Vision

The UNLV Academic Success Center advising unit strives to be recognized nationally for its student success model of academic advising. The unit will employ academic and developmental advising best practices that positively impact the lives of students at the institution.

Mission

Our mission is to provide a nurturing learning environment that helps students persist and graduate with four-year degrees. The advising unit partners with students exploring majors, undergraduate non-degree-seeking students, adult learners, and returning students to identify and chart an academic course for success. The services employed by the advising unit are holistic and developmental, addressing the assessed and expressed educational needs of each student.

Philosophy

The Academic Success Center adheres to a learning-centered developmental philosophy of advising. Research has shown that the learning-centered approach may constitute a better combination of methodology for students who do not have clear-cut goals or who have many interests. The learning-centered approach likens advising to teaching, whereby the advisor plays a role with respect to a student's entire curriculum that is similar to the role that the teacher plays with respect to the content of a single course. The advisor helps the student understand curriculum, choose foundational general education classes, and explore subject areas of interest or growth. Thus, the advisor’s instruction in the logic of the curriculum elevates the advisor's work to a central role in enhancing a student's education (Lowenstein, 2005).