Cultural Value of Academic Advising 

Higher Education’s Applied Value to the Larger Culture

The values we hold dear in higher education are a common language that we use historically to put our mark on the culture. These values validate us in the vast scheme of institutional structures…this is the type of value we have to the culture. Think about how you would respond if asked, “what are the values that higher education institutions hold dear?” The values you articulate tell us and tell the larger culture around us what we characteristically ARE. The values folks call this “instrumental value.” These are characteristic of higher education. Though your leadership and involvement in the economic, social, and professional growth of the city and state may be some other city and state, we all are connected by the common value that the culture has delegated to us. That is why there may be a great deal of commonality in our lists of values.

There may be some question about commonality of the values we hold dear inside the “ivory tower” (remember when we used to be the ivory tower?) and the values held ABOUT us by the larger culture. Sometimes there is a disconnect. The classic disconnect is education for education sake and education for purpose of getting a job. Inside the tower, we value both (not really…who care about getting a job when you are LEARNING!!!). But outside the tower, in the larger culture, we are valued for the possibility that, perhaps one can get a better job if one goes to college.

Academic Advising priorities must be carefully crafted to align with the values that are inherent in the work of the institution. Its not enough to have priorities, although it would be a useful exercise. A more useful exercise would be to examine what the institution at large values and plans to execute. Fitting into that larger mission puts academic advising in a position to respond to the values imagined by the larger culture. In this way academic advising is a practical application of what the culture wants higher education to BE. It’s a beautiful thing.

But academic advisors are part of the larger culture where, at family gatherings, we are forced to engage in nitty-gritty apologetics in defense of higher education. We get it, factory workers making $25.00 an hour after 35 years on the job. You did fine without a college education. But we are here for that 20 year old standing next to you wondering, “is this what I am going to do the rest of my life?” We are here for the 13 year old who wanders through the museum and is moved by the art and history and wants do know more. We are here for the mother or father who begins to yearn for knowledge at mid life, and hopes that knowledge will make things better for her/his children AND get her/him and better job.

So factory worker, is it ok with you if we make the contribution to culture that these folks want? We promise it will somehow make your life better too. That’s what we value.