The Developmental Advising Inventory: A New Approach to Academic Advising

The Developmental Advising Inventory is based on the premise that academic and faculty advisors have an important role in extending the human development mission of the college. The inventory contains 135 value-biased items addressing nine dimensions of development: Intellectual, Life Planning, Social, Physical, Emotional, Sexual, Cultural, Spiritual, and Political. This article discusses the theoretical and research foundations of the instrument. However, emphasis is given to applications in such academically related settings as (a) faculty advising, (b) advising centers, (c) general education classes, (d) learning centers, (e) peer advising, and (f) major field advising. The development of the Developmental Advising Inventory was supported by a 1988 grant from the NACADA Research Committee.