Advisors Track

The Advisors Track aims to enhance the role of all SHPE Chapter Advisors and provide them with the necessary tools and resources as they mentor our future STEM leaders. During the track, advisors will have the opportunity to learn about the different advising styles in practice by some of our most experienced advisors. Funding development and chapter budget planning information will also be available. Ideas and resources for proper student counseling will also be shared by experts on the matter. As lead coordinator for this year’s track, I had the honor of becoming part of this support system and standing by the belief that fostering a close relationship with our advisors is a major key for the academic and professional development of the student chapters. The Advisors Committee strives to continuously improve the quality of our workshops; this year, I can guarantee that the advisors will gain a rewarding experience and motivation to inspire many generations of students.

Our engineering community is slowly diversifying over time, though at a much slower rate than the overall population. We play a key role at all educational levels. Our intervention is important to increase the number of diverse engineers. The development of STEM awareness programs for K-12 students and strategies for retention in post-secondary institutions require a collective and more inclusive approach. The 50K Coalition is a national movement where several organizations representing diversity work towards a singular goal. The goal is to increase the annual number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to females, Hispanics, Blacks, and Native Americans from 30,000 to 50,000 by 2025. Your support, experience in academia, and close interaction with students are essential.

A shared trait among other organizations, SHPE chapters and their leaders face a vicious cycle of inability to support and develop their chapter and its members. The lack of funds and/or financial support leads to few offerings/value to members, which, in turn, leads to being unable to demonstrate and quantify the success to potential sponsors and/or supporters (e.g., university administrators, companies, etc.) thus leading to fewer future funds. This session will provide historical context on the fund development efforts by SHPE chapters, current practices, and standardization efforts by the National Affairs Committee. The aim of the session is to have a dialogue with SHPE Chapter advisors towards providing chapter leaders best practices, contact information, templates, and tools towards continuous financial stability and growth at a local SHPE chapter level. By the end of the session, SHPE chapter advisors will learn how to guide and develop the chapter sponsorship and fund development efforts. The session is to be highly interactive and engaging as the attendees will be encouraged to share best practices and provide their insights on the on-going efforts by the National Affairs Committee within the National Reporting Program.

Being an advisor is not an easy thing to do. Throughout your journey as a mentor, you will encounter difficult situations as you begin to coach students at an individual level. Providing advice for a student’s personal problems may be more challenging than helping the entire chapter. You may not have the answers for everything, but you are not alone, and we are here to help. Come and see what the experts have to say when it comes to student counseling, mental health, and substance use. We will discuss the most effective ways to approach and advise students who seek personal help. You will also be provided with information on existing counseling resources and support centers that you may rely on.

Being an advisor is not an easy thing to do. Throughout your journey as a mentor, you will encounter difficult situations as you begin to coach students at an individual level. Providing advice for a student’s personal problems may be more challenging than helping the entire chapter. You may not have the answers for everything, but you are not alone, and we are here to help. Come and see what the experts have to say when it comes to student counseling, mental health, and substance use. We will discuss the most effective ways to approach and advise students who seek personal help. You will also be provided with information on existing counseling resources and support centers that you may rely on.

Your feedback and suggestions are highly valuable. Let’s share any ideas and best practices that will continue to improve the quality of our program and organizational advancement. Feel free to express any concerns or ask further questions regarding the material presented during this track. We are listening, let us know how we can help you and your chapter! We truly appreciate your support and commitment. Long Live Advisors!