About
In Fall 2013, the Mason Advisor Certificate (MAC) program became available to the campus community. After 7 successful years, MAAN members have spent more than a year to create the next level in academic advisor professional development.
The Developing Advising Practice (DAP) Program consists of five topic areas for existing academic advisors and will provide a cohesive curriculum centered around topics related to advising approaches, university resources, current trends and tools, and more.
Advisors will:
- Develop an understanding of current trends in academic advising
- Recognize the multiple advising approaches at Mason
- Illustrate how tools and resources will advance their advising practice
- Practice the communication skills necessary to build rapport with students
- Enhance skills and practices necessary to work with special populations.
“Underpinning the core competencies for academic advising and serving as the foundational elements for effective advisor training programs and advising practice are three content categories – the conceptual, informational, and relational. An understanding of these three major areas provides advisors the knowledge and skills to be effective guides for their students.”
Note: Those new to advising at Mason, or advising in general, should first complete the Fundamentals of Advising at Mason (FOAM) curriculum, which is one of the prerequisites for the DAP certificate. Visit the FOAM website for more information about advisor onboarding and training.
Spring 2026
Advising 203: Advising Across Populations – Supporting Students Through Trauma-Informed Practices in Higher Education
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and chronic stress can have lasting effects on students’ mental and physical well-being, often showing up as anxiety, depression, and challenges in academic performance. These experiences are increasingly evident in the growing number of students seeking support—not only through campus mental health services but also in academic advising and coaching environments.
Recognizing this, the American College Health Association (ACHA) has called for greater awareness of ACEs among higher education leaders and for trauma-informed training across campuses. But how far have we come in answering that call?
This session offers a timely and essential conversation. Together, we’ll explore the science behind early childhood trauma and its impact on student success. More importantly, we’ll identify practical, compassionate strategies that institutions can adopt to better support students navigating these challenges.
Whether you’re a faculty member, advisor, coach, or administrator, this session will provide insights and tools to help you foster a more inclusive, responsive, and healing-centered campus environment.
- Thursday, March 26, 10 AM – 12 PM, JC Meeting Room C (#237)
- Register in MasonLeaps
Course Descriptions
Advisors will explore different aspects of the advising life cycle, from pre-orientation through graduation and associated best practices. Learn how to prioritize and work efficiently with students based on the time of the academic year. Develop multiple tools and approaches for effective advising by participating in scholarly conversation.
Participants will be able to:
- Identify key transitional and developmental points within the student lifecycle
- Distinguish best practices for working with students at various developmental points
- Engage with campus partners to support students and remove barriers to academic progression
Introduces advisors to important concepts around diversity and inclusivity. Advisors will develop an understanding of how to create and maintain educational environments that are welcoming, accessible, non-discriminatory, and all-inclusive to persons of diverse backgrounds. Advisors can demonstrate respect and sensitivity by approaching individual students with an open mind.
Participants will be able to:
- Analyze core concepts of identity and intersectionality by understanding cultural values
- Examine unconscious bias and how it impacts our interactions with students
- Apply even-handed, individualized, and non-discriminatory practices to advise students
- Evaluate current advising strategies to sustain an accessible and all-inclusive environment
Introduces advisors to a wide range of student populations and associated best practices. Advisors learn how to identify and work with different types of students and evaluate multiple perspectives and approaches. Through open discussions, advisors will further understand student resources at Mason and their unique services to enhance advising practice, referrals, and processes.
Participants will be able to:
- Recognize the unique needs of various populations
- Engage with campus partners to better support students
- Apply increased awareness and cultural competency in academic advising practices
Explores different advising models present on campus, including hybrid-roles and faculty advising models. This session will introduce advisors to these models and provide first-hand experiences and best practices from practitioners in these models.
Participants will be able to:
- Describe the different advising models
- Specify pros and cons to each model
- Devise a plan to leverage available resources for each model
- Evaluate assigned vs unassigned student advising
Topics of special interest to advisors based on current trends in academic advising and higher education.
Participants will be able to:
- Describe the trend with examples of the trend and where/how/when it occurs
- Apply and implement main strategies and/or best practices in supporting students
- Evaluate applicability of case studies to current practice
Questions?
DAP Chairs: Maria Perez and Kristin Tyburczy
Committee Members: Claudia Borke, Jada Crocker, Nora Gerrity, Matt Green, Virginia Holm, Michael Hurley, Erika Marquina, Erin McSherry, Jessica Ostrowski-Wright, Maria Perez, Kristin Tyburczy, Cathy Wright