Undergraduate Advising Council to the Provost

The Undergraduate Advising Council (UAC) provides guidance to the Provost on matters related to academic advising at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI).  The Council will be guided by the Pillars of Academic Advising from NACADA - The Global Community for Academic Advising and the UNI Mission, Vision, Goals & Outcomes.

The Council will collaborate with university administration, departments, and student success services to promote academic advising as a high-impact practice.  The UAC will do the following:

  • Promote consistency in the student experience
  • Foster ongoing improvements  of academic advising throughout campus
  • Assess academic advising effectiveness
  • Implement and monitor academic advisor training and ongoing professional development
  • Liaison with the Advising Network to support collaborative discussions and decision-making concerning matters associated with academic advising and the achievement of student success
  • Review advising-related policies/procedures and make recommendations as needed

2024-25 Undergraduate Advising Council Committee Members

  • David Marchesani | Director, Office of Academic Advising [Chair]
  • Elisabeth Soliz | Director, Wilson College of Business Professional Distinction Operations
  • Jenny Connolly | Director, College of Education Academic Advising & Teacher Education Success
  • Karen Cunningham | Assoc Dean & Director, Online Education & Individual Studies
  • Samantha Goss | Asst Professor, Art,  College of Humanities, Arts & Sciences
  • Kyle Haiman | Academic Advisors, Biology, College of Humanities, Arts & Sciences
  • Emily Machen | Associate Dean, College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • Melinda Heinz | Asst Professor, Family, Aging & Counseling, College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • Deedee Heistad | Associate Provost for Academic Affairs