*** Breakfast on Your Own***

9:30am-10:30am        Registration/Check-In

10:30am-10:45am      Welcome/Land Acknowledgement

10:45am-10:50am      Keynote Introduction

10:50am-11:45am      Keynote

11:45am- 12:00pm     Short Break

12:00pm-2:00pm       Lunch/Business Meeting

2:05pm-3:05pm        Concurrent Session #1

The Design of an Advising Office: how your physical space can be used to improve the advising experience, Andrew Bartsch, Room 2227

How should we arrange the physical space of our office, and what does our office tell students? During a recent opportunity to redesign an advising office, these questions kept coming up. This session will review previous scholarship and new research to provide a starting place for anyone looking to make a positive change to their physical space. Attendees will be better able to identify interior design elements of their office that enhance or hinder the advising relationship and develop a plan to make creative use of resources to move closer to an ideal office space.

Office Hours and After Hours: Surviving and Thriving as a Parent in Higher Ed,                                                    Dorothy Stepp, Room 1505

This session is designed to cultivate an inclusive environment for open dialogue and diverse collaboration to address the unique challenges faced by parents working in higher education. Through small group discussions, attendees will examine key themes like effective time management, competing demands, and overall well-being. Participants will share positive experiences, contribute ideas, and explore practical approaches for achieving a healthier work-life integration. By the end of the session, participants will have established a stronger sense of community and actionable strategies for managing the demands of academia and parenthood. Diverse insights on how institutions nationwide are meeting the needs of working parents and caregivers will be a valuable component of this discussion. The well-being of parents in higher education is crucial in supporting our students’ success.

3:15pm-4:15pm        Concurrent Session #2

Fund for Wisconsin Scholars-A Universities of Wisconsin Partner, Angie Swenson-Holzinger, Room 1505

Attend this session for an overview of the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars (FFWS) program that partners with all 13 four-year Universities of Wisconsin to provide selected students need-based grants of up to $4,500/year for up to 5 years and a peer mentoring program. We will cover a brief history of the FFWS program and key information needed when working with any of the 4000+ students receiving the FFWS grant across the state. This session is designed for anyone who supports students on any UW campus to help support awareness about FFWS and the impact common student decisions can have on their grant, but all are welcome.

Balancing the Load: High-Impact, Low-Effort Strategies for Managing High Advising Caseloads, Marissa Greuel Hainstock, Room 2227

As advising caseloads grow and resources remain limited, how can advisors maintain meaningful connections with students without burning out? Rooted in Bronfenbrenner’s Developmental Ecology theory, this session explores low-effort, high-impact strategies for managing high advising caseloads in both two-year and four-year institutions. Attendees will learn how to apply systems-thinking to streamline advising practices, enhance efficiency, and sustain developmental relationships with advisees. Using real-world examples, the session will highlight scalable tools, proactive communication methods, and time-saving advising structures. Participants will leave with practical takeaways and the opportunity to begin crafting their own caseload management plan. Whether advising hundreds or thousands, this session equips professionals with sustainable strategies to support student success while maintaining advisor well-being.

Guiding the Student, Managing the Parent: Navigating Helicopter Parent Dynamics in Academic Advising,  Elyse Sewell, Room 1509

This presentation focuses exclusively on how academic advisors can effectively navigate interactions with helicopter parents while centering the support and development of their students. While advisors must prioritize serving the student—regardless of age or parental involvement—it is equally important to recognize and respect the parent’s intent to be supportive. Striking this balance requires a nuanced approach: acknowledging parents’ concerns without allowing them to take control of the advising process or decision-making on behalf of the student. Through real-world case studies, communication strategies, and boundary-setting tools, this session equips advisors with the skills and confidence to address parental overreach respectfully, foster healthy parent-student-advisor relationships, and reinforce student autonomy while remaining professional and student-centered in all practices.

4:15pm-5:00pm       Social/Networking Time

*** Dinner on your Own***

8:00am- 9:00am         Breakfast

9:05am-10:00am        System Updates (Technical/2-Year Private & Universities of Wisconsin)

10:00am-10:10am      Short Break

10:10am-11:10am      Concurrent Session #3

The Ins and Outs of Transfer-Friendly Advising, Marissa Greuel Hainstock Room 2227

The Ins and Outs of Transfer-Friendly Advising examines the evolving needs of transfer students through Schlossberg’s Transition Theory and national data. The session explores common transfer patterns—including swirl and lateral moves—and addresses the “what,” “how,” and “why” of student transfer. Strategies for both transfer-in and transfer-out advising will be shared, focusing on credit mobility, prior learning, and the emotional impact of transition. With a student-centered approach, the session highlights pathways, flexibility, and collaboration, offering practical tools to help advisors support smooth, informed, and empowering transfer experiences.

Advising is teaching: Data-driven approaches to demonstrate that students are learning what you intend them to learn, Susan Rufledt Room 1402

If advising is teaching, have we thought about our curriculum, about whether students are learning what we intend they learn? Identifying what we want students to learn, and assessing whether in fact they are learning, informs us about the effectiveness of our teaching so, when necessary, we can adjust our advising practices. We can also be better prepared to answer questions about the effectiveness of advising. In our session, we will give an overview of what the assessment of student learning outcomes plan entails for Academic Advising Services at UW-Madison. We will share some unique challenges and successes we experienced while developing it, share helpful resources, and encourage audience conversation about how an assessment plan might look like at their institution.

So, you think you want to go to Medical School – tips, strategies, and guidelines for advising students for Professional Health Programs, Bryan Lewis Room 1505

College students pursuing professional healthcare careers often face unique challenges requiring tailored support. These high-achieving, goal-driven individuals frequently struggle with unmet expectations and intense pressure to succeed, compounded by the competitive nature of health program admissions. Despite their needs, research on this population is limited. This session offers practical tools and strategies for advising, empowering and providing support, hope, and inspiration to students aiming for careers in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and similar fields. Drawing from over 35 years of experience as a former Pre-Health student, Director of Pre-Health Programs at my University, and Faculty member, this presentation will provide insights into effective advising, demystify application processes, and debunk common myths. Attendees will also engage in an activity designed to inspire confidence and hope, helping students recognize their potential to succeed.

11:15am- 12:15pm     Concurrent Session #4

From Burnt Out to Burning Up: How one advisor recovered from burnout, Zach Wyman Room 2227

12:30pm-1:30pm       Lunch

1:35pm-2:35pm         New/Returning Member Meetings

New Member Meeting Room 2227

Returning Member Meeting Room 1402

2:40pm-3:00pm         Closing Remarks