Source: Charlie Nutt, 785-532-5742, cnutt@k-state.edu
Website: http://www.dce.k-state.edu/education/advising
News release prepared by: Abigail Crouse, 785-532-5888, acrouse@k-state.edu

Friday, Aug. 26, 2011

WELL ADVISED: K-STATE OFFERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES TO ACADEMIC ADVISERS AT BYU

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University is making it easier for academic advisers at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, to earn course credit for their academic advising certificate or master's degree.

Since 2009, K-State has offered an annual four- to five-week course at BYU to provide academic advisers with an immersing professional learning experience.

"I work with the students on the BYU campus for five days and they do the remainder of the course online," said Charlie Nutt, assistant professor of special education, counseling and student affairs at K-State and executive director of the National Academic Advising Association. Nutt has more than 30 years of experience in education at the secondary and postsecondary levels, has written extensively in the area of academic advising and has presented at various state, regional and national conferences.

Nutt taught the first course, Foundations of Academic Advising, in 2009, and the second, The College Student and College Environment, in 2010. This year, he taught Administration of Academic Advising, which focused on the skills, knowledge and behaviors that effective administrators should have. Successful completion of these courses will lead toward the academic advising certificate or master's degree programs.

Each year, Nutt teaches for a week at BYU, presenting a series of lectures and helping students work on various individual assignments.

"All assignments are developed from the standpoint of the students," Nutt said. "This summer, I had a series of guest speakers both in person and via technology.

"The primary benefit has been to provide academic advisers a firm foundation in the field of study and profession of academic advising. Many have expressed that the courses have changed how they see themselves and their roles on campus," he said.

For more information about K-State continuing education's academic advising programs, visit http://www.dce.k-state.edu/education/advising.