Associations and organizations

Adviser Education Program (AEP)

The Adviser Education Program contributes to the expertise of UW advisers through adviser training and professional development.

  • Advising Basics: a training for new advisers. Provides participants with an introduction to UW advising, an understanding of the undergraduate student’s academic path, issues and policies around struggling students, a brief introduction to key tools, and connecting advisors to key resources.

*The Advising Basics Workshop is intended to supplement primary training with supervisor and /or departmental staff.

  • AEP's Lunch and Learn Workshops: quarterly workshops and trainings on topical issues that are relevant to academic advisers.
  • Advanced Adviser Development Program: an advanced training for more experienced advisers. Provides participants with the opportunity to reflect upon, improve, and hone their advising practice.
  • Annual Advising Symposium: an annual conference co-sponsored by APAC (Association of Professional Advisers and Counselors) and AEP. This conference consists of a keynote speaker and a variety of topical breakout sessions designed to support adviser professional development.

Association of Professional Advisers and Counselors (APAC)

The UW Association of Professional Advisers and Counselors was formed in the 1970s to provide opportunities for campus advisers to meet and discuss issues of current interest. A newsletter and monthly meetings are devoted to the professional development of advisers. APAC sponsors an annual Adviser of the Year award, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and a scholarship program. APAC also organizes a Summer Summit to bring advisers together in order to create community and discuss issues affecting students and advisers.

Professional Staff Organization (PSO)

The PSO represents the more than 6800 professional staff at the University of Washington, including advisers and counselors. They have members on a number of University committees, communicate with UW administration and state legislators, produce a quarterly newsletter, fund a scholarship and a grant program for professional development, and offer brown bags and other meetings on topics of interest to professional staff.

National Academic Advising Association (NACADA)

The National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) offers regional and national meetings for college academic advisers and a journal of scholarly research and writing. NACADA also offers an assessment institute, an administrators’ institute, and a summer institute for advisers. The summer institute is designed for individuals or teams who have responsibility for academic advising, and utilizes an effective interation of expert group presentations with small group discussions, workshops, and topical sessions led by skilled practitioners and organized by institutional type.