Academic Advising Roundtables

The Stony Brook Advising Roundtable series invites members of the university advising community to come together to discuss topics related to advising skill development. This semi-structured forum for discussion focuses on knowledge-sharing around essential advising skills. As a group, advisors will review current research and best practices around a certain practical topic and engage in open discussion about effective advising strategies or approaches. These roundtables foster a collaborative space for advisors to explore opportunities to apply research and theory to their advising practice.

 

Spring 2026 Advising Roundtables

Building Rapport (in-person & virtually) - Tuesday, February 17, 2-3pm 

Building rapport is an essential part of effective academic advising, but one that is rarely the focus of advisor training. In this session, we will briefly share insights from the literature and best practices on practical ways to build rapport with students both in-person and virtually, and then open the floor for discussion and knowledge sharing. 

Zoom Registration:

https://stonybrook.zoom.us/meeting/register/VeBLoxGETaWfuVt-VDbrhw#/registration 

Having Difficult Conversations - Wednesday, March 11, 1-2pm 

Every advisor knows that having difficult conversations is part of the job. While these moments are often complicated and stressful, they are also incredible opportunities for student development. In this session, we will briefly share insights from the literature and best practices on how to approach difficult conversations with students, and then open the floor for discussion and knowledge sharing. 

Zoom Registration: 

https://stonybrook.zoom.us/meeting/register/Qi30390aRRaFCEIxFqX8gQ#/registration

Major Changers - Monday, March 30, 1-2pm  

A majority of students change their major at some point during their college career. Whether this was the result of introspection and newfound insight or a required redirection due to academic difficulty, changing a major is a significant transition for a student. In this session, we will briefly share insights from the literature and best practices on how to advise and support students through the major change process, and then open the floor for discussion and knowledge sharing. 

Zoom Registration:

https://stonybrook.zoom.us/meeting/register/sz3m6sO0SLSSCy6O-HHFDA#/registration

 

Advising through Discomfort - Thursday, May 7, 1:30-2:30pm 

Discomfort is an unavoidable part of effective academic advising, and learning to manage discomfort can lead to tremendous student outcomes. In this session, we will briefly share insights from the relevant literature and best practices on common sources of discomfort for advisors, especially student mental health struggles, student precarity, and working with parents, and then open the floor for discussion and knowledge sharing. 

Zoom Registration: 

https://stonybrook.zoom.us/meeting/register/Ws24SPsZTkGEQJa7AuWkpA#/registration

 

If have questions about the advising roundtable series, please contact Ryan.Braun@stonybrook.edu or Jennifer.S.Rodriguez@stonybrook.edu