Materials and services related to improving the academic advising process compose this manual developed to aid colleges and universities. Part One (Introduction to Advising) covers: the definition and importance of academic advising; basic elements in developing and implementing a successful advising program; delivery of academic advising; and managing faculty advising which offers eight chapters as well as an appendix and references. Part Two (Training the Advisor) deals with various strategies for developing programs successful in preparing the advisor. Part Three (Institutional Models) offers descriptions of selected institutional delivery systems. Part Four (Using ACT in Advising) discusses using the American College Testing (ACT) Assessment and ACT Student Profile Report in academic and group advising. The final section (Advising, Skills, Techniques and Resources) discusses: the academic advising process; advising from the student perspective; the advising folder; the advising interview; helping skills for advisors; special advising topics; career counseling and advising; group advising; developing the advisor's handbook; surveys, inventories and checklists; confidentiality and student privacy; evaluating academic advising; and a miscellaneous section. An annotated bibliography and reading list for advisors is included. (LC)