Live! Virtual Appreciative Advising Institute

Appreciative Advising Institute Offerings

November 2024 May 2025 June 2025 July 2025
November 18-21
Registration Deadline:
October 16, 2024

NOVEMBER 2024 REGISTRATION

May 19-22
Registration Deadline:
April 16, 2025

MAY 2025 REGISTRATION

June 23-26
Registration Deadline:
May 21, 2025

JUNE 2025 REGISTRATION

July 28-31
Registration Deadline:
June 25, 2025

JULY 2025 REGISTRATION

Tentative AAI Schedule

UPCEA 2022 Regional Award Recipient
FAU Office of Appreciative Education’s Live! Virtual Appreciative Advising Institute was awarded the 2022 UPCEA Program of Excellence: Noncredit Award, which recognizes a program that makes an impact on professional, continuing and online education in a unique manner.

What is the Appreciative Advising Institute?

The award-winning Live! Virtual Appreciative Advising Institute is a four day interactive professional development experience sponsored by the Office of Appreciative Education at Florida Atlantic University. The Institute is an engaging, hands-on, active-learning filled professional learning experience. Participants will leave renewed, refreshed, and inspired to help empower you and your students to become your best selves!

The focus of the Institute is to share practical suggestions for translating the theory of Appreciative Advising into your practice. Steeped in the tenets of positive psychology, Appreciative Inquiry, and motivational theory, Appreciative Advising is positively impacting student retention and outcomes at institutions across the globe. Participants will learn how to use the six phases of Appreciative Advising: Disarm, Discover, Dream, Design, Deliver, and Don’t Settle to help their students optimize their educational experiences. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on their own goals and dreams to optimize their own lives.

How Much Does the Institute Cost and How do I Register?

Registration for only the Appreciative Advising Institute is $495 per person. Registration cost includes all materials needed for participation. You do not need to purchase any books or additional materials for the Appreciative Advising Institute. We will provide all resources needed for the Institute electronically. We will share a link to the materials that may be downloaded and printed if desired prior to the Institute. If you would like to add the Certified Appreciative Adviser application fee to your Institute registration the cost of the bundle package is $695 per person. Click here to learn about Becoming A Certified Appreciative Adviser.

IMPORTANT: If you are an institutional contact responsible for registering four (4) or more persons from your institution and/or if you are registering yourself but know that more than one person will be registering from your institution, please contact Smita Patel (patels@fau.edu) and the Office of Appreciative Education (oae@fau.edu) for group registration instructions. If you are interested in registering a group of 30 or more participants, but these dates do not work for your schedule, please contact the Office of Appreciative Education (oae@fau.edu) to explore options.

What is the Difference between Purchasing the Appreciative Advising Institute Registration and the Bundle Package?

The Appreciative Advising Institute Registration includes the cost to attend the Institute. The Bundle Package is a discounted price that includes both the cost of The Appreciative Advising Institute Registration and the application packet to become a Certified Appreciative Adviser. (Note: the completion of the Appreciative Advising Institute fulfills the Educational Component required to apply for certification. Click for more information about the benefits of becoming a Certified Appreciative Adviser.)

Who Should Attend this Institute?

Anyone who works with people! Professional and faculty advisors, coaches, mentors, student affairs professionals, and K-12 educators and administrators will leave the Institute brimming with ideas that they can take back to their offices and implement immediately.

Why Should You Attend this Institute?

Given the increased pressure on higher education institutions to increase their student retention rates as well as significant decreases in funding revenues, it is clear that the status quo is no longer a defendable position. What these challenging times demand is a revolutionary approach to student success. Appreciative Advising is that revolutionary approach, focusing on the very best our students have to offer.

"The information was presented in a clear and concise manner which makes it easy to digest. I enjoyed interacting and learning from the group leader and my group participants. This was by far the best [professional learning experience] I have attended. The takeaways will definitely make an impact in my work with students."
(July AAI Participant)
"The entire institute was great and really revitalized my passion for students while giving me some great new tools that are totally doable."
(May AAI Participant)

How is the Institute Different from a Conference?

Less lecturing, more doing! The Institute provides an opportunity to build substantive relationships with the top Appreciative Advising professionals as well as with colleagues from across the globe. Small groups allow participants to practice new skills and techniques. You will leave the Institute with practical skills and strategies that you can immediately use when you return to campus. The Institute has a fun, energizing atmosphere that will help you remember why you wanted to work in higher education. You will leave refreshed, revitalized, and recommitted to student success!

"The engagement and small group structure was wonderful. So many times I have gone to a conference and felt like a ‘face in the crowd.’ Not here - I feel fortunate to know my group members by name and feel comfortable in reaching out to my facilitator for continued support."
(June AAI Participant)
"In typical professional development conferences, I always wish for more time to talk with other participants and learn from each other. This Institute offered so much of that, and it made the experience richer, more meaningful, and very appreciative."
(July AAI Participant)

What is the Virtual Format Like?

We will meet synchronously for 4 hours each day during the Institute. Active learning during the AAI will occur in small groups of approximately 15 participants. The focus of each 4-hour session on each of the 4 days of the Institute will be to provide participants with practical suggestions for immediately applying the Appreciative Advising Theory-to-Practice Framework to their important work with students. Due to the interactive nature of the Institute and the placement into small groups of ~15 people, please plan to have your cameras on and block your calendars so that you can be fully present to learn from and with your small group and small group facilitators.

What are the Technology Requirements?

Because we will be using Zoom, a virtual meeting platform, participants will need the following:

  • A computer with a camera and a microphone
  • A strong Internet connection

Prior to the start of the AAI, participants will be provided with an FAQ packet to familiarize you with the features of the technology that will be used to help maximize your virtual experience.