Date

4-2026

ESRP 9000 Professor

Sandy Underhill, Ed.D.

ESRP 9001 Professor

Sandy Underhill, Ed.D.

Executive Summary

Implementing Advising Themes as a Strategic Response to Advising Capacity and Student Success. Kelly Sydnor, 2026: Strategic Research Project, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: academic advising, academic self-efficacy, advising capacity, group advising, peer learning, social work education

This strategic research project is a mixed methods study that utilizes quantitative tools such as SWOT, IFE, EFE and QSPM. This project was supported by qualitative literature evidence to identify gaps within the School of Social Work aimed to examine how to implement organized weekly advising themes as a scalable, efficient strategy to tackle limited advising capacity, an identified SWOT weakness, in a School of Social Work. The project explored how group advising frameworks can strengthen student engagement, student academic confidence, and academic progression while easing the workload for professional academic advisors. Using a strategic planning approach, the study analyzed internal and external factors that affect advising effectiveness within the School of Social Work. The findings supported the use of weekly group advising themes due to its affordability, easily scalable, and alignment with student success outcomes.

This project used the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) to compare three possible strategies. The finding showed that establishing weekly advising themes was the most effective option based on its higher Total Attractiveness Score (TAS) and the solution’s fit with the current advising capacity and student success goals. Literature supports adopting weekly advising themes would improve the efficiency of academic advising by decreasing the frequency of individual appointments for general information while increasing access to advisors for more complex academic issues. The group advising approach would help advisors provide clear and timely academic support connected to academic milestones, therefore aiding student decision making and degree progression. Additionally, the group framework would foster peer learning, collaboration, increased confidence, and a sense of belonging. The action plan supports implementation through four goals: developing a structured advising curriculum, securing leadership and stakeholder buy-in, piloting sessions, and evaluating outcomes for scaling. Overall, successful implementation will require collaboration, targeted support, and continuous evaluation to ensure sustained impact. This project also deduced that implementing weekly group advising themes would require learning support, collaboration with stakeholders, and evaluative measures to monitor and measure outcomes.

These findings support the recommendation for institutions to implement structured weekly group advising themes within their advising systems and expand delivery via hybrid options, peer mentoring, and continued monitoring and evaluation. Future studies should explore long term impact including access, equity, and the use of predictive tools to enhance advising effectiveness. Overall, this project offers practical, scalable options that can support strengthening academic advising while encouraging student success.

Document Type

Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education

Concentration

Higher Education Leadership

Language

English

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