For students in Boise State University’s College of Health Sciences, academic journeys often include layered prerequisites, competitive clinical applications and long term professional goals. The Student Services and Academic Advising team, known as SSAA, exists to help students navigate it all with clarity and confidence.
Mary Crowell, director of College of Health Sciences Student Services and Academic Advising, describes the team as the “navigational hub” for students from their first day of orientation through graduation.
“Our work goes far beyond just picking classes,” Crowell said. “We collaborate with partners across the Boise State campus and the broader health care community to ensure our students have a clear, supported path.”
SSAA’s approach adapts to a student’s major and career stage. For Health Studies and Kinesiology majors, advisors provide continuous support from the first semester through graduation, helping students stay on track and meet degree requirements. For those pursuing competitive clinical programs such as Nursing, Radiologic Sciences, Respiratory Care or Social Work, the team offers specialized guidance through the high stakes application and admission process.
Students planning for graduate programs, including medical, veterinary or physician assistant school, also receive targeted support. Advisors help students use their undergraduate experience strategically to build strong graduate applications and connect them with events and national collaborations that expand their professional perspective.
Beyond academics, SSAA serves as a central resource for the “whole student.” When challenges arise, advisors connect students to campus partners such as Counseling Services, tutoring labs, the Career Center, Financial Aid or the Dean of Students office.
“We are not just academic advisors,” Crowell said. “We are the link to the rest of the university.”
The team’s impact centers on simplifying complex requirements, creating a support bridge across campus and helping students master the logistics of their degrees. Advisors assist with course sequencing and workload balance so students are not overwhelmed and remain on track for graduation or clinical applications.
Success, Crowell said, comes down to engagement.
“The students who thrive are the ones who take true ownership of their education,” she said. “They show up prepared, ask questions and seek out experiences beyond the classroom.”
SSAA also works proactively to reach students. Advisors co-teach HLTH 100, visit classrooms and partner closely with academic units throughout the college. They provide detailed advising sheets that map out degree requirements and offer virtual drop-in hours Tuesday through Thursday for quick questions.
In recent years, the team restructured into two focus areas, Pre-Clinical and Pre-Health, allowing advisors to build deeper expertise while remaining cross trained. They also began connecting with students before orientation to reduce anxiety and provide clearer expectations.
Crowell said one hallmark of the team’s work is creating opportunities for students to explore career paths. A month-long “Medical March Madness” series brings together academic departments, Career Services and institutions across the country to broaden students’ understanding of health professions.
At its core, SSAA’s mission is simple.
“We care deeply about our students and feel privileged to walk alongside them during such an important chapter of their lives,” Crowell said.