Advisor AI + Appreciative Advising: A New Era of Student Success

In collaboration with Florida Atlantic University’s Office of Appreciative Education

Two-thirds of today’s students feel stressed about life after graduation.

Advisors feel it too—overloaded with caseloads, complex requirements, and systems that don’t connect.

The result? Less time for the conversations that truly change a student’s life.

Yet research is clear: students who regularly meet with advisors are 10–15% more likely to persist. Advising works—when advisors have the time and tools to do it well.

That’s why Advisor AI has partnered with Florida Atlantic University’s Office of Appreciative Education. Together, we’re combining award-winning professional development with student-centered technology—at no additional cost—to scale advising support and empower success for every student.

What This Partnership Means for Institutions

Advisors and institutions benefit in three key ways:

1. Transforming advising from day one.  Students receive personalized, timely, and comprehensive guidance from the start of their journey.
2. Support advisor satisfaction and retention. Advisors gain award-winning training and access to a thriving professional community—without extra cost.
3. Empower advisors, empowered students. Advisors trained in Appreciative Advising help students feel like they belong, leading to stronger confidence, persistence, and career readiness rates.
   
   

Appreciative Advising, Built Into the Student Journey

Advisor AI has intentionally woven the six phases of Appreciative Advising (Bloom et al., 2008) into the student experience. Here’s how it comes to life:

Phase 1: Disarm

Goal: Build trust from the very first click.

• A welcoming, intuitive interface eases students into the platform.
• Friendly language and guided navigation reduce anxiety.
• A responsible AI copilot answers common questions and connects students to real advisors.

"This was a wonderful program to use with my two College Freshmen classes in guiding them with a tool for early course selections and choice of major. It was "user-friendly" in its initial setup and students were able to be guided into course selection, areas of concentration and potential majors; and were given the opportunity at the end to discuss live with an advisor."

~ Douglass Turrell, Kutztown University

Phase 2: Discover

Goal: Help students uncover strengths, passions, and goals.

• Career and major exploration tools connect academic interests with real career paths.
• Personalized prompts guide students to reflect on what matters most to them.
• Integrated labor market insights show how majors translate into opportunities.

"The platform's career exploration features are great and simple to use. Advisor AI helped me explore new subjects and made things less confusing." 

~ Megan, Undergraduate Student

Phase 3: Dream

Goal: Help students envision their ideal future and long-term goals.

• Career pathways and resume assistance help students see where their studies can take them.
  Individualized plans spark ambition while staying realistic.
• AI-generated roadmaps give students a vision they can share and refine with advisors.

Phase 4: Design

Goal: Co-create a clear plan to help students reach their goals.

• Side-by-side major comparisons help students make informed choices.
• Advisors and students collaborate on personalized roadmaps, celebrating milestones along the way.
• Progress trackers keep goals visible and achievable.

"Advisor AI has significantly transformed the experience for both advisors and students ... leading to more efficient and meaningful interactions. This, in turn, enhances the advisor-student relationship." 

~ Dr. Soojin Kim, Kutztown University

Phase 5: Deliver

Goal: Help students stay accountable and supported.

• Collaborative workflows and nudges keep students on track.
• Built-in messaging makes it easy to stay connected.
• Advisors get comprehensive insights to provide timely, meaningful feedback.

"Students can get answers instantly from the advising assistant… But my favorite feature is that it incorporates career exploration and readiness, so the student is better prepared for a successful career after graduation." 

~ Alan Beaudrie, Nationally recognized academic advisor

Phase 6: Don’t Settle

Goal: Encourage students to reach higher and refine their goals.

• Real-time career insights motivate students to explore new opportunities.
• Advisors get alerts to support and challenge students at critical points.
• Continuous updates ensure students always feel supported on their next step

The Bottom Line

Advising has always been about more than course schedules. It’s about helping students see what’s possible—and giving them the confidence to get there.

By combining the heart of Appreciative Advising with the power of Advisor AI, we’re entering a new era of student success:

• Students gain clarity and confidence about their future.
• Advisors have the tools and training to focus on what matters most.
• Institutions see stronger persistence, belonging, and completion at scale.

Together with Florida Atlantic University’s Office of Appreciative Education, we’re reimagining what advising can be—personalized, empowering, and built for today’s students.