By Alainna Jayce Gonzales and Kim Nehls

The role of academic advisors is vital to student success and retention in higher education. At UNLV, advisors are not just meeting the challenges of supporting a diverse student body — they’re transforming them into opportunities for growth, connection, and innovation.

Thanks to a grant from the Stupski Foundation, a group of forward-thinking advisors from Lee Business School, including Tashauna Stewart and John Starkey, introduced a groundbreaking initiative: the advising micro-externship program. This program is designed to enhance advisor wellness and retention by giving advisors the chance to broaden their perspectives and strengthen their campus networks.

The micro-externship involves 2-3 sessions over a 5-week period, during which advisors spend 10-15 hours engaging with employees and shadowing the work they do in their unit. Advisors spent their time observing front desks, attending events within that unit, or sitting in on department meetings. The flexible hours allow advisors to step out of their routine and immerse themselves in new environments across campus. For example, Kaliya Rush from Wilson Advising Center in the College of Liberal Arts, completed her externship in UNLV’s Career Services Office.

Kass Moore indicated, “The UNLV Micro-Externship Program was an amazing chance for Career Services & Workforce Development to forge strong connections with the advising community, creating valuable partnerships between our office and the advising centers. This program delivered exceptional insights and skills in career planning and exploration that advisors wouldn’t typically receive. We were thrilled to have Kaliya, an outstanding advisor, who eagerly embraced the learning experience and contributed fresh perspectives and insights to our team. We are already buzzing with excitement for the next opportunity to participate in the UNLV Micro-Externship Program!”

This innovative program provides advisors with hands-on experience and deeper insights into the wide range of resources available at the university. By building stronger relationships with colleagues from different units, advisors are better equipped to guide their students with informed referrals and advice — creating a more connected and supportive campus community for everyone.

Tashauna Stewart reflected on her experience, saying, “I knew about campus offices and different student services, but I didn’t truly understand what they offered. Now, I feel a personal connection with my colleagues across campus, which makes it so much easier to help our students.” She continued, “I love using G-chat to be able to ask a question to somebody in a different office, rather than sending my student there. I knew I could before, but now I feel like I have a personal connection with them and vice versa.”

Academic Advising Coordinator, Janelle Yasukochi, said, “Participating in the micro-externship program has been an amazing and unique experience! I built strong relationships with new and existing colleagues on campus and have continued to develop them beyond the program. It is a refreshing and reinvigorating experience to learn how to best support students through the many different pathways that a student can come across at UNLV. This program shows how much the staff at UNLV truly care about fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for not only the students, but for all of UNLV.”

The micro-externship program began in Spring 2022 with the participation of 32 advisors and 14 offices and has been met with overwhelmingly positive feedback. The excitement generated by the program’s success has sparked interest in expanding its reach even further this year and beyond. Advisors at UNLV are not only feeling more connected and informed — they are also more energized and inspired to make a lasting impact on their students' lives.