Critical thinking, teamwork and the ability to communicate effectively are essential aptitudes in today’s evolving job market. The trouble is, 3 out of 4 employers report that finding graduates with these soft skills is a challenge, based on a study from the Society for Human Resource Management.

To equip students with the proficiencies necessary to be versatile and stand out, the College of Arts and Sciences | Maxwell School’s Office of Advising offers customized programming, resources, guidance and tailored support to help students thrive from the time they step on campus to their entrance into the workforce. They recently introduced several significant innovations to ensure student success, including expanded study abroad and internship opportunities, and enhanced alumni mentoring.

The national advising community is taking note, as A&S | Maxwell Advising was selected as a 2024 Outstanding Advising Program Certificate of Merit Award winner by the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). NACADA is a professional society which promotes and supports quality academic advising in higher education to enhance the educational development of students. This most recent recognition comes on the heels of Elena Williams, director of first year advising, winning a regional NACADA award for Excellence in Advising, and the advising office receiving the 2024 Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award for Campus Internationalization for its commitment to international student success.

The annual Outstanding Advising Program Certificate of Merit Award recognizes programs which show excellence in the following categories:

• Innovative quality (new approaches to effective academic advising)
• Creativity (creative use of resources in the delivery of academic advising services)
• Currency (addresses current problems and issues in academic advising)
• Institutional commitment (commitment to advising throughout the institution)
• Impact (evidence of positive student and/or institutional outcomes)
• Transferability (applicable to a wide variety of institutions)

Under the direction of Steve Schaffling, assistant dean of student success in A&S | Maxwell, the advising office works with over 5,000 Syracuse students each year. Their staff of 30 guides undergraduates through everything from making sure they’ve completed academic requirements to encouraging them to explore unique options both on and off campus that can help them better prepare for the challenges of the professional world.

Recently introduced A&S | Maxwell Advising innovations include:

• Integration of academic and career advising - Assurance that students have four years of access to an advisor who can help them plan and follow an academic path that leads from the classroom to experiential learning, as well as career options or graduate school.
• Health and Science in Madrid - New program for science and pre-health majors designed specifically to provide a rewarding cross-cultural experience while ensuring on-time graduation for these students.
• Update to the advising structure – Six advisors now focus solely on first-year students and 12 advisors assist students from their sophomore through senior year. The change allows advisors to better focus on the needs of first-year students, which is often more about the transition to college life than just academics.
• Alumni-student mentoring program – Pairs students with an alum who works in a particular field of interest.
• Edge program - Certification that encourages students to turn experiential learning into career or graduate school readiness.
• Signal Vine - Two-way text-messaging system that allows students to contact their advisors quickly.
• International Student Success Model – Supports international students in their first-year transition and beyond by providing intentional, targeted programming in academic and career advising.
• Career Navigator and Career Roadmap – Web based tools to help students quickly navigate career resources and available experiential learning resources for any stage of their career search.

“Our unique integrated academic and career advising model is a goal-oriented approach to helping students navigate decisions from selecting a major to career discovery,” says Schaffling. “Being recognized by a global organization like NACADA demonstrates that our methods are innovative and effective.”

The A&S | Maxwell advising office will be honored at the Global Awards Ceremony at NACADA's Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 28.