Numerous differences in the perceptions of the role of the academic advisor do exist. Professionally, the role of academic advising has not developed to a point of general consensus. The need to move toward an accepted definition of roles and responsibilities of the academic advisor clearly exists.

The population of the study consisted of the students, faculty, and administrators from a four year, comprehensive state supported, midwestern university. The inventory was administered to classes on campus. Forms of the inventory were sent to all full-time instructional faculty and all administrators who had any type of working relationship with academic advisement.

Respondents consisted of 620 students, 171 faculty, and 68 administrators. For each category, the chi square test of significance was used to compare response of the three groups. Responses of demographic groups within each of the three main groups were also compared. For students, these groups were based on sex, age, marital status, classification, number of classes, employment status, and major school. For faculty, the demographic groups were based on educational level, years experience on campus, and school on campus in which they teach. For administrators, the groups were based on school affiliation and years experience on campus. Thirty-nine of the 91 comparisons revealed significant differences at the .05 level.

The problem of the study was to assess the role of the academic advisor as perceived by faculty, students, and administrators. The Advisement Role and Responsibility Inventory, which included 52 statements of advisors' responsibilities, was developed and validated. For each statement, the respondents were asked to indicate whether they perceive this as (P) a primary responsibility, (S) a shared responsibility, or (N) not a responsibility of the the academic advisor. The 52 responsibilities were grouped into six categories: course selection, career planning, information giving, institutional, professional, academic development, and personal development.