Pitt ACT Competency Series
Have you taken advantage of the Pitt ACT Program: Advising and Mentoring Foundations Training? This online program provides standard resources for all advisors and mentors across the University. At Pitt, we are committed to helping advisors and mentors build networks, grow in the profession, refine skills, and advance professional development.
This semester, we will continue the Pitt ACT Competency Series that was launched in Fall 2021. The Pitt ACT modules were developed based on competency areas identified by the Workgroup on Advising Training and on the NACADA core competency model.
We are now offering a workshop series that aligns with the competencies where you can learn more about a specific topic and gather with fellow advisors and mentors in discussion. You do not have to be enrolled in the program to take advantage of the workshops.
Pitt ACT Competencies:
- One: Advising at Pitt
- Two: University Policy and Procedures
- Three: Academic Programs and Requirements
- Four: Technology for Student Success
- Five: Campus Resources
- Six: Advising Profession and Practice
Spring 2023 Mentoring and Advising Workshop Offerings
Pitt ACT Level One: The newest iteration of the advising certification and training program
January 24, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
Pitt Act Competency One: Advising at Pitt
Pitt Act Competency Two: University Policy and Procedures
Pitt Act Competency Three: Academic Programs and Requirements
Pitt Act Competency Four: Technology for Student Success
Pitt Act Competency Five: Campus Resources
Pitt Act Competency Six: Advising Profession and Practice
Abstract: The University of Pittsburgh Advising and Certification Training program (Pitt ACT) recently launched the “Level One” iteration of the program: a steppingstone built on top of the Foundations level course. This course dives deeper into the content laid out in the Foundations level and addresses new resources that are specific to certain populations at the university. This workshop will outline the content included in Level One, and the benefits of enrolling.
Presenters: Jennifer Cooper and April Belback
From Study Abroad to Global Experiences: How global opportunities on campus and abroad can contribute to students’ academic and professional success
February 7, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.
Pitt Act Competency Five: Campus Resources
Abstract: Data presented as part of NAFSA’s Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Act highlights how study abroad contributes to student success, indicating that students who study abroad have higher 4-year graduation rates, have higher GPAs, and are more employable, based on companies reporting the importance of global perspective for their staff. At the workshop we will share how existing global opportunities for students, locally and internationally, can help students advance their academic career and professional aspirations. We will also address the challenges and barriers for the students and welcome your perspective in the discussion.
Presenters: Oksana Stalczynski
Student Success Assessment 101
February 9, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
Pitt Act Competency Four: Technology for Student Success
Abstract: In this workshop, Amanda Brodish, Associate Vice Provost for Data Analytics, will present on the basics of assessment in the context of higher education student success. We will define and describe student success assessment cycles and measures used by the University of Pittsburgh. You will also be able to identify outcome measures to map back to your own unit, program, or context.
Presenters: Amanda Brodish
me3 in Academic Advising: A tool to inform career conversations with students
March 22, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
Pitt Act Competency Five: Campus Resources
Abstract: Out of the work ignited by Pitt’s Strada grant, where we strive to eliminate racial and socioeconomic disparities in employment outcomes for our students and graduates, emerged a need for a product to help inform career-thinking and career conversations that was scalable. In this session, you’ll learn how to use me3®, which launched on the Pittsburgh campus in early 2023, and how to use the tool’s outputs to inform advising conversations with students.
Presenters: Jen Marco
Documentation in Pathways: Best Practices, Guidelines and Sensitive Situations
March 29, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
Pitt Act Competency Four: Technology for Student Success
Abstract: The Pathways platform provides several ways for advisors and mentors to document student interactions. Maintaining records of student interactions are important for several reasons (institutional memory, personalizing the advising experience, enhanced collaboration) but advisors and mentors often struggle with what to include in a student record. This session will consider some best practices in writing reports and notes in Pathways and review guidelines, including standards all users have to follow. Last, we will review how to document and make referrals for sensitive situations in Pathways.
Presenters: Michael Brubaker
Developing Strengths Workshop
April 4, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
Pitt Act Competency Six: Advising Profession and Practice
Abstract: The Developing Strengths Workshop is intended to provide advisors with an overview of personal strength identification and development. During the session, we will discuss what strengths are, why it is important to reflect on and acknowledge our strengths, and how we can leverage our strengths when talking with students and working with each other. Attendees will participate in reflection and discussion, both in small breakout groups and as a larger group.
Presenters: Jennifer Cooper