Nanook Navigator and Student Success spotlight: Carrie Browne
Nov. 5, 2021
The Nanook Navigator and Student Success spotlight for November is Carrie Browne.
Carrie Browne is an academic advisor at the Academic Advising Center in the Division of General Studies.
Why are you passionate about UAF students and their success?
I’m passionate about UAF student success because I feel every student I work with has a story worth supporting and acknowledging. The students I advise are reaching and investing in their future. It is a privilege to be a part of that investment. There are so many supports and resources available to students while they are a part of UAF. I appreciate my role in helping students learn about all the ways we are here to support their success.
Favorite part about being an advisor?
My favorite part of being an advisor is the unique circumstances that surround each student I work with. Their goals may be similar, to graduate with a degree from UAF. But each student has their own set of challenges and celebrations to reach that end goal. I feel privileged to be part of that experience and enjoy seeing each student engage as a college student, notice their strengths and eventually find a degree that suits both their interests and abilities.
What is your favorite feature in Nanook Navigator?
My favorite Nanook Navigator feature for connecting with students is the ability to text message students. It is quick, simple and students often respond instantly!
My favorite feature as an advisor is “Report on Appointment” and is stored in the history tab of a students profile. I appreciate that there is a place available to keep valuable notes on an appointment with a student (this could be an email exchange, phone call or actual scheduled appointment) and for anyone else working with that student to have access to this information. I also appreciate that these notes are not visible to the student. It gives me the confidence when interacting with students to ask specific questions based on past advising appointments between us or left in the history of appointments from others who have worked with the student in past appointments. For me, having the clearest picture possible when working with students is always the most effective way to create trust and offer the student appropriate support.
How long have you been utilizing Nanook Navigator?
I started working as an advisor for UAF in March 2020 and have used it everyday for multiple purposes since.
Tips, advice, or ideas to support other Nanook Navigator users or student success practices?
I think I would just say that every bit of information that is collected for our students (be it midterm grades, alerts and cases, text conversations, email correspondence, reporting on appointments or access to previous semester grades) through Nanook Navigator helps all staff and faculty to support our students. This is a huge factor in the ability to offer the best options to enhance our students' success and meet them where they are while supporting where they want to go.
For more information about Nanook Navigator, contact Jessica Skipper at jrskipper@alaska.edu.