University Advising
Office of Undergraduate Education
This page offers a range of career development and advancement resources for academic advisors, including employee support services, tools for preparing annual reviews, reappointment and promotion processes for academic specialists, and guidance specifically for supervisors in advising.
Professional growth in advising is not one-size-fits-all—it evolves based on your interests, experiences, and career goals as an academic advisor. This is your starting point for exploring what meaningful development looks like for you. The tools below are designed to help you identify your advising niche and build a customized professional development plan that supports both your current role and your long-term career progression. After exploring these tools, scroll down to find professional organizations, campus training opportunities, ways to get involved, and performance management assistance.
Looking to grow in your advising career and deepen your impact? The Find Your Advising Niche: A Reflective Workbook is here to help! This guided resource walks you through four steps to reflect on your strengths, interests, and professional goals.
Each step offers space for reflection and action—so you can move from insight to implementation.
Start discovering your niche today!
This course is your space to pause, take stock of your strengths, explore new opportunities for development, and build a personalized plan that supports your ongoing success in academic advising. We’re glad you’re here and excited to walk with you as you shape your next steps in this meaningful work. We’re glad you’re here and look forward to supporting you as you build your professional development plan.
Michigan State University offers a wide range of resources to support faculty, academic staff, and employees throughout their careers. Whether you're looking for professional development, assistance with work-life balance, help navigating employment processes, or support services, the following offices and programs are here to help. Explore these resources to find the support and information you need to thrive at MSU.
Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs provides information on faculty development, strategic planning, equitable hiring practices and more. This site also links with Academic Governance, where information is available on processes, committees, meeting schedules and reports.
View public job postings at MSU.
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential counseling service provided at no cost to MSU faculty, staff, retirees, graduate assistants, and their families. In order to access services, individuals must be located in the state of Michigan due to licensing regulations.
HR Employee Relations assists with questions regarding unions, grievances, arbitration, and employee discipline.
The Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) provides assessments, services, and accommodations for a range of disabilities that substantially limits major life activities for MSU students and employees.
Below are two key resources to support academic specialists in navigating important career milestones at MSU. The first is the Annual Review Guidance provided by MSU’s Central Human Resources, which outlines expectations and best practices for the annual review process. The second is an Interactive Guide to the Reappointment and Promotion Process for Academic Specialists, designed to help you understand timelines, required documentation, and review criteria.
MSU staff, faculty, and specialists are expected to complete an annual review each year. These discussions offer an opportunity to gain feedback on performance and guidance on improvements, set professional goals, recognize achievements, and identify training and support needs. MSU HR offers a variety of resources to help support employees preparing for the annual review process.
Access a variety of resources that have been compiled to assist academic advisors with Reappointment, Award of Continuing Status, and Promotion to Senior Specialist processes.
Resources are being developed for current supervisors and aspiring leaders in undergraduate academic advising. Click on the button below to explore trainings, workshops, and opportunities for engagement.