Explore various sources of funding and support for research in academic advising, such as grants, associations, IRBs, collaborations, and online resources.

Perseverance pays off, to quote my daughter-in-law who just received a $4m grant from an application she submitted three times: responsive tweaking based on feedback; responsive tweaking based on feedback; responsive tweaking based on feedback😁

Last updated on Nov 21, 2024

What are some of the sources of funding and support for research in academic advising?

Research in academic advising is essential for advancing the knowledge and practice of the field, as well as for demonstrating the impact and value of advising on student success. However, conducting and disseminating research can be challenging, especially for academic advisors who may have limited time, resources, and training. Fortunately, there are various sources of funding and support for research in academic advising that can help advisors overcome these barriers and contribute to the scholarship of advising. In this article, we will explore some of these sources and how to access them.

1 Internal Grants

One of the most common and accessible sources of funding for research in academic advising is internal grants from your own institution or department. These grants are usually offered by offices or centers that promote faculty development, teaching excellence, student affairs, or institutional research. They may have different eligibility criteria, application processes, and award amounts, but they generally aim to support research projects that align with the institutional mission, goals, and priorities. To find out about internal grants, you can check your institution's website, newsletter, or email announcements, or contact the relevant offices or centers directly.

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Lisa Blasser

Owner, Law School Success Institute I Author I Owner/Partner, Blasser Law
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This one is a little tough for law professors who teach in academic skills/success roles. My experience was that the grants were offered to doctrinal law professors first, directors of academic success programs second, and professors teaching in the program—never. So, I pitched ideas to legal academic publishing houses to get around that lack of funds from my school. Gratefully it worked!

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2 External Grants

Another source of funding for research in academic advising is external grants from organizations or agencies outside your institution. These grants are typically more competitive and require more extensive proposals and budgets, but they also tend to offer larger and longer-term funding. Some examples of external grant sources are the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS), the American Educational Research Association (AERA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF). To find out about external grants, you can browse online databases or directories, subscribe to newsletters or alerts, or network with colleagues or mentors.

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Dr. S Chand Rakesh Roshan, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor in Physics | Former Faculty Incharge (Section Head), Training and Placements (2017-2022) | SWAYAM NPTEL Coordinator| Former Head, Dept. of Physics (2012-2022)|@ RGUKT Basar, India|| Linkedin Top Voice
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'External agencies' :: Funds for academic advising projects may be obtained through external grants from bodies or agencies other than the institution. One major funding body is NACADA, this helps to advance the academic development of students, NACADA promotes and finances high-quality academic advising in higher education institutions and facilitates a platform for discourse, deliberation, and the interchange of concepts concerning academic advising via a broad spectrum of initiatives and publications. In addition to funding academic advising-related research and offering a consulting and speaking service, NACADA also advocates for the improvement of academic advising practices.

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3 Professional Associations

In addition to providing grants, professional associations can also offer other forms of support for research in academic advising, such as training, mentoring, networking, recognition, and dissemination. For example, NACADA has a Research Center that offers webinars, workshops, consultations, and resources on various aspects of advising research. NACADA also has a Research Committee that organizes mentoring programs, awards, and symposia for novice and experienced researchers. Furthermore, NACADA and other associations publish journals, newsletters, monographs, and books that showcase and disseminate advising research to a wide audience.

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4 Institutional Review Boards

One of the essential steps in conducting research in academic advising is obtaining approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of your institution. The IRB is a committee that reviews and monitors research involving human subjects to ensure that it meets ethical and legal standards. The IRB process can vary depending on the type, scope, and risk of your research project, but it generally involves submitting an application that describes your research purpose, design, methods, procedures, and consent forms. To prepare for the IRB process, you can consult the IRB website or office of your institution, attend IRB workshops or trainings, or seek guidance from experienced researchers.

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5 Research Collaborations

Another way to enhance your research in academic advising is to collaborate with other researchers who share your interests, goals, or questions. Research collaborations can offer many benefits, such as expanding your perspectives, skills, and resources, increasing your productivity and quality, and creating opportunities for publication and presentation. Research collaborations can take different forms and levels, such as co-authoring a paper, joining a research team, or participating in a research network. To initiate or join a research collaboration, you can reach out to your colleagues, mentors, or peers, attend conferences or events, or join online communities or forums.

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Dr. S Chand Rakesh Roshan, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor in Physics | Former Faculty Incharge (Section Head), Training and Placements (2017-2022) | SWAYAM NPTEL Coordinator| Former Head, Dept. of Physics (2012-2022)|@ RGUKT Basar, India|| Linkedin Top Voice
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'Collaborate - Conquer' :: It is essential that collaborations centre on the consequences of academic advising for learners and institutions. This may involve conducting analyses of the effects of specific advising procedures, models, or organisational structures on student learning and development, or evaluating the influence of advising on specific student groups or institutional objectives. One must exhibit their finest work and demonstrate a greater depth of understanding in the specific field; identifying knowledge gaps and devising strategies to fill them; and progressing the cause through collaborations; this should be the guiding principle that leads to a mutually beneficial outcome.

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6 Online Resources

Finally, there are many online resources that can help you with various aspects of research in academic advising, such as finding literature, designing surveys, analyzing data, writing reports, and presenting findings. Some examples of online resources are databases, libraries, repositories, software, tools, guides, tutorials, blogs, podcasts, and webinars. You can access these resources through your institution's website or library, professional associations' websites or publications, or search engines or social media. However, you should also evaluate the credibility, relevance, and quality of these resources before using them for your research.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Ronald Kar, PhD

Volunteer writing coach/editor ; BRADY CAMPAIGN SUPPORTER
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Perseverance pays off, to quote my daughter-in-law who just received a $4m grant from an application she submitted three times: responsive tweaking based on feedback; responsive tweaking based on feedback; responsive tweaking based on feedback😁

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Aditi Singh

Vice President, JP Morgan | Student Mentor | LinkedIn Top Voice | Honored Listee Marquis Whos Who
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Another source that has helped my friends (personal experience) is to leverage Crowd funding platforms. Websites like GoFundME can be used successfully to raise funds for specific research projects from abroad audience. The key in making such pitches is to always share your vision and resonate with the cause of the research / final outcome intended.

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Christine Scafidi

Visionary for College Access
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Finding groups to sponsor a pilot program with you and support you while you gather and measure baseline data is always a great start to find resources and gain momentum. Once you have established your program you will have what you need to get funding. Starting with sponsorships, partners and potential benefactors, you can build your program from there. But first you need to have credibility and evidence. You can write larger grants or find funding once you have proven the program is viable. But you have to start with nothing and build with nothing. It starts with data.

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What are some of the sources of funding and support for research in academic advising?

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1 Internal Grants

2 External Grants

3 Professional Associations

4 Institutional Review Boards

5 Research Collaborations

6 Online Resources

7 Here’s what else to consider

Academic Advising

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