Flick honored for thoughtful, dedicated advising

Rachel Flick, academic adviser in the College of Arts and Sciences at Bowling Green State University, is thoughtful and intentional when serving her students. For executing and enhancing the advising mission in this way, she received the 2016 President’s Award for Academic Advising of Undergraduate Students at the Faculty Excellence Awards Ceremony April 14.

This award recognizes individuals and units in the BGSU learning community that contribute to undergraduate students’ educational development through effective academic advising. Flick’s award included a $1,000 cash payment.

In her recommendation of Flick, Lee Ann Koenigbauer, director of advising, highlighted two significant contributions Flick has made to student education development. The first, Flick’s focus on student-athletes, includes the scheduling of special evening advising sessions. The second, Flick’s supervision of two College Student Personnel graduate students, benefits at-risk students.

“These graduate students, guided by Rachel, provide added value to college retention efforts to assist our at-risk students in retention and persistence to graduation, significantly contributing to the increase in the College of Arts and Sciences retention rates,” Koenigbauer wrote.

Not only does Flick approach her day with intention, she requests the same of her students.

“Rachel is inspiring students to change their perspective on pursuing a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree,” David Westmeyer, a liberal studies major, wrote in his recommendation. “She is encouraging students to pursue this degree with intentionality, in order to create a liberal arts education that will make them stand out among their peers.”

In their letters of recommendation, Flick’s advisees describe her as genuine, dedicated and enthusiastic.

“Rachel is a genuine individual who is undoubtedly dedicated to her job as an academic advisor here at BGSU, as well as to the numerous students with whom she works with on a daily basis,” Anne-marie Czyznik, an international studies major, wrote. “Rachel is someone who truly reaches out to her students and takes interest in their personal lives.”

Liberal studies major Austin Miller wrote, “I know she has many students she works with, but when I was meeting with her, I felt like I was her top priority. She was very knowledgeable on my college career and has been able to give me great advice to help me succeed at BGSU.”