Higher Education

Academic Advising and The Hidden Curriculum

Helping students navigate an education system that isn’t designed for everyone

Photo of author’s advising notes. Photo by Author.

The sounds of a plastic door sign flipping and muffled footsteps grow louder. After a brief pause, my co-worker David appears for a double wave, both arms outspread, through the passageway between Alanna’s office and mine.

I half-consciously choose one of my typical send-offs, vague well wishes regarding safety or weather.

I’m ashamed to say, my hellos and goodbyes are as mundane, as robotic as the ones I give the cashier at the grocery store whom I’ve never met before.

I catch myself and wonder what’s up with that. Then my mind shifts again, for the 25th time today. Kevin from the front desk is pinging me on Microsoft Teams, saying, “Asia is ready to roll!”

I note that Kevin is turning into the same model of robot as I am. According to him, every student waiting outside my office is ready to roll.

Is this what burnout sounds like?

I pop my head around the corner of my office and spot Asia, sitting with her overstuffed backpack still strapped around her shoulders, eyes down at her cellphone screen.