Sarah Judy of the Sam M. Walton College of Business and J. Laurence Hare of the J. Wiliam Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences have been selected by the University of Arkansas Academic Advising Council as 2019-20 outstanding academic advisors.  

The Academic Advising Council recognizes two academic advisors annually, one professional advisor and one faculty advisor. Sarah Judy, retention specialist and academic advisor in Walton Undergraduate Programs, is the outstanding professional advisor and J. Laurence Hare, professor of history and director of international studies, is the outstanding faculty advisor. 

Applicants are nominated by their department, provide a detailed advising philosophy, and offer supporting documents.  Selections were made by the Academic Advising Council from a pool of nominees for overwhelming evidence of qualities and practices that include availability to students, interpersonal skills, mastery of institutional policies and procedures, appropriate referrals to resources, monitoring of student progress and goals, and ongoing partnership with colleagues and students.

Judy and Hare will receive a professional development stipend and consideration for national academic advising awards through the National Academic Advising Association.                

Since August 2017 Sarah Judy has served as a retention specialist and academic advisor in the Walton College, providing academic advising for approximately 750 students. In addition to her advising responsibilities, Judy has a cohort of students every semester who are on academic probation, and is also the coordinator for the Business Living Learning Community. During her time with Walton College, she has grown the BLLC from 50 students to 76 while also helping improve the overall GPA of students in the BLLC.

J. Laurence Hare is an associate professor in the Department of History and the director of the International and Global Studies Program. As part of his advising philosophy, Hare is a believer in strong faculty mentorship as part of a comprehensive higher education experience for students. As a current advisee states, Hare "strove to enhance my academic experience and ensure I was performing at the best of my abilities."

About the AAC: The Academic Advising Council serves as the advisory group for undergraduate academic advising and reports to the provost regarding all matters related to its charge. The Academic Advising Council is charged with assisting the institution to increase the academic success and retention of undergraduate students by highlighting and providing additional support to the academic advising processes. In addition to advising enrichment programming, the Academic Advising Council recommends to the provost goals, procedures and standards for advising, including strategies for the evaluation of advising quality and outcomes.