Frequently Ask Questions

The CLEAR Model—You Belong Here, We Hear You, and We Lead With Purpose—offers a groundbreaking roadmap for transforming academic advising into a justice-centered, relational, and culturally responsive practice.

Each book in the trilogy builds intentionally upon the last, creating a holistic framework that speaks to the evolving needs of students, the responsibilities of advisors, and the leadership required to enact sustainable change across institutions.

1. You Belong Here

This foundational volume introduces the CLEAR Model—Connect, Listen, Evaluate, Assist, and Reaffirm—a student-centered advising framework grounded in equity, communication, and belonging. It challenges traditional advising structures and redefines what it means to support students at the margins.

2. We Hear You

Centering student voice, this second book amplifies the lived experiences of underrepresented learners—particularly immigrant, first-generation, and racially minoritized students. Through narrative, research, and reflection, We Hear Youcalls on institutions to listen deeply and respond authentically to the students they serve.

3. We Lead With Purpose

The final installment empowers advisors, educators, and institutional leaders to move from reflection to action. It positions advising as a form of leadership and advocacy, offering concrete strategies for enacting inclusive policies, developing advising teams, and creating cultures of accountability and care.

Together, these three books form a powerful, actionable trilogy that equips higher education professionals to not only advise students—but to advocate for them, learn from them, and lead alongside them. At a time when higher education is grappling with issues of equity, access, and systemic change, the CLEAR Trilogy offers clarity, purpose, and a path forward.

The CLEAR Model was created by Dr. Paul-Arthur Pierre-Louis, a higher education leader and scholar committed to inclusive student support. The model is rooted in his research, lived experience, and advising work with diverse student populations, especially at HBCUs and institutions serving first-generation and immigrant students.

Traditional advising often focuses on course selection, degree planning, and policy enforcement. The CLEAR Model reframes advising as a relational, humanizing, and advocacy-driven practice that centers the whole student, particularly those from marginalized communities. It integrates cultural context, identity, and student voice into the advising relationship.

The CLEAR Model is designed for advisors, faculty, student affairs professionals, and educational leaders seeking to create more inclusive, affirming environments for students. It is especially impactful for institutions serving first-generation, immigrant, Black, neurodivergent, undocumented, and underrepresented learners.

• Connect – Build trust and rapport with students through authentic presence.

• Listen – Hear students’ stories, struggles, and goals without assumptions.

• Evaluate – Assess students’ needs holistically, including academic, cultural, and emotional factors.

• Assist – Provide timely, tailored support that removes barriers to success.

• Reaffirm – Reinforce students’ sense of belonging, identity, and purpose throughout the advising relationship.

Institutions can begin by providing professional development on equity-minded advising, embedding CLEAR principles into advising handbooks, mentoring structures, and assessment tools. Implementation may also include revising policies, creating student-centered advising spaces, and training advising teams in cultural responsiveness and inclusive communication.

Yes. The CLEAR Model is grounded in qualitative research, critical theory, and practitioner insight. It is supported by student narratives and case studies shared in the CLEAR Trilogy—You Belong Here, We Hear You, and We Lead With Purpose—which collectively illustrate the model’s impact across institutional contexts.

You can explore the CLEAR Trilogy books for in-depth application and examples. To bring CLEAR to your campus through workshops, keynotes, or training, please contact Dr. Paul-Arthur Pierre-Louis directly via the Contact section of this website.