Connecting to Students

Things We Can do to Help Students “Connecting to YOUR students”

The Little Things we Can do:

Before Classes Begin

• Email your class via MustangCruiser to welcome them to you and the course
• Remember why we are here, no matter how busy and crazy it gets

In the Classroom the First Week

• Informal mentoring—show we care
• Ice Breakers the first day to help people get to know each other and feel more comfortable
• Share information about support services such as peer tutoring, Smarthinking, Career Services, Counseling
• Get to know their names as quickly as possible
• Share something about yourself
• Encourage the use of the technology we have available to everyone (labs, wireless, Mustang WebAdvisor, Mustang Cruiser)
• Make the assumption everyone is a first generation college student and knows very little about higher education
• Don’t terrify them!

In the Classroom as we go through the Semester

• Group activities that foster interaction and help make connections
• Encourage study groups
• Make service referrals if students suddenly change attendance or behavior patterns
• Identify and talk to students who are struggling early
• Remind them about events going on around campus and key dates
• Encourage the use of the technology available to everyone
• Walk students to support offices if they need help
• If you are going to be gone some class day and need coverage, consider having a support area that is appropriate come and talk with your class
• If you encourage someone to drop your class, try to offer alternate suggestions

Outside the classroom the first week

• Help lost students
• Encourage students to seek an advisor (maybe an e-mail referring them to XXXX)
• Use e-mail distribution lists and Campus Cruiser to communicate
• Review your advisees’ schedules to see if you see “red flags” and See if advisees are adjusting (maybe a welcome e-mail)

Outside the classroom, all semester

• Informal mentoring—show we care
• Informal follow-up with advisees
• Maintain open-door office hours through alternate methods if necessary
• Use E-mail and Campus Cruiser to communicate
• Send e-mail through Campus Cruiser to students and/or advisees with tidbits of information
• Encourage on-campus jobs. They sometimes help students make the connection
• Encourage attendance/involvement in events
• Consider doing a presentation as a part of RA programs in the residence halls (related to your field, a hobby, etc.)
• Involve new faculty in learning the ropes and being able to help students
• Watch where we have hallway chats about students or just less than positive things
• Attend athletic events
• Midterm follow-up with students and advisees
• Go where students are during downtime (like joining students lunch occasionally in Mitchell’s and the T-Rex)
• Get involved in connecting early with prospective students