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UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

Academic Advising Training Program

Professional development for U of T advising staff looking to build their skills, broaden their network and strengthen their impact on student success and well-being.

U of T staff access the AATP SharePoint site

Strengthening Advising Practice and Community

The University of Toronto Academic Advising Training Program (AATP) provides professional development for advising staff at U of T who are looking to expand their advising knowledge and skillset, and who believe in the impact that quality advising relationships have on student success and well-being.

The goals of the program are to:

  • Promote a holistic approach to student advising and support  
  • Provide an accessible, relevant opportunity for professional development for U of T advising staff 
  • Offer spaces to build a sense of professional identity and community among U of T advising staff 

Launched in 2022

Over 500 U of T staff members have participated in AATP programming

What the AATP Offers 

A piece of paper with a clock in front of it to represent synchronous programming

Advisor Cohort Training Programs

  • Foundations of Advising (Level 1) 
    • focuses on the key theories, concepts, and skills of the advising profession
  • Advancing Advising Practice (Level 2) 
    • focuses on building advisors’ fluency in integrating theory, institutional knowledge, and practice
  • (Level 3 – in development and not yet offered) 
calendar icon with star in the middle to mark events

Advising Community of Practice events

  • Synchronous webinars on advising approaches and University support resources 
  • Regular meetups for discussion and networking 
  • Webinar and resource library 

“I have a stronger sense of togetherness knowing that I am part of the wonderful team of academic advising. The training was exceptional! I know more about what I do and why, than I ever did.”

Guiding advisor learning through competencies

The AATP is built on a three-level Competency Framework that aims to capture the skills and knowledge essential to advising effectively at U of T. Developed by a tri-campus working group and drawing on other frameworks from across North America, the competencies serve as the basis of the learning outcomes for AATP programming.

Stacked half circles that represent the competency framework with relational in the front, informational behind it and conceptual in the back

This category includes:

  • Role of Academic Advising at U of T: the role of advising at the university
  • Advising Theory and Concepts: theories and concepts advisors use in their work
  • Academic Advising Approaches: approaches used in advising sessions
  • Equitable and Inclusive Environments: the environment that is present in advising sessions
  • Indigenous Cultural Competency: knowledge, awareness, and practice of Indigenization

This category includes:

  • Educational Journey & Pathways: the journeys, options, expectations and future plans for students in your advising area
  • Mission, History, and Culture: history of local division and how it fits into a larger faculty, campus, and institution; formal and informal institutional culture
  • Rules, Policies, and Procedures: key rules, policies, and procedures that relate to students in your portfolio
  • Legal & Privacy: key legal rights, guidelines, and expectations governing interactions with students, staff, and systems
  • Changing Student Demographics: knowledge of who students are and how they and their

This category includes:

  • The Academic Advisor’s Role: describing the role of advising to others
  • Identify Student Concerns & Issues: relating and communicating effectively in advising situations
  • Self-Awareness: applying conscious knowledge of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours in advising situations
  • Advising in Different Modalities and Formats: advising in different formats and modes (e.g., individual, group, online, in person)
  • Plan & Conduct Effective & Purposeful Advising Interactions: conducting advising sessions with clear goals and structure
  • Enable Student-Led Problem-Solving: working with students to identify options
  • Effective Referrals & Partnerships: connecting students to related programs and services
  • Professional Development: engaging in continued learning and development

“I learned that I although I have been advising students for 24 years, I still knew very little about the area of academic advising and I wish I had taken this program years ago.” 

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The Impact on Advising

To understand how the AATP impacts advising practice at U of T, participants share how the program informs their work with students. Their feedback consistently shows that the AATP supports skill-building, strengthens professional identity, and fosters a culture of collaboration. Highlights from recent program evaluations include:

  • 100% of AATP participants reported learning something that would make them a better advisor. 
  • 100% of AATP participants reported that the program advanced their ability to engage with students.
  • More than 95% of AATP participants would recommend the program to a colleague.

Contact Us

Academic Advising Training Program

Email: contact.aatp@utoronto.ca

Email us to learn more or request a presentation about our programs.

University of Toronto advising staff apply and register for programs and events on the AATP SharePoint site.