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Academic Advising: Perceptions of Students in a Lebanese University

Year 2015, Volume: 1 Issue: 2, 118 - 126, 31.08.2015
https://doi.org/10.18768/ijaedu.26010

Abstract

A lot of researchers have stressed the impact of academic advising on students’ retention, academic success, and satisfaction (Soria, 2012; Young-Jones, Burt, Dixon & Hawthorne, 2013; Hsu & Bailey, 2011; Nasser, Khoury, Abouchedid, 2008 among others). However, several students at a Lebanese private university do not seem to value academic advising as they do not usually seek it. Therefore, this study investigates students’ perceptions of their academic advising. More specifically, the researcher examines (1) students’ awareness of the process of academic advising, as well as the role of an academic advisor, (2) their attitudes towards the academic advising they receive at the university, and (3) the impact of gender, major, and academic status on their attitudes. Using a mixed-methods approach, the researcher surveys a purposively selected sample of 185 students of different majors, gender, and academic statuses and complements the survey with 3 focus groups. Triangulation of methods is used to ensure validity of the findings. Major findings reveal that a lot of the participants seem to perceive academic advising negatively as they had unsatisfactory experiences with their academic advising and advisors. Gender, major, and status did not impact on the participants’ attitudes.  They seem to be aware of the important role the advising process and the academic advisor could have on their university life.  However, their expectations of academic advising did not match with what they received from their advisors. The researcher suggests several changes that are likely to ensure effective academic advising at the university.

Keywords: Academic advising, Higher education, Students’ perceptions, Students’ attitudes, satisfaction, Student awareness, University students, Lebanon

References

  • Alexander, M. W., Kukowski, D., & Dexter, L. (2003). Business Students’ Perceptions of the Academic Advising Process. Proceedings of the Academy of Educational Leadership, 8 (1), Tunica, 11-16.
  • Astin, A.W. (1984). Student Involvement: A Developmental Theory for Higher Education. Journal of College Student Personnel, 25 (2), 97-307.
  • Bryman, A. (2008). Social Research Methods (3rd ed.), Oxford University Press, New York.
  • Christian, T. Y. & Sprinkle, J. E. (2013). College Student Perceptions and Ideals of Advising: An Exploratory Analysis. College Student Journal, 47 (2), 271-291.
  • Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rded.), Sage Publications, US.
  • Davis, J. S. & Cooper, D. L. (2001). Assessing Advising Style: Student Perceptions of Academic Advisors. College Student Affairs Journal, 20 (2), 53-63.
  • Gudep, V. K. (2007). Issues and Challenges in Academic Advising: A Multivriate Study of Students’ Attitudes towards Academic Advising in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Contemporary Management Research, 3 (2), 151-172.
  • Haag, S., Hubele, N., Garcia, A., & Mcbeath, K. (2007). Engineering Undergraduate Attrition and Contributing Factors. International Journal of Engineering Education, 23 (5), 49-61.
  • Hsu, M. & Bailey, A. (2011). Retention in Business Education: Understanding Business Student Perceptions of Academic Advising and College Life. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2 (21), 33-41.
  • Knox, D.E. (2003). Advisors and Mentors: Their Role in the Retention and Success of Chemical Engineering Students. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education, Nashville, TN, 1-8.
  • Kukowski, D., Dexter, L. & Alexander, M. W. (2002). Advice Received and Needed from Faculty Academic Advisors. Proceedings of the Academy of Educational Leadership, 7 (1), Nashville, 41-46.
  • Migden, J. (1989). The Professional Advisor. NACADA Journal, 9 (1), 63-68.
  • Nasser, R.N., Khoury, B., & Abouchedid, K. (2008). University Students’ Knowledge of Services and Programs in Relation to Satisfaction: A Case Study of a Private University in Lebanon. Quality Assurance in Education,16 (1), 80-97.
  • Shelton, E.N. (2003). Faculty Support and Student Retention. Journal of Nursing Education,42 (1), 68-76.
  • Soria, K. M. (2012). Advising Satisfaction: Implications for First-Year Students’ Sense of Belonging and Student Retention. The Mentor: An Academic Advising Journal, available at: http://dus.psu.edu/mentor/2012/10/advising-satisfaction/ (accessed 27 May 2014).
  • Sutton, K. L. & Sankar, C. (2011). Student Satisfaction with Information Provided by Academic Advisors.Journal of STEM Education, 12 (7&8), 71-84.
  • Young-Jones, A.D., Burt, T. D., Dixon, S. & Hawthorne, M. J. (2013). Academic Advising: Does it Really Impact Student Success? Quality Assurance in Education, 21(1), 7-19.
Year 2015, Volume: 1 Issue: 2, 118 - 126, 31.08.2015
https://doi.org/10.18768/ijaedu.26010

