A Qualitative Study on Academic Advising and Student Development in a Higher Education Institution in Liberia

Lendeh Teage Seboe

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April 2, 2023

Accepted

June 13, 2023

Published

June 29, 2023

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Abstract

Academic advising is a necessary process that plays a crucial role in overall student development in and beyond the academic arena. Although there is a great need to measure the impact of academic advising in Higher Education Institutions, an evaluation of this program has not been performed. This study aimed to establish the impact of faculty advising on student development in a higher education institution in Liberia. Individual in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used for data collection. The interview produced raw data from which coding was performed and then labeled under the five identified themes. The findings reveal mixed views for both positive and negative impacts on advising, with a strong concentration on the positive effect of perseverance, decision-making, self-study, enhanced self-esteem, and growth and stability as indicators for impactful student development. Implications for examining advisors’ competencies and perspectives to minimize issues of low student involvement in the advising process and students’ misconceptions of academic advising concepts are considered.

Keywords

Academic Advising faculty advising higher education institution student development Liberia qualitative study narrative inquiry

Author Biography

Lendeh Teage Seboe, Adventist University of West Africa, Liberia

Lendeh Seboe is the Dean of the Health Science College at the Adventist University of West Africa, Liberia. She is a Nurse Educator and a Public Health Practitioner and holds a Masters degree in both. She worked with HIV/AIDS prevention over a period of five years and has been working to develop Nursing and Public Health undergraduate students for over ten years. Her current interests have spanned towards higher education leadership with a focus on student academic development. She has published at least four scholarly papers and is deepening her dive for more extensive contributions to higher education.

How to Cite

Seboe, L. T. (2023). A Qualitative Study on Academic Advising and Student Development in a Higher Education Institution in Liberia. Pan-African Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 4(1). Retrieved from https://journals.aua.ke/pajes/article/view/343

