Riverside, Calif., November, 2001--"It didn't happen overnight, or even in a quarter, but with consistent, focused determination to provide accurate academic information and sensitivity to a student's needs, a world of insight and fulfillment has arrived. This has been my journey through the maze of student advising and mentoring," writes Cheryl Bauman of La Sierra University, recent recipient of the NACADA (National Academic Advising Association) Outstanding Advisor Award for Advising Primary role in October 2001.

The 2001 Outstanding Advisor Award goes to regional winners across the United States and Canada. Bauman joined La Sierra's impressive number of awardees winning for Pacific Region 9. La Sierra University has the most outstanding NACADA history of any college in the United States and Canada with 12 total winners of the NACADA outstanding advisor awards; two Outstanding Advisor Awards and 10 recipients of Outstanding Advisor Certificates of Merit.

Cheryl Bauman and Iris Landa celebrate the presentation of the NACADA Outstanding Advisor Award

Living in Riverside from the age of five, her father a retired emeritus botany professor at La Sierra University, and an alumna of the University herself, Bauman never planned to go into counseling.
Starting as a contract teacher at La Sierra University, she later joined the business office eventually landing at her final destination, the School of Business Management as Coordinator of Student Services where she keeps busy supervising more than 100 students yearly.

Bauman sums up her job simply, "It's (advising) all about developing a relationship with students…. that way you can come more in tune with their needs."

Bauman's statement supports why she and other NACADA Outstanding Advisor award winners are recognized for effective advising qualities such as demonstration of a caring attitude toward advisees, meeting advisees in informal settings, mastery of institutional regulations, policies and procedures, use of appropriate information sources, plus countless other qualities.

In 2000, Bauman received La Sierra University School of Business and Management's own Outstanding Advisor award, this put together with excellent advisor evaluations from her students helped Iris Landa, MA, Director of Advising and Orientation, choose Bauman for the University's NACADA award candidate. For the nomination process Landa, other faculty, staff, and students wrote recommendations on behalf of Bauman and sent them to NACADA.

Students wrote letters of recommendation praising Bauman’s knowledge and personable nature ranging from personal stories to comments, "Cheryl has an open door policy and is always within access to all her students in the School of Business," Jonathan Duffy, La Sierra School of Business.
Answers on evaluation forms contained high regards for Bauman. "Cheryl is absolutely the best advisor I have ever seen. She knows the bulletin and schedule better than the school does. Excellent!"
Founded in 1979, the goal of NACADA and co-sponsor ACT, Inc., is to promote "quality academic advising in institutions," and honors individuals and institutions that make significant contributions to the field of academic advising.

NACADA winners were invited to attend a four-day conference in Ottawa Canada, where "breakout sessions" discussed various advisee topics ranging from advising international students to degree audits.

Bauman says, "I'm looking forward to incorporating some of the ideas I learned at the conference."

The conference sessions were followed by an Awards Presentation Saturday evening at the Ottawa Congress Center to honor advisors, publications, and other individuals and institutions, followed by a reception to celebrate the silver anniversary of The National Conference on Academic Advising and its 25 years of promoting quality academic advising and education.
Bauman and seven other winners received their award plaques for 2001 Outstanding Advisor from Nacada President Manuel "Buddy" Ramos.
Back at La Sierra, post-conference, Bauman continues her advising journey.

"I consider it an honor and privilege… I look forward to many more years with the students because they're the lifeblood of this university."

. . . . . . . . . . .

by Kandi White