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I think there is more to being professional than just being called Mr. or Ms. and wearing professional dress. It means treating each and every student with respect, doing the job instead of punching a time clock, modeling professional behavior, etc. An adviser who dresses to the nines everyday of the week but complains constantly, makes his/her student feel unwelcome and demeaned and dashes out of the door every afternoon promptly at quitting time is not a professional just because he/she dresses nicely and makes his/her students use his title. Susan Noble Herren, academic advisor III, Auburn University, November 3, 2009 I think that oftentimes people confuse formality with professionalism. Being formal does not necessarily mean that you are being professional. Professionalism rests within the dynamics of the conversation and how one conducts oneself with students, so it doesn't matter if students use an adviser's first or last name. It just matters that the students speak to their advisers with respect. Just like the old saying “it's not what you say but how you say it.” Also, using Mr. and Ms. is a formality on the student's part, but that doesn't translate to the adviser being professional. Being professional means acting professional, not requiring others to address you in a certain way. Brandy Ellis, academic advisor I, University of North Texas, November 4, 2009 While professors and advisers are considered professional employees, each professor has the right to request how he/she would like to be addressed, and students should respond accordingly. Advisers can also set the tone for how they would like to be addressed and what type of interaction they will allow. However, there should always be a professional distance for both, and this can still be established regardless of whether a student addresses a professional by first name or not, and regardless of whether denim or polyester is worn. Ethel Swartzendruber, academic advisor, Purdue University, November 4, 2009 As an adviser who is fewer than ten years removed in age from the students I advise (and in some cases, younger than some of my students!), I absolutely do not mind if they call me by my first name. With many students, I feel more like a mentor or guide as someone who was successfully able to navigate the university system and has chosen to help guide other students through their process, rather than a strict authority figure; I don't think it makes me any less professional that my students call me “Sarah.” As far as dress, I do find myself making choices that would set me apart from students (because I still look like I could be enrolled as an undergraduate), but don't feel like I am any less effective as an adviser if I am wearing jeans. I don't feel that my age, preference to be called by my first name, or dress undermines my authority in students' eyes, because I still request that they act in a professional manner: schedule an appointment, show up on time and prepared, cancel their appointment if they cannot come at the appropriate time. In the same way, I extend professional courtesy by being prepared for my appointments, responding to questions accurately and in a timely fashion, and being available when students need to see me. Sarah Howard, academic advisor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, November 6, 2009 The journal's Advising Forum provides the opportunity for readers to share their opinions about critical issues in academic advising. At the beginning of each month, a new forum topic will be introduced on this page. Readers are invited to respond to the topic as well as to other readers' responses. An opinion form is provided for those who wish to respond. Responses submitted by readers will be published here until the end of the month. At that time, the current topic and all opinions published during the month will be archived and a new topic will be introduced. Previous Advising Forum topics and opinions can be accessed through the archives as well as through the Forum Index. The Mentor is published by Penn State's Division of Undergraduate Studies Available online at www.psu.edu/dus/mentor/ Privacy and Legal Statements | Copyright | © The Pennsylvania State University | All rights reserved | |
