The Advising and Academic Support Center recently hosted over 130 academic advising professionals from post-secondary institutions across the region for the Boise State Advisor Summit. The event theme was M.A.P., or Mastering Actionable Practices. The center first launched the summit in 2020 with the goal of hosting an annual program. The event was suspended due to COVID, making its return after three years even more impactful to Boise State.
“What a fantastic event. I learned much and it renewed why I do what I do,” said Paty A. D. Kerr, sociology department management assistant and advisor. “One of the treasures I took away was that I was with like minded people and I like that we all have a natural skill set of empathy, compassion and want to see others succeed.”
Summit attendees included representatives from the College of Western Idaho, the College of Southern Idaho, Treasure Valley Community College, North Idaho College, the College of Eastern Idaho and all colleges within Boise State, allowing for networking and information sharing to support students in their transition between different types of institutions.
The keynote address was offered by Heidi Estrem, associate academic officer for the Idaho State Board of Education and tenured faculty in Boise State’s Department of Writing Studies where she previously served as faculty and director of the First Year Writing Program. Estrem focused on the state board’s vision for post-secondary education and the ways in which advisors are integral in achieving those long term goals.