Academic Advocates follow a coordinated care case management model that facilitates support to undergraduate degree-seeking students to assist them in resolving academic and institutional challenges that may adversely affect persistence, progression and timely completion of degree.
Academic Advocates serve as case managers to triage concerns while working collaboratively across the campus community, in partnership with the Academic Care Team, including faculty and staff from each of the academic colleges, the School of Social Work, the Erickson School, and other campus resources to coordinate the most appropriate response.
No matter how complex the concerns (i.e., personal, academic, or financial), Academic Advocates will work together with students to review their progress, present options toward graduation, map out a plan for success and facilitate communication and connections with the appropriate campus resources.
Understanding the Diagram
Center: At the heart of the diagram is the word “STUDENTS”, represented by a paw print, which is a common symbol for the UMBC Retrievers mascot. This central placement emphasizes that students are the primary focus of the entire network of support.
The Circle of Support: The circle surrounding the students is labeled “Academic Advocates Provide Personalized and Coordinated Care with the Academic Care Team.” This phrase highlights the collaborative nature of the support system, where different departments and individuals work together to provide comprehensive care.
Support Services: The outer circles represent the various campus offices and services that are part of this support network. These include:
- Academic Advising
- Athletics
- Career Center
- Counseling Center
- Enrollment Management
- Faculty/Staff
- Financial Aid
- International Student Services
- Office of Equity and Civil Rights
- Registrar’s Office
- Residential Life
- Retriever CARE
- Retriever Essentials
- Retriever Integrated Health
- Shady Grove
- Student Business Services
- Student Disability Services
- Women’s Center
- Academic Success Center
The Arrows:
The bidirectional arrows connecting the central “STUDENTS” circle to the surrounding services reflect a collaborative and integrated care model:
- White arrows pointing outward (from students to services) represent the role of Academic Advocates in guiding students to the appropriate campus resources. This direction signifies the coordinated care provided by the advocates as they help students navigate and access services tailored to their individual needs.
- Orange arrows pointing inward (from services to students) highlight how individual campus departments and services can refer students directly to the Academic Advocates. These referrals occur when a student’s needs extend beyond the scope of a particular office or service, ensuring a comprehensive and cohesive support experience.