IUPUI University College and Advisor Receive Awards for Outstanding Advising Program and Outstanding New Advisor

Indianapolis, IN (May 2010) – University College’s advising program, “Students Taking Academic Responsibility (STAR)” has been selected as an Outstanding Institutional Advising Program Award winner from the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) as part of the 2010 Annual Awards Program for Academic Advising.

This program is directed by Chris Maroldo. Samantha Walters, Academic Advisor with University College/Academic and Career Development, was selected by NACADA as a recipient of an Outstanding New Advisor Award in the Academic Advising—Primary Role category.

IUPUI is honored to have received this prestigious award for the STAR Program. STAR is a semester-long mentoring program for students in University College who are on first-time academic probation. STAR provides a student, staff, or faculty mentor for each student as they work to get back to good academic standing.

The mentors assist students with becoming more focused by working together to address challenges, improve strengths, and connect to the various resources on campus that can help them reach their academic and career goals. This quality advising program was selected as one of three programs to be honored with this award in nation-wide competition this year.

The Outstanding Advising Program Awards annually recognize programs that document innovative and/or exemplary practices resulting in improvement of academic advising service. The Outstanding New Advisor Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated qualities associated with outstanding primary role academic advising of students and who have served as an advisor for a period of three or fewer years. Walters is one of seven academic advisors honored with this award in this category in the nation-wide competition this year. Both awards will be presented during the NACADA Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida this fall.

For more information, contact the Division of Undergraduate Education Office of Communications at duecomm@iupui.edu.