Sprenger-Schulenburg receives Outstanding Professional Academic Advisor Award

Jessica Sprenger-Schulenburg

Jessica Sprenger-Schulenburg, academic advisor/ academic coach in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Department of Criminal Justice, earned the Outstanding Professional Academic Advisor Award for exemplifying the best qualities of academic staff advisors. The award is presented annually to a UW-Platteville faculty/instructional academic staff member whose primary or only responsibility is advising.

“Receiving this award is very important to me,” said Sprenger-Schulenburg. “I feel that by winning this award, it confirms that I have found a meaningful place to succeed and contribute at UW-Platteville. Also, I am proud and grateful that my hard work, dedication and involvement in academic advising has been recognized, not only by my department, but also throughout campus. I am very touched that colleagues in my department have valued my contributions to helping both criminal justice and forensic investigation students succeed at UW-Platteville.”

Sprenger-Schulenburg believes the primary goal of academic advising is to help students define and develop both educational and career goals that are consistent with their personal values, interests and talents.

“Advising has the potential to be a powerful intervention device that can greatly improve the quality of life and education experienced by our students,” she said. “For me, academic advising is a personal, hands-on approach to empower our students.”

“Jessica is deserving of this award because of the hard work she puts in to advise students, on a daily basis, all year long, not just during the academic school year,” said Tim Juedes, lecturer of forensic investigation and advisor of criminal justice/forensic investigation at UW-Platteville. “The department has three majors, four possible emphases, two minors and certificates; Jessica knows all of these potential paths, inside and out. Her knowledge and advising skills do not end there; she is able to advise students at the career level, discussing potential job outcomes and job placement for students once they graduate.”

When asked what she enjoys most about academic advising, Sprenger-Schulenburg said, “Meeting one-to-one with our students and getting to know them. It is terrific to have met with a student over multiple academic semesters and see her or his personal growth firsthand. I have had advisees rise to accomplish things they never thought possible.”

She noted that once students enroll at UW-Platteville, they assume full responsibility to determine their own academic career.

“Academic advising is the scaffolding that provides a solid foundation for their academic career,” she said. “I believe we encourage students to seek help proactively, ask questions about topics that need clarification and take charge of their academic careers. By preparing students with these skills and perspectives, we encourage students to be proactive in determining their future careers.”

Sprenger-Schulenburg, who has been employed at UW-Platteville since 2011, will receive a recognition plaque and $300 professional development funding from the university’s Office of the Provost. In addition, her nomination was forwarded for the Wisconsin Academic Advising Association’s and the National Academic Advising Association’s advising awards. She also will be recognized at the university’s convocation on Thursday, Aug. 29.

Juedes and Dr. Nancy Gartner, assistant professor of criminal justice at UW-Platteville, nominated Sprenger-Schulenburg for the award.