The Advising Fellows Program brings together advising and student services professionals from across UC Berkeley to contribute their experience, perspectives, and expertise to work that matters to the advising and student services community.
Throughout the one-year fellowship, Fellows collaborate with the Advising Strategy + Training (AS+T) program team, one another, and campus partners on projects and initiatives connected to advising and student services priorities. Fellows have opportunities to help shape this work, contribute perspectives from their own areas, and participate in efforts that can benefit their units, the broader campus community, and the students we collectively serve.
Contribution to Campus Advising Priorities
The Advising Fellows Program supports the advancement of campus priorities in advising and student services by bringing together professionals from across UC Berkeley to contribute to shared projects and initiatives. Through their participation, Fellows help address challenges, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop resources or approaches that strengthen advising and student services across campus.
This collaborative model allows the campus to draw on the experience, expertise, and perspectives of professionals working in different areas while supporting progress on priorities that extend beyond individual departments or units.
Interested in becoming an Advising Fellow for the 2026-2027 academic year?
Join one of our upcoming information sessions to learn more about the fellowship and application process.
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Tuesday, July 14, 2026 10:00 a.m. [Register for this session]
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Monday, August 3rd, 2026 11:00 a.m. [Register for this session]
Application Deadline
Applications for the 2026-2027 cohort are open through 5pm Friday, August 7, 2026.
How the Fellowship Works
The Advising Fellows Program combines professional growth with opportunities to contribute to the advising and student services community through Advising Strategy + Training (AS+T) priorities and initiatives. Throughout the fellowship, fellows engage in meaningful initiatives that strengthen the advising and student services community while developing new skills through applied learning, coaching, collaboration, and reflection.
Fellows are matched to a Focus Area based on program needs and, whenever possible, their professional growth interests. Each Focus Area offers unique opportunities to apply existing expertise, develop new skills, and support initiatives that benefit the advising and student services community.
Focus Areas
Focus Areas represent the primary areas of work in which fellows contribute their experience, perspectives, and expertise. While specific initiatives may vary from year to year, each Focus Area offers opportunities to support the advising and student services community.
| Focus Area | Contributions |
|---|---|
| Community Engagement | Community-building activities, facilitation, events, networking opportunities, recognition initiatives, and collaborative projects. |
| Assessment & Program Development | Assessment activities, program planning, evaluation, process improvement, strategic planning, and implementation of new or existing initiatives. |
| Knowledge Access & Navigation | Development and enhancement of resources, communications, websites, learning and training materials, and knowledge management tools. |
Commitment
The Advising Fellows Program is a one-year commitment, running from November through August.
Fellows should expect to contribute approximately 10-15 hours per month on average. The monthly commitment may vary throughout the year based on Focus Area activities, events, and other fellowship responsibilities.
Throughout the fellowship, Fellows will:
- Attend twice-monthly cohort meetings.
- Participate in regular individual meetings with the Manager of Advising Policy and Strategy to discuss and support their Fellowship work.
- Participate in activities and initiatives within their assigned Focus Area.
- Contribute to initiatives, events, resources, projects, and other work aligned with their Focus Area.
- Participate in fellowship community-building and collaboration opportunities.
- Support the continued success of the fellowship through program evaluation and, as appropriate, future recruitment and onboarding activities.
Individual Professional Development
The Advising Fellows Program is partly intended to support participants in advancing their professional growth goals. Participants will work with the program coordinator to consider how their Fellowship experience can support professional growth goals identified with their supervisor or manager.
Participants will also have some dedicated time for individualized professional development. This may include one-on-one coaching with the program coordinator, developing a plan for professional growth, targeted skill development, or other activities connected to their identified goals.
Time commitment: Participants should anticipate spending up to 10 hours across the program year on individualized professional development. If additional time would be beneficial, the program coordinator will discuss the opportunity with the participant, with additional time subject to supervisor or manager approval.
Benefits of Participation
As an Advising Fellow, you will have opportunities to:
- Help shape and contribute to meaningful work that strengthens the broader advising and student services community.
- Apply and expand experience in leadership, facilitation, communication, project planning, and other areas through meaningful projects and initiatives.
- Build relationships and exchange perspectives with advising and student services colleagues from across UC Berkeley.
- Gain a deeper understanding of Berkeley's advising and student services ecosystem.
- Bring new knowledge, skills, perspectives, and connections back to your home department or unit.
- Receive a fellowship stipend* in recognition of your participation and contributions.
*Fellowship stipends are subject to applicable collective bargaining agreements and university policy.
Application Process
Up to four fellows will be selected. Following selection, each fellow will be matched to a Focus Area.
Applicants are encouraged to attend an optional information session to learn more about the program and application process.
The application process includes:
- Attend an information session (optional).
- Submit an application, including
- confirmation of supervisor approval.
- responses to the application questions
- current resume
- Additional information or an interview may be requested as part of the selection process.
- Selection of Advising Fellows.
- Matching to a Focus Area.
- Complete the Fellowship Agreement.
- Participate in fellowship orientation.
Eligibility
The Advising Fellows Program welcomes applications from advising and student services professionals across UC Berkeley. Fellows represent a wide variety of campus divisions, including schools and colleges, Student Affairs, Equity & Inclusion, University Extension, and other units that support students. We encourage applications from staff who work with pre-collegiate, undergraduate, graduate, professional, and visiting students.
Minimum Requirements
- At least three years of student services experience, including a minimum of one year at UC Berkeley.
- Ability to commit approximately 10-15 hours per month throughout the one-year fellowship.
- Supervisor approval to participate in the fellowship.
Applicants should demonstrate:
- A commitment to strengthening the student and staff experience at UC Berkeley.
- An interest in contributing to Advising Strategy & Training (AS+T) priorities and initiatives that support the advising and student services community.
- A holistic, equity-oriented, strengths-based approach to student services.
- Initiative and the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
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Curiosity, openness to different perspectives, and a willingness to contribute to a collaborative community.
Supervisors
Supervisor support and approval is an important part of participation in the Advising Fellows Program. Participants should expect to commit approximately 10–15 hours per month throughout the program year, and supervisors should consider how this commitment can be accommodated alongside the participant's regular responsibilities.
When considering participation, supervisors should be aware that:
- The majority of program time is dedicated to advising and student services project work. This work is similar to serving on a campus task force or cross-campus initiative, with participants contributing their professional expertise to projects related to advising and student services priorities.
- A smaller portion is dedicated to individual professional development. We recommend that supervisors consider up to 10 hours across the program year for individualized professional development, such as one-on-one coaching or professional growth planning. Supervisors determine how this time is considered and approved for their direct reports. If additional professional development time is identified as beneficial, the program coordinator will discuss it with the participant and their supervisor or manager.
Supervisors and participants are encouraged to discuss professional growth goals that the Fellowship may help support, as well as any workload adjustments needed for participation.
To ensure shared expectations, supervisors will be asked to review and sign a Fellowship Agreement outlining the participant's Focus Area, program expectations, and time commitment.
If you have questions about your staff member's participation, please contact advising-strategy-and-training@berkeley.edu