Academic advisor published in international journal

Jennifer Papadakis

Jennifer Papadakis, an academic advisor for Wright State’s College of Science and Mathematics, has been published by the National ACademic ADvising Association (NACADA) for her article on marketing.

The article, titled “Increasing Visibility and Student Retention: Marketing Within a Departmental Academic Advising Office,” is in the latest edition of Academic Advising Today, NACADA’s electronic publication distributed quarterly to more than 10,000 members around the world.

“We think that Jennifer’s contribution indicates her commitment to providing quality advising for your students as well as demonstrates her dedication to the profession of advising and the academic success of all students,” Executive Director Charlie Nutt said in a letter to Wright State President David R. Hopkins.

In the article, Papadakis said marketing at the department level starts with brainstorming the assets of the curriculum and how it might cater to other students on campus. She said departments should consider promotional activities to boost enrollment in minor or certificate programs.

“Communicating across colleges ensures that a department stays informed of cross-listed courses and in turn what students would be served by dual-major promotions or email notification of a new special-topics course,” Papadakis wrote.

She said the Psychology Undergraduate Program office at Wright State sets up informational tables a few times each semester to tell students about the psychology program, minors and concentration options.

“While a number of new students visit the tables,” she wrote, “many students currently enrolled in the major take the opportunity to reconnect with their advisor or ask specific questions.”

Papadakis also said the office uses graduate teaching assistants to serve as social-media market interns.

“As higher education continues to evolve, student support professionals in the College of Science and Mathematics are being innovative to meet the end goals of student success,” Papadakis said. “The initiatives outlined in this article are proof that academic advisors can have significant reach to areas as broad as retention, enrollment and marketing.”

To see entire article, visit: http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Academic-Advising-Today/View-Articles/Increasing-Visibility-and-Student-Retention-Marketing-Within-a-Departmental-Academic-Advising-Office.aspx