer Fest. The irony of rubbing shoulders with young adults wearing pretzel leis was not loss on us.

Anna Chow and Lisa Laughter showcase their Emerging Leaders Program completion certificates

Region 8 got the conference off with a bang. Two of our colleagues gave pre-conference workshops on Sunday, October 2. Sarah Ann Hones of Washington State University presented “Academic Advising and Consultant Speakers Service Training Workshop.” Becca Schulze from the University of Oregon partnered with Katie McFaddin of Brandeis University on “Blogs, Screencasts & Podcasts: Empowering your Inner ‘Techie.’” Back at the Hyatt Regency, Sally Garner from the University of Oregon was initiated into the Emerging Leaders Program’s 2011-2013 class.

The Awards reception that afternoon was a lovely affair (facilitated, among others, by Oregon State University’s Kerry Kincanon). A small, but vocal, contingent was on hand to cheer the Region 8 award recipients:

• Karla Makus, Washington State University, Outstanding Advising Award – Academic Advising (Primary Role)
• Bryan Dutton, Western Oregon University, Outstanding Faculty Advising – Certificate of Merit
• Miranda Atkinson, University of Oregon, Outstanding New Advisor – Academic Advising (Primary Role) – Certificate of Merit
• Anna Chow, Washington State University – Research Grant recipient & graduate of the 2009-2011 Emerging Leaders Program
• Lisa Laughter, Washington State University – graduate of the 2009-2011 Emerging Leaders Program

David McDonald, Associate Provost of Western Oregon University, winner of the 2011 Pacesetter Award

Our loudest cheer (and standing ovation), was for Associate Provost David McDonald of Western Oregon University. He was awarded the 2011 Pacesetter Award at the event, an award that recognizes “Chief Executive Officers, Provosts, and Chief Academic or Student Affairs Officers who exemplify a commitment to academic advising and are true advocates for advising, students and advisors.” In nominating him for this award, his colleagues noted he “operates from a base of integrity and his strong character and principles drive him.” Other colleague noted, “(He is) an innovator that sees opportunities in challenges.” On campus, David is known for being both an advocate for students and professionals, helping both develop their potential. “Quite simply,” the announcer said, “he gets the job done.”

CONGRATULATIONS to all the Region 8 national award winners!

Region 8 chair Judi Haskins presents Lisa Laughter her "Best of Region" award.

But wait, there’s more clapping…

Lisa Laughter of Washington State University presented her Best of Region award-winning presentation, “Journey to Wellness: Managing daily stress as an advisor” on Tuesday, October 4th. The evening before, Region Chair Judi Haskins presented Lisa with her Best of Region award at the Region 8 business meeting.

Speaking of the business meeting…there’s good stuff happening around the region, folks.

Preparation for the 2012 Region 8 conference in Portland, Oregon, is well on its way. Conference chairs Jennifer Joslin and Lori Manson from the University of Oregon are headed up a dynamic planning committee. The conference will be held at the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower hotel in downtown Portland, March 17-20, 2012. Call for proposals are now live.

The region leadership was pleased to announce in the business meeting the creation of a new scholarship program for the region. The new scholarship “package” for Portland 2012 will include a NACADA membership, conference registration and two nights accommodation at the conference hotel. Seven recipients would be selected from around the region. [Insert applause track.] The region leadership hopes a larger scholarship package would allow an attendee who otherwise would not have any (or little) financial support to attend. Although not required, each attendee would be encouraged to submit a presentation proposal for the 2013 regional conference…

…in ALASKA!

Yes, Alaska! Hotel negotiations are underway for several hotels in downtown Anchorage. No decision has been made yet on conference dates; when we know, you’ll know. A preliminary conference planning committee has been put together but planning are still in very early stages. First comes hotels, then comes dates. Then comes everything else. But that’s another post for another time.

Jennifer Joslin from the University of Oregon giving her presidential speech

That’s not to say we’re not looking ahead because we are. Vancouver, British Columbia, you are in our sights for 2014…

There’s so much more to a conference than awards ceremonies and business meetings. If you were home but on Twitter, we hope you were following the #NACADA11 and the #NACADAR8 hashtags. The conference had a very active back-channel and an extremely well-attended tweet-up. There was way too much to cover in one blog post.

