A comparative analysis of academic advising mission statements of large four year institutions and their alignment with CAS Standards' goals and objectives

Comparative analyses of educational mission statements have led to valuable insights into the theory and practice of educational administration. As the demand for accountability and assessment within student personnel services continues to increase, more emphasis is placed upon management and strategic planning within the administration of those vital areas. A thoughtfully constructed mission statement provides a strong foundation for the goals and objectives set forth by a program. As such, academic advising programs must forge mission statements which enable them to adopt practices elevating their standards and ensuring quality services to their constituents.;It has been suggested that The Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) Standards and Guidelines for Academic Advising Programs are a valuable tool in the organization and administration of academic advising programs. This study examined whether academic advising programs' mission statements incorporate the goals and objectives outlined in the Programs component of the CAS Standards and Guidelines for Academic Advising Programs. A qualitative methodology was employed to examine whether academic advising program mission statements of large 4-year higher education institutions are aligned with the goals and objectives highlighted in the CAS Standards and Guidelines for Academic Advising Programs. Content analysis served as the primary investigative method of examining alignment of academic advising programs' mission statements with the goals and objectives outlined in the CAS Standards and Guidelines. Additionally, a comparison of the extent of alignment of academic advising mission statements of public and private institutions and organizational structure of the academic advising program was also explored in this study.;The results of this study provide academic advisors, advising administrators and higher education administrative personnel with data which may be useful in drafting or revising their own mission statements. Further, this study may provide some insight into the implementation of goals and objectives as well as strategic planning and assessment strategies within academic advising program.