ABSTRACT
Historically, academic advising was built on a foundation that ranged from the ideals of higher education to the pragmatics of enrollment. This chapter focuses on the important role of the academic adviser in helping to retain online distance learners, and how the adviser-learner partnership at Penn State’s online World Campus is working toward redefining the concept of community. From drafting the job announcement to making an offer to the final candidate, distance-advising administrators must be intentional about finding advisers who will thrive in working with online distance learners. Written performance standards, developed by the distance-advising team to allow opportunities for input and buy-in, are critical and should be reviewed annually to ensure they are current with institutional changes and technological enhancements. At times a distance adviser will be confronted with an online distance learner in significant crisis. Partnering with technical support specialists is a creative way for distance advisers to intervene with at-risk online distance learners.