But we can’t end this reflection without the largest applause track for our region. At this conference, Region 8′s own Jennifer Joslin from the University of Oregon started her term as NACADA president. In her presidential speech, she laid out her priorities for the coming year:

I do plan on writing & speaking a great deal about technology in the coming year — it shapes our daily lives, and it will continue to shape the future of our field. I would argue that the theoretical shift from prescriptive to developmental advising, and the infusion of technology into advising are the two most pivotal events of the last 40 years in the field.

She challenged us to be aware how we react to change, especially if our campuses face tumultuous times:

Even in these difficult times, I encourage you to be the co-worker you want to work with; the boss you always wished you’d had; the advisor your students need you to be. From Oregon to Australia, these are hard times but let’s not let these times define and most importantly limit us.

She closed with a call to action:

When you get home, be prepared. This year NACADA will reach out to you regularly through regional conferences, emails, newsletters, speakers, webinars, list-servs, social media, and the learning network you have and are creating.  When I get those emails and see the phrase  NACADA Near You, I know from experience that it’s more than a tagline. It’s a promise of support, collegiality, and innovation. It’s also each one of us!  You are the NACADA Near You. As surely as I represent, so do you.  When you go home, you are the nearest thing to NACADA that some of your colleagues will experience this year. It’s a great opportunity and a tremendous responsibility.

So here is our own call to action now. As we as a region turn our attention to Portland 2012, think of the ways you can participate. Submit a proposal, apply for a scholarship, nominate a colleague for a regional award. Do these things for yourself or encourage/nominate others. There is great stuff happening in our region. Let’s share. Let us all be the NACADA near us.

NACADA Region 8 Awards are a great way to recognize excellence in your colleagues and honor the fantastic advising-related work that takes place in our region. We accept nominations of qualified individuals in the following categories:

• New Advisor Award
• Academic Advising Award
• Advising Administrator Award
• Institutional Administrator Award

Award winners and certificate of merit winners will be given in each category, and all will be recognized at the 2012 Regional Conference in Portland, Oregon. Past winners are listed on the Region 8 website.

Members interested in submitting a nomination packet should read these instructions and submit the requested materials by January 27, 2012. In recognition of the variable nature of our workloads, the Region 8 Awards Committee will gladly accept nomination packets on on-going basis up until the official submission deadline. Any materials received earlier in the cycle, will be held by the Awards Committee Chair until the official deadline.

Please organize all nomination materials into PDF or Word file attached to an email.  Submit ONE email (containing all the necessary attachments) to the Region 8 Awards Committee Chair, Jeff Malone.

Becca and Katie will be doing a four-hour pre-conference session at the annual conference in Denver this October, Blogs, Screencasts, & Podcasts: Empowering Your Inner ‘Techie.’

present

The 8th Annual Advising Symposium

Student Success:  It Takes A Village

Friday, September 9th, 2011

University of Idaho Campus

Moscow, Idaho

Conference Website: www.uidaho.edu/advising/acada/advisingsymposium

For more information, please contact Andrew Brewick or Heather Page at advising-symposium@uidaho.edu

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The University of Idaho Academic Advising Association (UI ACADA) and the Washington State University Academic Advising Association (WSU ACADA) will jointly host the 8th Annual Advising Symposium in Moscow, Idaho on September 9, 2011. This one-day conference is geared toward faculty and staff who advise students at community colleges, colleges and universities throughout the northwest.

Proposals that contribute broadly to this year’s advising theme are being sought by the symposium’s organizing committee from all institutional areas that contribute to the success of students.  This year’s advising symposium aims to expand our understanding of how we can all contribute to student success in our respective ‘villages’. Proposal topics include (but are not limited to): innovations in student services or advising technologies, involving faculty in effective advising, advising at-risk or non-traditional populations, study abroad or service-learning, career advising, and structured student activities outside the classroom.

PROPOSALS ARE DUE JUNE 1ST AND CAN BE SUBMITTED ONLINE AT THE ADVISING SYMPOSIUM WEBSITE.

For questions, please contact Conference Co-Chairs:
Andrew Brewick or Heather Page at advising-symposium@uidaho.edu

Two other presentations deserve Honorable Mentions for garnering the second and third most votes respectively: “Advising 3.0: Utilizing social media to meet students where there are” (Shannon Janssen and Brian French, University of Montana), and “Let’s TALK: Building a campus community, one story at a time” (Nicole Perkins, Julie Basque and Sally Garner, University of Oregon).

The “Best of Region” winner is determined by a ballot vote. All conference attendees were invited to vote for the concurrent/breakout session they felt was the best of the conference. The ballots were counting after all the sessions were over.