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References

Alvarado, A. R. & Olson, A. B. (2020). Examining the relationship between college advising and student outputs: A content analysis of the NACADA journal. NACADA Journal, 40(2), 49-60. https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-19-33
Astin, A. W. (1991). Assessment for Excellence: The Philosophy and Practice of Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education. American Council on Education/Oryx Press Series on Higher Education.
Auguste, E., Packard, B. W., & Keep, A. (2018). Non-traditional women students’ experiences of identity recognition and marginalization during advising. NACADA Journal, 38(2), 45-60, https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-17-046
Battin, J. R. (2014). Improving Academic Advising through Student Seminars: A case study. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 25(3), 354-367. https://doi.org/10.1080/10511253.2014.910242
Braun, J., & Zolfagharian, M. (2016). Student participation in academic advising: Propensity, behavior, attribution, and satisfaction. Research in Higher Education, 57(8), 968-989. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-016-9414-2
Burks, C. H. (2022). Appreciative advising to enhance academic major satisfaction in pre nursing students. NACADA Journal, 42(1), p. 64-73, https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-21-26
Chan, Z. C. Y. (2016). A qualitative study of freshmen’s and academic advisors’ perspectives on academic advising in nursing. Nursing Education in Practice, 18, 23-29
Cheung, R. Y., Siu, A. M., & Shek, D. T. (2017). Survey of needs and expectations for academic advising in a Hong Kong university. NACADA Journal, 37(2), 21-32. https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-15-047
DeLaRosby, H. R. (2017). Student characteristics and collegiate environments that contribute to the overall satisfaction with academic advising among college students. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 19(2), 145–160. https://doi.org/10.1177/1521025115611618
Dollinger, M., Vanderlelie, J., Eaton, R., & Sealey, S. (2021). Academic advisors in Australian higher education: perceptions, role identities and recommendations. NACADA Journal, 41(2), p. 68-79, https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-21-17
Elliott, R. W. (2020). Keeping college students in the game: a review of academic advising. Interchange, 51,101-116, https://doi.org/10.1007/s/10780-020-09401-5
Fussy, D. S. (2018). The status of academic advising in Tanzanian universities. LEDI Journal of Educational Policy, 15(1), 81-98
Hessenauer, S., & Guthrie, D.D. (2018). Advising in social work education: student and faculty perceptions. Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work, 23(1), 11-30. https://doi.org/10.18084/1084-7219.23.1.11
Hu, X. (2020). Building an equalized technology mediated advising structure: Academic advising at community colleges in the post covid-19 era. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 44(10-12), 914-920. https://dio.org/10.1010/10668926.2020.1798304
Kohlfeld, X. X., Lutz, D. J., & Boon, A. T. (2020), Ethicality of advisors’ motives in academic advising: faculty, staff, and student perspectives. Journal of Academic Ethics, 18, 333–346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-019-09330-8
Kot, C. F. (2014). The impact of centralized advising on first-year academic performance and second year enrollment behavior. Research in Higher Education, 55(6), 527–563. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11162-013-935-4
Lakhal, S., Mukamurera, J., Bedard, M., Heilpom, G. & Chauret, M. (2020). Features fostering academic and social integration in blended synchronous courses in graduate programs. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 17(5), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1186/541239-020-0180-2
Iatrellis, O., Kameas, A. & Fitsilis, P. (2017). Academic advising systems: a systematic literature review of empirical evidence. Education Sciences, 7(4), 90. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/edusci7040090
Mbindyo, M., O’Connor, R. J., & Nandedkar, A. (2021). Linking transformational leadership theory to the practice of academic advising – A conceptual paper. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 21(12), https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v21i12.4710
McGill, C. M., Duslak, M., & Puroway, A. (2020). Entering academic advising: Theorizing professional socialization. Journal of Academic Advising, 2, 3–10. https://doi.org/10.14434/jaa.v2i1.27416
McGill, C. M., Ali, M. & Barton, D. (2020). Skills and competencies for effective academic advising and personal tutoring. Frontiers in Education, 5(135), 1–11, https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2020.00135
Mohamed, A. (2016). Interactive decision support for academic advising. Quality Assurance in Education, 24(3), 349-368, https://doi.org/10.1108/QAE-03-2013-0011
Mu, L. & Fosnacht, K. (2019). Effective advising: How academic advising influences student learning outcomes in different institutional contexts. The Review of Higher Education, 42(4), 1283-1307. https://doi.org/10.1353/rhe.2019.0066
Museus, S. D. & Ravello, J. N. (2021). Characteristics of academic advising that contribute to racial and ethnic minority student success at predominantly White institutions. NACADA Journal, 41(1), 13–25. https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-21-90
Nandedkar, A., Mbindyo, M. & O’Connor, R. J. (2020). Advisor transformational leadership and its impact on advisees: A conceptual analysis. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 20(14), 156-159.
Reindi, M., Auer, T. & Gniewosz, B. (2022). Social integration in higher education and development of intrinsic motivation: A latent transition analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 877072. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.877072
Troxel, W. G. (2018). Faculty advising: roles, rewards, and requisites. New Directions for Higher Education, 184, 83-97, https://doi:10.1002/he.20305
Vianden, J. & Barlow, P. J. (2015). Strengthen the bond: relationships between academic advising quality and undergraduate student loyalty. NACADA Journal, 35(2), 15-27. https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-15-026
Walters, L. M. & Seyedian, M. (2014). Improving academic advising using quality function deployment: A case study. College Student Journal, 50(2), 253-267.
White, E. R. (2020). The professionalization of academic advising: A structured literature review-a professional advisor’s response.NACADA Journal, 40(1), 5–9. https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-20-01
Woods, C. S., Richard, K., & Park, T., Tandberg, D., Hu, S., & Jones. T. B. (2017). Academic advising, remedial courses, and legislative mandates: An exploration of academic advising in Florida community colleges with optional developmental education. Innovation in Higher Education, 42, 289–303. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-016-9385-4
Zhang, Y. (Leaf). (2016). An overlooked population in community college: International students’ (in)validation experiences with academic advising. Community College Review, 44(2), 153–170. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091552116633293
Zarges, K, M., Adams, T. A., Higgins, E, M. & Muhovich, N. (2018). Assessing the impact of academic advising: Current issues and future trends. New Directions for Higher Education, 2018(184), 47-57. https://doi.org/10.1002/he.20302

References

Alvarado, A. R. & Olson, A. B. (2020). Examining the relationship between college advising and student outputs: A content analysis of the NACADA journal. NACADA Journal, 40(2), 49-60. https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-19-33

Astin, A. W. (1991). Assessment for Excellence: The Philosophy and Practice of Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education. American Council on Education/Oryx Press Series on Higher Education.

Auguste, E., Packard, B. W., & Keep, A. (2018). Non-traditional women students’ experiences of identity recognition and marginalization during advising. NACADA Journal, 38(2), 45-60, https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-17-046

Battin, J. R. (2014). Improving Academic Advising through Student Seminars: A case study. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 25(3), 354-367. https://doi.org/10.1080/10511253.2014.910242

Braun, J., & Zolfagharian, M. (2016). Student participation in academic advising: Propensity, behavior, attribution, and satisfaction. Research in Higher Education, 57(8), 968-989. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-016-9414-2

Burks, C. H. (2022). Appreciative advising to enhance academic major satisfaction in pre nursing students. NACADA Journal, 42(1), p. 64-73, https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-21-26

Chan, Z. C. Y. (2016). A qualitative study of freshmen’s and academic advisors’ perspectives on academic advising in nursing. Nursing Education in Practice, 18, 23-29

Cheung, R. Y., Siu, A. M., & Shek, D. T. (2017). Survey of needs and expectations for academic advising in a Hong Kong university. NACADA Journal, 37(2), 21-32. https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-15-047

DeLaRosby, H. R. (2017). Student characteristics and collegiate environments that contribute to the overall satisfaction with academic advising among college students. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 19(2), 145–160. https://doi.org/10.1177/1521025115611618

