2020 AAA Conference

20/20 Vision: The Future of Advising

The Academic Advising Association at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is excited to host its 7th Annual Academic Advising Conference on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 from 9:00am – 3:30pm at UNL’s Innovation Campus.

As the demographics of those entering higher education change, the field of student affairs and those within it will also need to adapt. The 2020 theme will encourage attendees to consider new ways of supporting and empowering our students and colleagues given the generational, demographical, and technological shifts that are impacting our work within higher education. To best serve our students, student affairs professionals must be willing to reflect and ask: How might we need to change our perspectives and strategies to accommodate shifts? Who are our students, what unique needs do they have, and how do we most effectively address and support them? How do we promote the overall wellbeing of our students and student affairs professionals? What might we expect in the coming years within the field, and how do we best prepare? How is our work aligned with the NACADA conceptual, relational, and informational competency components? The purpose of this conference is to dive into discussion and begin generating plans of action for the future. 

The conference committee has identified 3 thematic concentrations:

Adapting to Emerging Generational Shifts:

  • Modifying service offerings to best meet emerging student needs
  • Adjusting advisor expectations and strategies for specific contexts and/or with student populations (i.e. communication methods, parental involvement, financial considerations, resource and event promotion, etc.)
  • Effectively supporting and connecting with non-traditional students
  • Exploring and adapting to generational differences on advising teams

Advocating for Health & Well-Being:

  • Collaborating with campus partners to promote and support student mental health and well-being
  • Promoting self-care and self-advocacy among student affairs professionals
  • Understanding unique hurdles as they relate to specific student populations (i.e. nontraditional students, military-connected and veteran students, students with disabilities, DACA students, LGBTQ+ students, first generation students, students of color, transfer students)

Advancing the World of Advising

  • Utilizing assessment to enhance best practices in advising
  • Developing and sharing best practices for emphasizing developmental approaches while utilizing emerging advising-related technological tools
  • Drawing on theory to promote student self-exploration (i.e. identity, academic and co-curricular interests, etc.)
  • Exploring future considerations and concerns within the field of student affairs and potential ways to address them

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Charlie L. Nutt

Dr. Charlie Nutt, a NACADA member since 1991, joined Kansas State University and the NACADA Executive Office in 2002 as Associate Director and Assistant Professor in the College of Education and was made Executive Director in 2007. Charlie served in various leadership roles in the Association before coming to work full-time for Executive Office. As Executive Director of NACADA, Charlie is responsible for coordinating the work of the Executive Office staff as well as working with NACADA Board of Directors, Council and the association’s global initiatives.

Questions regarding the conference can be directed to Conference Co-Chairs, Cheryl Pflueger (cpflueger3@unl.edu, 402.472.3179) and Rachel Wesley (rwesley2@unl.edu, 402.472.2310)

Conference Schedule

TIME EVENT LOCATION
8:00-8:50am Check-in, Refreshments, Poster Session Banquet Hall, 2nd Floor
9:00-9:15am Welcome Banquet Hall, 2nd Floor
9:15-10:15am

Keynote: Academic Advising - Past, Present, Future - And the Impact on Student Learning and Success

Banquet Hall, 2nd Floor
10:15-10:30am BREAK

Concurrent Session #1

10:30-11:30am

Keynote Breakout: Building Your Own Professional Development Plan

Banquet Hall, 2nd Floor

Higher Education at Large: Navigating College in a Fat Body

Breakout Room 1, 1st Floor

Empowering Success: Applying Influence Tactics to Bolster Student Self-Efficacy

Breakout Room 2, 1st Floor

11:30am-12:45pm LUNCH - Banquet Hall, 2nd Floor

Concurrent Session #2

12:45-1:45pm

The Future of Advising in Nebraska: Continuing the Good Life

Banquet Hall, 2nd Floor

Resistance to Seeking Counseling for International Students

Auditorium, 2nd Floor

Mindful Self-Compassion: A Proven Path for Building Resiliency and Self-Acceptance

Breakout Room 1, 1st Floor

How Understanding White Supremacy Culture and Critical Race Theory Can Guide Advising Practices

Breakout Room 2, 1st Floor
1:45-2:00pm BREAK

Concurrent Session #3

2:00-3:00pm

First-Gen Stories Matter

Banquet Hall, 2nd Floor

Invitational Rhetoric in Academic Advising: Using Language to Support Students’ Self Determination

Auditorium, 2nd Floor

Trauma Informed Advising

Breakout Room 1, 1st Floor

The Productive Advisor:  Improve your Wellbeing by Managing Your Email, To-Do List, and Time Better

Breakout Room 2, 1st Floor

3:00-3:30pm BEST SESSION AWARDS, EVALUATIONS, AND CLOSING - Banquet Hall, 2nd Floor

3:30-5:00pm NETWORKING (OPTIONAL) - The Mill at Nebraska Innovation Campus

The AAA Conference will be held in the Conference Center on Nebraska Innovation Campus: 2021 Transformation Drive, Lincoln, NE 68508. Below you will see a map that identifies parking for attendees. Parking will be located on the north side of campus. We look forward to seeing you on the 25th!