Practical tools, frameworks, and conversation guides to support academic advisors working with first-time college students, international learners, and adult or returning students.
Designed for Real Advising Work
Advising nontraditional students requires flexibility, cultural awareness, and tools that adapt to complex academic and life circumstances. This collection of advisor resources was created to support advisors with practical, reusable materials grounded in real advising practice.
Whether you’re supporting first-year transitions, help students recover academically, or guiding long-term planning, these resources are designed to save time while supporting meaningful student engagement.
Advising Frameworks
Understand the context before choosing the tool.
Frameworks offer structure for advising conversations and decision-making, especially when working with students whose educational journeys do not follow traditional timelines.
Includes resources focused on:
– Advising first-generation college students
– Supporting adult and returning learners
– Academic success beyond GPA
– Career and major alignment for nontraditional pathways
View Advising Frameworks
Toolkits and Checklists
Ready-to-use resources for planning and persistence.
These tools are designed to be adapted across institutions and shared directly with students when appropriate.
Includes:
– Degree planning roadmaps
– Academic planning checklists
– Semester mapping tools
– Goal-setting and progress tracking resources
Explore Toolkits & Checklists
Conversation Guides
Support difficult or high-impact advising moments.
Conversation guides help advisors navigate complex discussions with clarity and care—without relying on scripts that feel rigid or impersonal.
Includes guidance for:
– Academic probation and recovery conversations
– Navigating uncertainty and decision fatigue
– Discussing academic readiness and expectations
– Supporting student confidence and agency
Browse Conversation Guides
How Advisors Can Use This Page
Resources on this page can be used in a variety of ways:
- As preparation for advising appointments
- During one-on-one advising sessions
- As follow-up materials for students
- For team discussions or advisor training
Each resource notes whether it is designed for advisor use, student sharing, or both.
Supporting Advisors, Supporting Students
Advisors are central to student success—especially for those navigating college through nontraditional pathways. These resources are designed to support your work with clarity, respect, and sustainability.
Resources are adaptable across institutional contexts and are offered for professional support, not policy replacement.