Dollinger, M., Vanderlelie, J., Eaton, R., & Sealey, S. (2021). Academic advisors in Australian higher education: perceptions, role identities and recommendations. NACADA Journal, 41(2), p. 68-79, https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-21-17

Elliott, R. W. (2020). Keeping college students in the game: a review of academic advising. Interchange, 51,101-116, https://doi.org/10.1007/s/10780-020-09401-5

Fussy, D. S. (2018). The status of academic advising in Tanzanian universities. LEDI Journal of Educational Policy, 15(1), 81-98

Hessenauer, S., & Guthrie, D.D. (2018). Advising in social work education: student and faculty perceptions. Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work, 23(1), 11-30. https://doi.org/10.18084/1084-7219.23.1.11

Hu, X. (2020). Building an equalized technology mediated advising structure: Academic advising at community colleges in the post covid-19 era. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 44(10-12), 914-920. https://dio.org/10.1010/10668926.2020.1798304

Kohlfeld, X. X., Lutz, D. J., & Boon, A. T. (2020), Ethicality of advisors’ motives in academic advising: faculty, staff, and student perspectives. Journal of Academic Ethics, 18, 333–346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-019-09330-8

Kot, C. F. (2014). The impact of centralized advising on first-year academic performance and second year enrollment behavior. Research in Higher Education, 55(6), 527–563. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11162-013-935-4

Lakhal, S., Mukamurera, J., Bedard, M., Heilpom, G. & Chauret, M. (2020). Features fostering academic and social integration in blended synchronous courses in graduate programs. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 17(5), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1186/541239-020-0180-2

Iatrellis, O., Kameas, A. & Fitsilis, P. (2017). Academic advising systems: a systematic literature review of empirical evidence. Education Sciences, 7(4), 90. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/edusci7040090

Mbindyo, M., O’Connor, R. J., & Nandedkar, A. (2021). Linking transformational leadership theory to the practice of academic advising – A conceptual paper. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 21(12), https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v21i12.4710

McGill, C. M., Duslak, M., & Puroway, A. (2020). Entering academic advising: Theorizing professional socialization. Journal of Academic Advising, 2, 3–10. https://doi.org/10.14434/jaa.v2i1.27416

McGill, C. M., Ali, M. & Barton, D. (2020). Skills and competencies for effective academic advising and personal tutoring. Frontiers in Education, 5(135), 1–11, https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2020.00135

Mohamed, A. (2016). Interactive decision support for academic advising. Quality Assurance in Education, 24(3), 349-368, https://doi.org/10.1108/QAE-03-2013-0011

Mu, L. & Fosnacht, K. (2019). Effective advising: How academic advising influences student learning outcomes in different institutional contexts. The Review of Higher Education, 42(4), 1283-1307. https://doi.org/10.1353/rhe.2019.0066

Museus, S. D. & Ravello, J. N. (2021). Characteristics of academic advising that contribute to racial and ethnic minority student success at predominantly White institutions. NACADA Journal, 41(1), 13–25. https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-21-90

Nandedkar, A., Mbindyo, M. & O’Connor, R. J. (2020). Advisor transformational leadership and its impact on advisees: A conceptual analysis. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 20(14), 156-159.

Reindi, M., Auer, T. & Gniewosz, B. (2022). Social integration in higher education and development of intrinsic motivation: A latent transition analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 877072. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.877072

Troxel, W. G. (2018). Faculty advising: roles, rewards, and requisites. New Directions for Higher Education, 184, 83-97, https://doi:10.1002/he.20305

Vianden, J. & Barlow, P. J. (2015). Strengthen the bond: relationships between academic advising quality and undergraduate student loyalty. NACADA Journal, 35(2), 15-27. https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-15-026

Walters, L. M. & Seyedian, M. (2014). Improving academic advising using quality function deployment: A case study. College Student Journal, 50(2), 253-267.

White, E. R. (2020). The professionalization of academic advising: A structured literature review-a professional advisor’s response.NACADA Journal, 40(1), 5–9. https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-20-01

Woods, C. S., Richard, K., & Park, T., Tandberg, D., Hu, S., & Jones. T. B. (2017). Academic advising, remedial courses, and legislative mandates: An exploration of academic advising in Florida community colleges with optional developmental education. Innovation in Higher Education, 42, 289–303. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-016-9385-4

Zhang, Y. (Leaf). (2016). An overlooked population in community college: International students’ (in)validation experiences with academic advising. Community College Review, 44(2), 153–170. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091552116633293

Zarges, K, M., Adams, T. A., Higgins, E, M. & Muhovich, N. (2018). Assessing the impact of academic advising: Current issues and future trends. New Directions for Higher Education, 2018(184), 47-57. https://doi.org/10.1002/he.20302

A Qualitative Study on Academic Advising and Student Development in a Higher Education Institution in Liberia

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Lendeh Teage Seboe, Adventist University of West Africa, Liberia

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