OCTC Implements a Master Advisors Program

Owensboro, KY (05/31/2018) — Given the importance of academic advising to student success, a team of Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC) faculty and staff created and developed an intensive six-part training plan: the Master Advisors program. It is designed to ensure advisors are knowledge and proficient in handling a variety of academic advising issues.

Dr. Scott Williams, OCTC president commented, "Advising is critical to student success and retention. These efforts will benefit students and the college immediately. The development team worked hard to incorporate all the moving parts of advising and they did a fantastic job."

The purpose of the OCTC Master Advisors program is to improve student-advisor relationships, create a central repository for all advising information and updates, and ensure students have all the information they need to make the best decisions about their future. The goal is to create a group of dedicated advisors who can coach each other and make OCTC more effective in helping students achieve success.

"The overall goal is to have 80% of our advisors certified as "Master Advisors" by 2020. The second group will begin in August," added Dr. Court Lewis chair of the OCTC Advising Workgroup.

The initial group of advisors completed the course requirements and became Master Advisors in May. The first class of OCTC Master Advisors include: Matt Alschbach, Dr. Angela Ash, Katie Ballard, Kevin Beardmore, Dr. Andrea Borregard, Michael Boyd, Donna DePasquale, Dr. Stacy Edds-Ellis, Lindsey Greer, Casey Hamilton, Mary Kinney, Dr. Court Lewis, Dr. Marc Maltby, David Martin, Lauren McCrary, Dr. Kelly Morris, Shawn Payne, Dr. Micah Perkins, Debbie Ruth, Theresa Schmitt, Dr. Eunice Taylor, and Nikki Wimpelberg.