Abstract

References

  • Alexander, M. W., Kukowski, D., & Dexter, L. (2003). Business Students’ Perceptions of the Academic Advising Process. Proceedings of the Academy of Educational Leadership, 8 (1), Tunica, 11-16.
  • Astin, A.W. (1984). Student Involvement: A Developmental Theory for Higher Education. Journal of College Student Personnel, 25 (2), 97-307.
  • Bryman, A. (2008). Social Research Methods (3rd ed.), Oxford University Press, New York.
  • Christian, T. Y. & Sprinkle, J. E. (2013). College Student Perceptions and Ideals of Advising: An Exploratory Analysis. College Student Journal, 47 (2), 271-291.
  • Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rded.), Sage Publications, US.
  • Davis, J. S. & Cooper, D. L. (2001). Assessing Advising Style: Student Perceptions of Academic Advisors. College Student Affairs Journal, 20 (2), 53-63.
  • Gudep, V. K. (2007). Issues and Challenges in Academic Advising: A Multivriate Study of Students’ Attitudes towards Academic Advising in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Contemporary Management Research, 3 (2), 151-172.
  • Haag, S., Hubele, N., Garcia, A., & Mcbeath, K. (2007). Engineering Undergraduate Attrition and Contributing Factors. International Journal of Engineering Education, 23 (5), 49-61.
  • Hsu, M. & Bailey, A. (2011). Retention in Business Education: Understanding Business Student Perceptions of Academic Advising and College Life. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2 (21), 33-41.
  • Knox, D.E. (2003). Advisors and Mentors: Their Role in the Retention and Success of Chemical Engineering Students. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education, Nashville, TN, 1-8.
  • Kukowski, D., Dexter, L. & Alexander, M. W. (2002). Advice Received and Needed from Faculty Academic Advisors. Proceedings of the Academy of Educational Leadership, 7 (1), Nashville, 41-46.
  • Migden, J. (1989). The Professional Advisor. NACADA Journal, 9 (1), 63-68.
  • Nasser, R.N., Khoury, B., & Abouchedid, K. (2008). University Students’ Knowledge of Services and Programs in Relation to Satisfaction: A Case Study of a Private University in Lebanon. Quality Assurance in Education,16 (1), 80-97.
  • Shelton, E.N. (2003). Faculty Support and Student Retention. Journal of Nursing Education,42 (1), 68-76.
  • Soria, K. M. (2012). Advising Satisfaction: Implications for First-Year Students’ Sense of Belonging and Student Retention. The Mentor: An Academic Advising Journal, available at: http://dus.psu.edu/mentor/2012/10/advising-satisfaction/ (accessed 27 May 2014).
  • Sutton, K. L. & Sankar, C. (2011). Student Satisfaction with Information Provided by Academic Advisors.Journal of STEM Education, 12 (7&8), 71-84.
  • Young-Jones, A.D., Burt, T. D., Dixon, S. & Hawthorne, M. J. (2013). Academic Advising: Does it Really Impact Student Success? Quality Assurance in Education, 21(1), 7-19.
There are 17 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Najwa Saba ‘ayon

Publication Date August 31, 2015
Submission Date August 28, 2015
Published in Issue Year 2015Volume: 1 Issue: 2

Cite

EndNote Saba ‘ayon N (August 1, 2015) Academic Advising: Perceptions of Students in a Lebanese University. IJAEDU- International E-Journal of Advances in Education 1 2 118–126.

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