Statler College advising team receives highest honor from NACADA

Advising center team members Taylor Scites, Emily Shope, Dave LaSota, Michelle Poland, Chris Randall, Taylor Niggel, David Solomon, and Dominique Mick. Not pictured, Kevin Tapscott. (WVU Photo/Megan Rinker)

At the West Virginia University Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources the advising team has taken an innovative approach to advising and have been recognized with the National Academic Advising Association Outstanding Advising Program Award for their exemplary practices resulting in improvement of academic advising services.

Story by Paige Nesbit, director of marketing and communications
Photos by Megan Rinker, graphic arts designer

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

“The Statler College Advising Team is continuously innovating and looking for ways to better support our students,” said Michelle Poland, director of the Statler College Advising Center. “For example, implementing new technologies for scheduling and communication, creating targeted outreach campaigns for at risk students, or enhancing career and professional development advising.”

The Statler Advising Team supports approximately 2,700 undergraduate engineering and computer science students. In the last five years, fall-to-fall retention increased from 82.8% in fall 2020 to 87% in Fall 2023, and our fall-to-spring retention rose from 93% to nearly 97%, as a direct result of the team's innovative and student-centered initiatives. 

In addition, Statler College 4-year graduation rates have increased from 34.6% from fall 2017 to 43.6% in fall 2020. Their proactive advising model ensures that students receive personalized attention early and often, fostering stronger connections to their academic programs and the broader university community.

“Their comprehensive approach to student support, academic planning, and career readiness represents the highest standards of effective advising,” Poland explained. “Their hard work and dedication have been recognized through several advising awards over the years. I can say without hesitation that the Statler College Advising Team sets a global standard for excellence in academic advising.”

Since its launch in fall 2018, the advising center now consists of Senior Academic Advisers Dave LaSota, Dominique Mick, Chris Randall and Emily Shope alongside Academic Advisers Taylor Niggel, Taylor Scites, David Solomon, Kevin Tapscott, led by Poland. The team boasts 61 years of combined advising experience. 

“The future goal for advising in general is continuing to promote and advocate for the profession, more specifically for my team is to continue finding new ways to provide professional development for each adviser, and to continue to support our students,” Poland stated.  

The advising team utilizes NACADA best practices to guide professional development, which in turn impacts Statler students directly via relationship building, academic and professional goal setting, fostering skill development and accountability, and ensuring students can make informed decisions about their futures.

NACADA, the Global Community for Academic Advising, is the premier association dedicated to student success in higher education through quality academic advising. It promotes and supports effective advising practices to enhance students' educational development across institutions of higher learning. 

Learn more about the Statler College Advising Center through their advising website. 

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