Engagement with Institute Personnel
Why is this so important? Firstly, it allows you access to crucial information. For example, you will learn about degree requirements from your academic advisor.
Secondly, it allows you to create social and emotional support, all crucial for when challenges arise. For example, if you have a mental health crisis, you may be more able to communicate with someone on campus that can help you. This is common, as currently, up to 63% of students experience a mental health crisis on campus each year.
Thirdly, it allows you to gain a sharper vision for yourself and to understand what is possible for yourself. For example, if you are a first-generation college student, establishing a rapport with a professor who was also the first in her family to attend and graduate college can give you the encouragement to see through to degree completion.
You can start building these rapports before you even step foot on campus. For example, you might reach out to staff members of the Career Center campus so to gain information about professions and to set up a career assessment for when you arrive on campus or online.
Your professors are other great resources to have for social support. For example, by asking questions during class and outside of class can help you to better relate with the material and get help with doing well with exams by ensuring you don’t miss key information about the content and format of exams.
Other staff that creates a greater sense of social support can be found across the campus, such as people working in the student book store or cafeteria. Even a smile at lunch when you’re having a rough day can get you through midterms or finals or a challenging event outside of your academics.
Actively creating these connections is key. Also, it's crucial to sustaining them, so writing down in your journal/schedule to follow up with them periodically, in case you don't regularly see them.
Below, you’ll find some activities to help you start making these connections.
Activity # 1: Questions to ask your professor during office hours.
Consider doing this with various professors. Sometimes it will take a few tries to find a connection and start to build a rapport. Don’t give up! Template for reaching out to the professor below.
Dear Professor _____. My name is ________. I am in your _(Course title, days meet, section number)___ course.
I am impressed by your background. In particular _________________________(topic # 1). This interests me because __________________________________________.
In addition, I’m interested to learn more about ___________________(something about their background or a course subtopic), because ______________________________________. (perhaps ask her/him to elaborate on this topic – either in email and/or during a future meeting).
Would you happened to have time _______________(identify their office hours and offer suggestions that work well with both of your schedules. Use clear dates and times and follow up a day before. Write the event into your calendar and don't miss it.
Thank you in advance. I look forward to becoming more acquainted and gaining your knowledge, expertise, and experiences.
Cordially,
(Your name)_______________
(Contact info)______________
Asking questions in class, in addition to coming to class with reading and assignments completed, can help foster greater connectivity with your professor.
This will take some time, but the payoffs are significant.
Consider raising your hand and starting the day's lecture with your question. Or perhaps approach your professor and have them elaborate on the topic during the course session or office hours. This will show initiative and foster greater appreciation between you and your professor.
Activity # 2: Expanding the circle
First, identify one place on campus that you would like to go to. If you already have been on campus and know where you will be going often, then next time you go there, plan on making one meaningful connection. You can even take the following questionnaire/form on a paper or phone and ask them the questions. You could also share with them that you are working on creating greater social support/connections on your college campus. This may open them up even more.
Name _________________
Department/Store/Office/Etc ________________________
Where are you originally from ______________________________
How long have you been working at this college __________________________
What’s one thing you like most about this college ___________________________
Do you have any suggestions/advise about ......(something you are needing support in)
_________________________________________
You may ask these questions, adapt them, or ask different ones. Thank them for their time. Express your interest in running into them/seeing them again later. Then smile and go on your way!Soon after having this experience, write down your experience and try to use the responses the next time you see them.
If you are high in introversion or have not engaged with personnel on your campus in the past, this will be very important and the steps shared above can help you to work through any anxiety or shyness. You may also use counseling resources to help you with this process.
Resources:
More tips on how to write an email: insidehighered.com/views/2015/04/16/advice-students-so-they-dont-sound-silly-emails-essay
Article on how to get help from your professor: thoughtco.com/getting-help-from-your-professor-1685268
How to talk to your professor: economics.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate-program/academic-student-support/how-talk-your-professor
Advice straight from a professor: noodle.com/articles/how-to-talk-to-a-professor-explained-by-a-professor
Feedback link: forms.gle/n5MGo34RbbpWSb6u8
Secondly, it allows you to create social and emotional support, all crucial for when challenges arise. For example, if you have a mental health crisis, you may be more able to communicate with someone on campus that can help you. This is common, as currently, up to 63% of students experience a mental health crisis on campus each year.
