Welcome to our community of advisors and career services professionals! The Office of Undergraduate Advising (OUA) is here to help you as you navigate your first weeks and months at UW-Madison. Beyond helping you gain access to information and training you’ll need professionally, OUA staff hope to support and connect with you as you start your career or new position with the university.
Step 1: New Staff Form
Fill out the new advisor and career services staff form. OUA will use this information to begin the process of bringing new staff members into the community and connect them with important resources. Once you fill out this form, you will:
- Be welcomed and invited to meet with Kala Grove, Assistant Director for Advising Training and Professional Development, or Tara Milliken, Assistant Director for Career Services Training and Communication
- Be invited to meet with Wren Singer, Associate Vice Provost of Advising & Career Services
Step 2: Subscribe
Sign up for these email lists to stay connected on upcoming trainings, community building opportunities, and more.
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New Staff Email List
- For: New Advising & Career Services Staff
- Join this list during your first year at UW-Madison to stay updated on training and community building opportunities for new advising and career services staff.
Advisor-link Email List
- For: Primarily advising staff, and may also be helpful for advising-adjacent roles including career services and other student support roles
- Join this list for advising-related information at UW-Madison. The purpose of this list is primarily to help faculty, staff, and peer advisors keep informed about important information that may be of use in their advising roles.
Career Services Council Email List
- For: Primarily career services staff, and may also be helpful for those with an interest in supporting student career development and success.
- The Career Services Council (CSC) listserv is a subscription email list available for all UW-Madison staff and primarily intended for sharing career services-related information across campus.
Step 3: Participate in NACSSA
Build community with new advising and career services professionals while learning about key UW-Madison resources!
Participants of New Advisor and Career Services Staff Academy (NACSSA) will engage with each other as they learn more about various UW-Madison student support offices, such as: Financial Aid, Dean of Students, University Health Services, McBurney Disability Resource Center, and more. Experienced professionals will facilitate small group discussions, case studies, and mock advising practice based on participants’ experiences working with students.
NACSSA occurs monthly between October and May of each year, with some sessions happening virtually and others taking place in person.
By joining the New Advising and Career Services Staff Email List (above), you’ll automatically receive information and calendar invitations for all NACSSA sessions.
Step 4: Learn about more opportunities
Mentor Match
Connect to an experienced advisor or career services staff member on campus for collaborative learning and support during your first year on campus!
Technology Tools
Learn more about the tools available to advisors and career services staff, including the Advising Gateway, Advisor Notes System, Handshake, and more.
DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) Training
DARS is a tool used to help advise enrollment and degree requirements. Learn more about DARS resources and trainings.
FERPA Training
FERPA — the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended — is a federal law that governs the privacy of student education records, access to those records, and disclosure of information from them.
Learning Communities
The Office of Undergraduate Advising, in partnership with Learning Communities for Institutional Change and Excellence, coordinates three learning communities for members of the advising and career services community.
Professional Organizations
UW-Madison advising and career services staff are encouraged to join and participate in regional and national professional organizations. From resources, to networking opportunities, to conference experiences, these organizations provide additional opportunities for growth and development.
All OUA Events
Learn about other training, community building, and professional development events hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Advising.
For Graduate Program Coordinators
If you are also a graduate program coordinator, learn more about training opportunities related to that aspect of your role.
UW Suicide Prevention Training
UW-Madison students often look to faculty or staff for support when they are struggling. The UW-Madison Suicide Prevention Training provides a guide for having conversations and can also increase your confidence in talking with students about mental health and suicide.