Starting college is a significant milestone in a student's life, filled with excitement and challenges. As higher education professionals, your guidance can make a difference in helping new students transition successfully into college. Drawing from the insights of Dr. Amy Baldwin and Dr. Laurie Hazard, experts in student success, this article highlights key strategies to support first-year students, emphasizing the importance of getting involved on campus and fostering meaningful relationships with faculty.
The Importance Of Campus Involvement
One of the most impactful pieces of advice you can give new students is to get involved on campus. Extensive research supports this recommendation, showing that a balanced level of engagement—neither too much nor too little—correlates strongly with student success.
Campus involvement is more than filling students' schedules; it's about fostering a sense of belonging, which is essential for mental well-being and academic persistence. Students who feel connected to their campus community are more likely to remain enrolled, perform better academically, and develop critical soft skills like communication, teamwork, and leadership—skills that are highly valued in the workplace.
Helping Students Get Started
Guiding new students toward meaningful involvement requires helping them find activities that align with their interests and long-term goals. Here's a step-by-step approach to assist students in taking their first steps:
- Encourage Conversations: Urge students to talk to peers, upper-level students, and faculty about the activities they're involved in. These conversations provide valuable insights into the variety of opportunities available and help students identify where they might fit best.
- Promote Exploration of Campus Organizations: Direct students to resources such as the student life office or the school's website, where they can find a comprehensive list of campus organizations. Encourage them to explore various options—from professional clubs to social and volunteer groups—and consider attending a few meetings before committing to anything specific.
- Support Balanced Participation: Remind students that it's okay to explore their options before diving in. Encourage them to find a balance between enjoyable activities and those that will help them grow personally and professionally.
- Emphasize Networking Skills: Reinforce the idea that involvement isn't just about participation and building a network. Help students understand that networking isn't limited to business majors—it's a skill that benefits everyone. Through involvement in clubs and organizations, students can connect with others who share their interests and can offer support in their academic and professional journeys.
Building Relationships With Faculty
Equally important to student success is cultivating relationships with professors. Faculty members are not only experts in their fields but also valuable resources for student's academic and professional development. Helping students see their professors as approachable mentors can significantly enhance their college experience.
Here are practical ways to encourage students to build faculty relationships:
- Promote Office Hours: Remind students of the importance of attending office hours, which are set aside specifically for student interaction. Encourage them to use this time to discuss course material, seek academic advice, or get to know their professors better.
- Encourage Class Participation: Active class participation is one of the most effective ways for students to engage with their professors. Encourage students to ask questions, contribute to discussions, and demonstrate their interest in their courses. This not only aids their learning but also helps them stand out to their instructors.
- Suggest Arriving Early: Simple actions like arriving a few minutes early to class and engaging in light conversation with professors can go a long way in building rapport. It shows students' genuine interest and can lead to more personalized guidance from faculty.
- Advise Seeking Guidance Beyond Academics: Encourage students to view professors as mentors who can offer advice beyond the classroom. Whether discussing research interests, career paths, or life skills, these conversations can provide invaluable support and open doors to future opportunities.
- Highlight the Long-term Benefits: Help students understand that their relationships with professors can have lasting benefits, including potential letters of recommendation, guidance on further studies, and opportunities for research or internships.
Conclusion
The first year of college is a critical period for students, and your role in guiding them through this transition is vital. By encouraging involvement on campus and helping students build relationships with faculty, you can significantly enhance their college experience and academic success. Remember, the connections and skills students develop outside the classroom are as important as the knowledge they gain inside it. Supporting them in these areas will lay a strong foundation for their future success. Explore Insights from Dr. Amy Baldwin & Dr. Laurie Hazard on Supporting a Successful College Transition.
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For 20 years, Innovative Educators has empowered college leaders to boost student engagement and retention. By implementing Go2Orientation, OnlineLingo, and StudentLingo, institutions have significantly improved the onboarding and support of new students. Our tools are grounded in best practices for online learning, offering engaging, interactive, and community-building experiences. Together, Go2Orientation, OnlineLingo, and StudentLingo form a comprehensive online resource center that supports students throughout their academic journey. Trust our proven resources to drive your students' success.
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By Meg Foster, Online Learning & Design Specialist - Consultant & Wendy Archer, Web Content Coordinator
August 21, 2024
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