Want to become an advisor?

At least once a month, we receive visits from students, community members, and displaced workers who come in to the ACC to inquire about how to become an advisor at UVU.  Typically, the first statement that comes from these visits is “I really like to help people!”  This is a great starting point, and a must-have component in a service industry that requires frequent face-to-face interaction with students.  

Along with this desire to help others, some of the additional recommendations for becoming an advisor at UVU would be experience in a student service type of occupation.  Many advisors at UVU and other higher education institutions begin their career path in a field such as information desks, financial aid, admissions, graduation, or as an administrative professional in an academic department somewhere on campus.

It is highly recommended that a potential advisor gain experience and exposure to situations that allow for deeper understanding of policies, procedures, and resources available to students.  Many people who inquire about transitioning into advising are working in occupations that do not provide any relevant experience to higher education.  Any opportunity to move into a student service occupation can be extremely helpful when seeking access to the advising profession.

Some departments prefer a degree in the content area in which the advisor would be working; others like the ACC prefer a degree in the behavioral science area that helps an advisor gain a better understanding of human behavior and personality.  Each department at UVU has different preferences but often place more value on experience with helping students in an academic environment than the specific degree.

Advising can be an incredibly rewarding profession, especially when you help a student who has struggled academically to find success and confidence.  Those who truly “want to help people” will find the opportunity to do so in higher education advising.