Future-forming research in higher education: a review of academic advising literature from the United States

Academic advising is one of the key practices in U.S. higher education institutions for supporting students’ success. However, the complexity of academic advising program structures, the difficulties in identifying appropriate outcome measures, and the lack of inclusion of multiple stakeholders’ perspectives continue to challenge scholars to integrate research in academic advising practices. In this article, we review publications on academic advising that were included in the recent What Works Clearinghouse Practice Guide to highlight methodological challenges and strategies. Based on insights from these studies, we further explore design considerations to balance rigor, replicability, and relevance in academic advising research and propose promising future-forming research design considerations for higher education researchers and practitioners.