NODA Journal 19_1.indd


FALL 2011  •  VOLUME 19, NUMBER 1 5

Now more than ever, higher education is faced with fluctuating enrollments 
and fewer resources to meet student demands. Creativity and collaboration are 
essential among faculty, staff, and administrators to foster student success; and 
orientation, transition, and retention programs are at the forefront of that charge. 
Institutions are called to be innovative in their design and approach to provide 
students with all the information needed to succeed in one comprehensive 
package. One of the most critical drivers for these programs is the academic 
advising and registration process for classes, and it is the focus of this special 
edition of The Journal of College Orientation and Transition.

The seeds for this special edition were planted nearly three years ago through 
conversations between NODA and the National Academic Advising Association 
(NACADA). Colleagues discussed the overlap in goals and outcomes for related 
programs, but lamented that practitioners were isolated in their own campuses 
while attempting to solve similar problems. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could 
reach out to members of each association and share knowledge and best practices? 
And this fall, the special edition has sprouted!

The editorial board is grateful to our colleagues from NACADA and the First-
Year Experience (FYE) Movement for their contributions. The board reached out to 
various seasoned professionals in the field as well as those who recently presented 
at national conferences to offer a variety of perspectives. The response was 
overwhelmingly positive, and we know that NODA members will benefit greatly 
from the wisdom shared within these pages.

In this edition, we begin with a comprehensive literature review from Joe 
Cuseo, who is a leading expert in research in the functional area of academic 
advising. What follow are several innovative models for academic advising, 
including appreciative advising, intrusive advising, and digital advising. The 
articles discuss the importance of adopting common campus models in order to 
communicate consistent expectations and requirements for students, how such 
models can help improve advising delivery and satisfaction, and ways in which 
best practices can address some unique needs of diverse student populations. 
This edition culminates with an interview with Virginia Gordon, a pillar of our 
profession, who shares her insights of over 25 years in the field of academic 
advising. 

We hope the fruits of this labor will nourish your creative spirit with ideas 
for designing effective new student programs that successfully integrate academic 
advising and registration components on your campuses.

Gregory V. Wolcott
Guest Editor, The JCOT Special Edition - Fall 2011

PREFACE

Orientation and Academic Advising: 
Essential Partners in New Student Success