Academic Advising as a Multisystem, Collaborative Enterprise

An institution's system of academic advising is characterized not only by formal organizational structures and delegated responsibilities, but also by a diverse set of dynamic influences. These influences comprise different systems operating at the various levels of a) the individual student, b) the advisor, c) the advising center or department, and d) the institution. A systems approach—both stressing functional relationships among persons and units, and examining transactions and processes—provides a useful foundation for understanding, assessing, and improving academic advising. Implications of this approach are described.