The definition of Advising at Post-Secondary institutions is changing; and with it, the role formal Advisors play, as well as the who in the student's ecosystem is considered to play an Advisory role. To that end, it is necessary for institutional administrators, students, advisors, software vendors and everyone involved in the student journey to have a shared understanding and unified language on what advising means, and what falls within the scope of a primary role vs academic advisor etc.
We created a comprehensive taxonomy of Holistic Advising that includes
a. outlines what it is and how it manifests in practice
b. who advises and where e.g. organic campus advising vs formal advising services
c. the factors that impact the advising needs of students, especially for underserved students e.g. cultural/ ethnic disparities, financial, relational and educational gaps, etc.
d. The key software technology product feature categories that engender success of student advising, e.g. a student resource hub, early alert systems, degree tracking/auditing etc.
Holistic advising is enabled through the use of student-centered institutional practices and integrated technology products to create a student experience where students receive comprehensive, personalized, and culturally relevant support to realize their academic, career, and personal goals. Having one language with which to discuss and prioritize projects enable streamlined, efficient student interventions from a people, process, and technology perspective