WACADA Professional Development Workshops are usually half day events, held virtually or as a drive-in event, to provide an opportunity for mid-year connection, idea sharing, and support for WACADA members.
Welcome Address
ZOOM Link: https://gtc.zoom.us/j/84950608447
A grand welcome from WACADA President Njeri Karanja!
Keynote Presentation
ZOOM Link: https://gtc.zoom.us/j/84950608447
Keynote – UW Parkside Professional Development Presentation – March 7 2025 (1)
WACADA Welcomes Bryan Lewis as our Spring 2025 Professional Development Workshop Keynote Speaker.
Breakout Session One:
Using Yoga, Mindfulness & Visualization for Advisors and Their Advisees
ZOOM Link: https://gtc.zoom.us/j/82587427844
Using Yoga, Mindfulness & Visualization for Advisors and their Advisees
This session will start with a 15-20 minute office yoga class which includes breath work, followed by a meditation with visualization techniques. The next 5-10 minutes will be an overview of the literature that supports using these techniques for self-care in the workplace and options for small things that may resonate with your students and help them calm anxiety or visualize a better outcome when working with coaching students. When we take care of ourselves we can better meet the needs of the students we support. There will be 5-10 minutes at the end to ask questions and interact in a dialogue. Live attendees will be provided with a recorded chair yoga class that they can use for themselves or share with students. This shared video link will be provided in the chat during the class.
Hit Refresh on Your Advising: Breathing New Life into Your Appointments & Communication
ZOOM LINK: https://gtc.zoom.us/j/83785783892
Advising appointments starting to feel like déjà vu? Emails beginning to sound like they’re on autopilot? It’s easy to fall into patterns and muscle memory in academic advising—but what if we hit refresh? This session will challenge advisors to rethink the repetitive parts of their practice and try new approaches to student interactions. From reimagining appointment structures to exploring fresh ways to communicate, we’ll discuss practical strategies to reinvigorate your advising. Whether you’re looking to shake things up with creative questions, or just a fresh mindset, this session will help you find ways to breathe new life into your work.
Breakout Session Two:
What I Learned From The Campus Closures
ZOOM LINK: https://gtc.zoom.us/j/83357759577
What I Learned From The Campus Closures Presentation
This presentation will highlight the presenter’s personal experience with campus closures and how advisors and administrators alike must reimagine how to support students using the advising reimagined strategies of Empower, Engage and Evolve. Both academic advisors and administrators must find their own reason why they are empowered to support students. They must engage with students to discuss realistic academic goals by gathering information. They must evolve their advising and communication strategies to best serve and support students as they work toward their academic goals. These three strategies can prove to be valuable skills for academic advisors and administrators alike as they navigate the ever-changing higher education landscape when supporting students.
A.I. and Advising: Ethical and Engaging Ways to Enhance the Student Experience:
ZOOM LINK: https://gtc.zoom.us/j/83529861868
A.I. and Advising Ethical and Engaging Ways to Enhance the Student Experience
As artificial intelligence (A.I.) continues to reshape higher education, academic advisors must navigate its integration in ways that enhance efficiency without compromising the human-centered nature of advising. This interactive session explores real-world applications of A.I. in academic advising, providing hands-on demonstrations and collaborative activities that build confidence in leveraging A.I. tools. Participants will gain actionable strategies to streamline workflows, address common advising challenges, and improve student outcomes—all while maintaining ethical and student-focused practices. Attendees will leave equipped with practical insights to harness A.I. as a supportive tool that complements, rather than replaces, the advisor’s essential role.
Bridging Gaps in Higher Education: Removing Faculty Advising & Transforming the Student Experience:
ZOOM LINK: https://gtc.zoom.us/j/82693761533
This session will explore the challenges of a split advising model—where academic and faculty advising operate separately—and the steps taken to enhance the student experience through a more integrated approach. At many institutions, faculty advisors are expected to provide academic guidance while balancing teaching and research responsibilities, often leading to inconsistencies in student support. Meanwhile, professional advisors are trained to assist with registration, academic procedures, and resource connections but may lack the subject-specific expertise that faculty bring. The lack of clear role delineation can result in confusion for students, decreased retention, and inefficiencies in institutional support structures. This presentation will share data on the impact professional academic advising has and highlight best practices for institutions seeking to improve student support. Attendees will gain insight into how advising realignment can enhance student success, reduce institutional barriers, and create a more equitable advising system.
Self Care Reality Check: Breaking Free from the Faux Fix
Self-Care Reality Check – Breaking Free From the Faux Fix
*You must be a WACADA member to attend this event*
Not a WACADA member or need to renew your membership? It’s not too late to join! (clickable link here)
Questions about the program or registration?
Contact Elyse Sewell <sewelle@gtc.edu>
*If you are not a current member and would like to attend, please register for the annual membership for a $20 fee. Any questions about membership, please email Paula Brugge, VP of Membership at paula.brugge@wisc.edu.
If your institution is interested in hosting a WACADA event, please complete this form.