Academic Advising as a Field of Inquiry
In this article, I examine the degree to which academic advising has met the scholarship and research standards necessary to lay claim to designation as a discipline or as a profession. I include a review of 3 decades of observations on advising scholarship and research, a review of NACADA's efforts to advance research, and an analysis of trends in scholarly productivity in academic advising. In addition, I address the current state of inquiry (scholarship and research). Finally, I include suggested actions necessary to expand the quantity and enhance the quality of advising as a field of inquiry.
Contributor Notes
Wes Habley is a principal associate in educational services and coordinator of ACT's 44 state organizations. He is co-editor of the 2000 and 2008 editions of Academic Advising: A Comprehensive Handbook and is the primary researcher and author of four national studies on academic advising and two national studies on college student retention practices.
He is past President and past Treasurer of NACADA, the founding Director of the Summer Institute on Academic Advising and recipient of NACADA's awards for service to NACADA and contributions to the field of advising.
Dr. Habley can be reached at Wes.Habley@ACT.org