Thirdly, it allows you to gain a sharper vision for yourself and to understand what is possible for yourself. For example, if you are a first-generation college student, establishing a rapport with a professor who was also the first in her family to attend and graduate college can give you the encouragement to see through to degree completion.
You can start building these rapports before you even step foot on campus. For example, you might reach out to staff members of the Career Center campus so to gain information about professions and to set up a career assessment for when you arrive on campus or online.
Your professors are other great resources to have for social support. For example, by asking questions during class and outside of class can help you to better relate with the material and get help with doing well with exams by ensuring you don’t miss key information about the content and format of exams.
Other staff that creates a greater sense of social support can be found across the campus, such as people working in the student book store or cafeteria. Even a smile at lunch when you’re having a rough day can get you through midterms or finals or a challenging event outside of your academics.
Actively creating these connections is key. Also, it's crucial to sustaining them, so writing down in your journal/schedule to follow up with them periodically, in case you don't regularly see them.
Below, you’ll find some activities to help you start making these connections.
Activity # 1: Questions to ask your professor during office hours.
- First, get acquainted with your professor's background through the course syllabus, college profile on the college’s website, and other information you may find online.
- Next, identify key areas that interest you and write them down.
- Now, create a list of insightful questions one to three for each key topic.
- Next, do some research on those topics.
- Subsequently, look closer into those areas and prepare one to three deeper questions.
- Finally, visit your professor during office hours or schedule a brief meeting. If you need help with this look at the template below.
Consider doing this with various professors. Sometimes it will take a few tries to find a connection and start to build a rapport. Don’t give up! Template for reaching out to the professor below.
Dear Professor _____. My name is ________. I am in your _(Course title, days meet, section number)___ course.
I am impressed by your background. In particular _________________________(topic # 1). This interests me because __________________________________________.
In addition, I’m interested to learn more about ___________________(something about their background or a course subtopic), because ______________________________________. (perhaps ask her/him to elaborate on this topic – either in email and/or during a future meeting).
Would you happened to have time _______________(identify their office hours and offer suggestions that work well with both of your schedules. Use clear dates and times and follow up a day before. Write the event into your calendar and don't miss it.
Thank you in advance. I look forward to becoming more acquainted and gaining your knowledge, expertise, and experiences.
Cordially,
(Your name)_______________
(Contact info)______________
Asking questions in class, in addition to coming to class with reading and assignments completed, can help foster greater connectivity with your professor.
This will take some time, but the payoffs are significant.
Consider raising your hand and starting the day's lecture with your question. Or perhaps approach your professor and have them elaborate on the topic during the course session or office hours. This will show initiative and foster greater appreciation between you and your professor.
Activity # 2: Expanding the circle
First, identify one place on campus that you would like to go to. If you already have been on campus and know where you will be going often, then next time you go there, plan on making one meaningful connection. You can even take the following questionnaire/form on a paper or phone and ask them the questions. You could also share with them that you are working on creating greater social support/connections on your college campus. This may open them up even more.
Name _________________
Department/Store/Office/Etc ________________________
Where are you originally from ______________________________
How long have you been working at this college __________________________
What’s one thing you like most about this college ___________________________
Do you have any suggestions/advise about ......(something you are needing support in)
_________________________________________
You may ask these questions, adapt them, or ask different ones. Thank them for their time. Express your interest in running into them/seeing them again later. Then smile and go on your way!Soon after having this experience, write down your experience and try to use the responses the next time you see them.
If you are high in introversion or have not engaged with personnel on your campus in the past, this will be very important and the steps shared above can help you to work through any anxiety or shyness. You may also use counseling resources to help you with this process.
Resources:
More tips on how to write an email: insidehighered.com/views/2015/04/16/advice-students-so-they-dont-sound-silly-emails-essay
Article on how to get help from your professor: thoughtco.com/getting-help-from-your-professor-1685268
How to talk to your professor: economics.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate-program/academic-student-support/how-talk-your-professor
Advice straight from a professor: noodle.com/articles/how-to-talk-to-a-professor-explained-by-a-professor
Feedback link: forms.gle/n5MGo34RbbpWSb6u8