Open Collections

The integration of information technology and academic advising : a Canadian study

University of British Columbia

The purpose of this study is to identify key technologies in use within academic advising and student services and to investigate the impact that information technology is having on the delivery of academic advising services and the development of advising theory in Canadian universities. Information technology may include email, information based web-sites, electronic degree audit, internet based web-advising, student information databases and other user specific interfaces The premise for this study is that the use of technology in academic advising is increasing and is having an impact on the delivery of advising services by reducing the manual burden of information integration and dissemination, and enabling academic advisors to focus developmentally and holistically, focusing on the growth and improvement of students academically and personally. As a professional Academic Advisor my search of literature on information technology and academic advising revealed an absence of qualitative and quantitative information about the use of academic advising technology and its impact on the delivery of advising services. This study was conducted using a mixed model survey of professional academic advisors and advising administrators in Canada’s public four year English language research universities. Data analysis showed that while technology use is widespread within Canadian advising centres, that the goals, use and perceptions of technology vary. Many functions which could (and should) be managed efficiently by technology are still being performed manually and the implementation of information technology is not being done in coordination with an institutional retention plan or advising model in mind.

Text

2010-01-08

For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/17926

Administrative, Adult and Higher Education

University of British Columbia

UBCV

DSpace