The status and future of academic advising is examined in this American College Testing Program (ACT) monograph, providing an in-depth look at the topics consistently viewed as critical to the success of advising programs. In chapter 1, Wesley R. Habley introduces the monograph by examining the trends in advising over the past 15 years, focusing on current problems and areas with potential for change. In chapter 2, "The Third ACT National Survey of Academic Advising," Habley and David S. Crockett analyze data drawn from a national sample (n=447) of two- and four-year public and private institutions, while in chapter 3, "What Students Think about Academic Advising," Julie Noble uses findings from the same ACT survey to compare student responses at two-year, four-year public, and four-year private institutions. Chapters 4 through 8 focus on practical approaches to and components of academic advising services. The chapters present "Developmental Advising," by Virginia N. Gordon; "The Organization of Advising Services," by Habley; "Advising Delivery Systems," by Margaret C. King; "Advisor Training," by Michael Keller; and "Evaluating and Rewarding Advisors," by Crockett. In chapter 9, "Concerning Changes in Advising," Sara C. Looney looks at the role of advisors as change agents. "Exemplary Academic Advising Programs" are explored by Diana Saluri and Habley in chapter 10, which includes brief synopses of programs of 71 institutions. Finally, chapter 11 provides a 105-item bibliography compiled and selectively annotated by Habley and Lois Renter. (JMC)