What is Appreciative Advising?

We are all searching for ways to improve our academic advising skills and to increase student retention rates. Appreciative Advising harnesses the power of the organizational development theory of Appreciative Inquiry to help us optimize our students’ educational experiences.

Appreciative Advising is the intentional collaborative practice of asking positive, open-ended questions that help students optimize their educational experiences and achieve their dreams, goals, and potentials. It is perhaps the best example of a fully student-centered approach to student development. The great news is that it works! There is a robust Appreciative Advising literature that can be accessed on the Publications link.