É«ÀÇÉçÇø

Has a new student come to you with a question? Have you encountered what appears to be a confused student, walking dazed through the Student Center? As a member of the Division of Student Affairs, we all want to help students, but are sometimes tripped up by our own fears of doing “the right thing.” Below are five suggestions to be your most helpful self as students come back to campus.

 BE HONEST
College is usually seen as a transition from childhood to adulthood. Having an honest conversation with a student demonstrates our willingness to hear them as an adult and work together to solve problems. If you’re not sure of the right answer, tell them that you’ll do a little digging and get back to them. The 10 minutes you’ll spend on reconnaissance and follow-up could go a long way to making a new student feel more secure and create a more positive impression about “the man.”

 SHARE USEFUL RESOURCES
Whether it’s student success or career advancement, students often feel that they’re not fully-realizing their college experience - or that they know what resources are there to help them. Always feel free to point students in the direction of many of the resources we provide. Though some students might say they don’t have the time to access them, be sure to share, anyway – you never know when they may choose to take advantage of the information!

 TAKE INITIATIVE
For many students at É«ÀÇÉçÇø this is their first time away from home, and they might feel alone or left out from the college experience as a whole. Point them in the direction of clubs or other on campus activities that would give students an opportunity to meet new people and make friends. There are so many resources in Student Affairs, alone! Campus Recreation, SCCA, Healthy Campus Initiatives, just to name a few - when in doubt, send them to our Student Affairs site to explore their options!

LISTEN
What is the student really asking you? Are you actively listening? This is the first step into adulthood for many college students and they may not know what to ask, but they would like someone to take a moment to listen. So give them an ear, just as you would for a colleague.

 SMILE
Sometimes, the only thing separating a good day from a bad day is a welcoming smile. Remember when you first started college? Even if you were outgoing and eager to make friends, you were probably still a little nervous. A smile puts people at ease and lets them know you’re a friendly face in the pack. See a student who looks tired? Smile. Is a confused student coming your way? Smile. Is someone upset or angry on the phone? Smile (yes, they can tell on the other end). It will make the student, and you, feel better!