The College of Education Office of Teacher Education, Advising, Licensure and Recruitment (TEALR) is the 2013 recipient of the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising.
“TEALR provides an innovative, integrated and multifaceted approach to advising for our students,” stated Provost Joan Lorden in announcing the honor, which is presented annually to an advising center, department, program, or unit that demonstrates a sustained and collective responsibility among faculty and staff to assist students in achieving their educational goals.
The first point of contact for students interested in majoring in a teacher education program or in minoring in secondary education at UNC Charlotte, TEALR is under the direction of Amanda Macon. TEALR advisors are involved in on- and off-campus recruiting, SOAR activities and individual and group advising sessions. They also provide students access to tutorial software and develop curriculum planning sheets. To help students successfully navigate the University, TEALR advisors host a workshop series, which was shifted to the Niner Advisor online program to streamline the advising process. In addition, they played a role in the “Prospect for Success” implementation process to enhance student engagement.
In written feedback, students consistently praised the unit’s competence, compassion and commitment to success. One student wrote, “It is not often that we find an individual who is passionate about his/her work as well as understanding about others’ needs.”
Mary Lynne Calhoun, dean of the College of Education, praised TEALR advisors for providing “an important service for our students.” She stated TEALR advisors “reflect the commitment and professionalism that is deserving of this recognition. Their delivery of best practices in serving our students in a meaningful and effective way is outstanding.”
The award includes a monetary prize of $2,500 granted to the office and a plaque that commemorates TEALR’s achievements in undergraduate advising.