About Us

BCADA members and other advisors are stakeholders in the areas related to student support in the fields of education.  Advisors are the interface between the institution and the student. In this capacity they are key resources to both students and the institution.  BCADA members and other advisors want to be recognized resources within their institutions and the public post- secondary education system.  BCADA wants to develop a collegial working relationship with administrators in the post-secondary education system as we work toward improving education options and support services for students.

BCADA Core Values

Based on NACADA Values and Roles
Advisors believe that students are entitled to dependable, accurate, timely, respectful, and professional service, while at the same time recognizing that the ultimate responsibility for making decisions about educational plans rests with the student.  This is the foundation on which the core values are built.
 

• Advisors are accountable to the students and individuals they serve.
• Advisors are responsible for appropriately involving others in the advising process.
• Advisors are accountable to the educational institutions in which they work.
• Advisors are accountable to their professional role as advisors.

 
BCADA Advisors' Role and Purpose:
 
Advisors promote learning and development in students by helping them to determine their academic potential and the means through which they can reach their goals.  Advisors can be a powerful institutional influence on students’ choices, development, and achievement.
 
An advisor's main purpose is to assist students in the development and achievement of meaningful educational plans that are compatible with their life goals and are financially attainable. Advisors must have a clear understanding of academic requirements at both the faculty and departmental levels, be familiar with university and college policies and regulations, appraise situations, and when necessary provide appropriate referrals. Advisors must be well informed, resourceful and have good communication skills.  By providing students with options and considerations appropriate to their situation, advisors assist in enabling students to make responsible decisions regarding their academic career.
 
 

Advising Role

An Advisor is:

• accessible by the student's preferred means
• plays a prominent role in post-secondary retention and achievement
• imparts accurate, up-to-date information about a department's/institution's offerings with respect to the individual student's needs
• assists in improving the student's academic performance as well as identifying attainable financial assistance
• represents the institution in a professional and useful manner
• initiates and maintains a lasting relationship between the student and the institution.

Advising Goals

Advisors:

• help students to define and develop realistic individual goals
• enable students to understand the purpose and need for post-secondary education
• assist students in reviewing options and making informed decisions
• expand the student's knowledge and provide information on which to base informed decisions
• foster the student's responsibility and ability to make their own future decisions
• encourage the student to be resourceful and to have a positive and confident attitude