Bethany, an academic advisor in Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, completes a consultation with a student while under the observation of her associate dean, Lin. The observation is a part of a regularly scheduled function of her supervision. After the observation, Lin commends Bethany for her warmth, rapport-building, humor and knowledge of the university.
Lin offers constructive feedback on the several practices he saw as too assumptive or imposing. Lin offered that while in conversation about career exploration with the student, Bethany dismissed the student’s concerns about family input and the needs of their hometown when making major and career choices. Instead, Bethany encouraged the student to discover and pursue their personal passions.
Lin offered that such a paradigm was typical of white and western learners and their families, but that such advice may not be resonant with many communities of color. Lin added that such advice was not essential for the purpose of academic advising. Bethany remained open to Lin’s feedback, and together they discussed alternatives and strategies for future advising sessions.
In future advising sessions, Bethany reframes her guidance by first asking students what factors were important to them in making major and career decisions. Then she uses those factors to help her advisees reflect and navigate difficult choices.
- The Issue: An academic advisor receives a formal observation and feedback of her advising skills and is made aware that her helping strategies are imposing a particular worldview.
- The Deliberation: The advisor remains open, and together the advisor and their supervisor deliberate possible strategies and techniques to mitigate the imposition of a worldview.
- The Growth: The advisor finds a helping strategy that centers the student’s worldview and learns to adjust her guidance and resources in response to the student’s beliefs and values.