New Hires

New academic advisors have several items they need to complete.

1. Get access to the systems you will need

To receive access, work with your DSA (Departmental Security Administrator) and supervisor. We know there are a lot of systems and things to learn!

• Check out this comprehensive list and make a copy for yourself: Undergraduate Advisor onboarding checklist for systems access
• If you have questions, email Academic Advising Program Director Katie Michel at kmichel@ucsd.edu

2. Review campus checklists

These Blink pages include items for supervisors and new hires to consider:

• Checklist for New Employees
• Checklist for Supervisors of New Employees
• Checklist for Departments with New Employees

3. Join UAAC

The Undergraduate Academic Advising Council (UAAC) is sponsored by the Executive Vice Chancellor – Academic Affairs and the Dean of Undergraduate Education.

UAAC is comprised of staff who provide academic advising services at the undergraduate level in academic departments and programs, and in the Colleges. The group meets regularly to discuss a broad range of issues affecting academic advising, and to exchange information, share best practices, and solve problems. The meetings provide a forum for networking and professional development.

• Request to join the email listserv via Google group at groups.google.com/a/ucsd.edu/g/uaac-l
• We encourage you to come to the monthly meetings! Dates are listed on the UAAC website — add them to your calendar.
• Check out the advisor-led subcommittees.

4. Join ODAPA (Department/Program Advisors)

• Learn about ODAPA.
• If you're a department/program advisor, you should request to join the Organization of Department and Program Advisors (ODAPA) listserv found at groups.google.com/a/ucsd.edu/g/odapa-l.
• ODAPA meets 1–2 times per quarter, convened by the Academic Advising Program Director. Contact Katie Michel (kmichel@ucsd.edu) for the meeting details.

5. Add the shared calendar

Add the shared Undergraduate Advising Calendar to your Google or Outlook calendar to see what deadlines are coming up. See the Academic Advisors Handbook page for steps to add the calendar.

6. Connect with other advisors on campus

• See the internal advising staff directory, available in the Academic Advisors Handbook 
• Review the UAAC Subject Matter Experts to identify advisors who can help you with specific topics.
• Request that your colleagues add you to any group chats. Department/Program advisors, join the Microsoft Teams chat called Dept/Program advisors - CHAT!
• Ask your supervisor to:
  • Update the Blink Colleges Advising directory or the Blink Department/Program Advisors directory by emailing wts@ucsd.edu.
  • Send an introductory email to uaac-l@ucsd.edu.

7. Read the Academic Advisors Handbook

• Find links and access instructions for the Academic Advisors Handbook.
• Start with the Advising 101 at UCSD handbook page.