Blue Raider Academic Advising Network

Advisor Mastery Program (AMP) – Professional Development

What is AMP?

The BRAAN Committee facilitates the Advisor Master Program (AMP), an internal certification process designed around training and professional development opportunities. These targeted opportunities unite MTSU academic advisors to engage critically with advising scholarship, theory and practice, and build skills for the advising profession.

Vision, Mission, & Objectives

The activities completed to earn AMP certification directly support the vision, mission, and objectives of BRAAN by equipping MTSU academic advisors with the knowledge and skills needed to foster an inclusive and collaborative advising community. Through targeted training and professional development, AMP participants engage with advising scholarship, theory, and practice, enhancing their ability to provide consistent, high-quality advising across campus. This commitment to continuous learning and professional growth not only empowers advisors to guide students effectively but also strengthens the broader intellectual and social community envisioned by BRAAN, ultimately contributing to student success and institutional excellence.

Purpose of AMP

“At their core, advisors are focused on the successes of their students. They do the work of advising not for money or fame but because advising is meaningful work, ensuring that students get the support needed to reach their goals. However, advisors cannot do the work alone. They rely on their own supports to ensure that they serve their students well.

Perhaps the best way to ensure that students are successful is to support the development and training of the advisors to affirm that those who serve students have the knowledge, skills, abilities, and encouragement to do their work. By investing time, energy, and resources in both training and development, institutions of higher education and individual advising units increase the likelihood that the students in their care will find success” (Archambault, K.L., & Hapes, R.L., 2022, p. 1).

Training vs Development

“’Training’ refers to anything an advisor does when they are either new to a position/institution or when something gets introduced to their position (e.g., new advising technology or new job duties). Training is, by its nature, task or job specific and time limited.

‘Professional development’ refers to any activity designed to advance an advisor’s competencies and provide greater depth of knowledge and breadth of understanding (e.g., leadership training)” (Archambault, K.L., & Hapes, R.L., 2022, p. 1-2).

Want to learn more about how the Blue Raider Academic Advising Network & AMP define training and professional development? Read more here under Training vs. Professional Development.

Advisor Mentor Program: Calling all mentors and mentees!

Interested in participating in our Advisor Mentor Program? Read about this opportunity and find mentor and mentee applications under the Forms dropdown menu.