Eliminating Bias from the Advising Process

It happens. As much as we hate to admit it, advisors encounter students who they perceive to be difficult, irrational, or simply unpleasant. We are human, and as such, are going to relate to some students better than others. In fact, we may enjoy interactions with some students while avoiding interactions with others. If you find yourself rolling your eyes when you see a student on your schedule, skipping over multiple emails from a particular student, or telling "funny" stories about students in the office, it's an indicator that you are at risk for introducing bias into your advising.


I received a call from a colleague the other day that started like this: "Do you remember that difficult student who..." I did recall the student right away. My colleague then said, "She is very upset because she's insisting that her record is wrong. I checked it, and there's nothing wrong with it. She keeps insisting that it's wrong. I'm going to tell her it's not." Each of our initial reactions to this student was that of defensiveness, for the student often communicates with a raised voice and imperatives. However, we must transcend our emotional responses, for we are here for students. Period. Advising is never about us. It is about the student. In this case, the student had a need. An unresolved need. It is our job to identify the source of her concern and help to resolve it, either by providing information or resolving the problem. The first thing to do is to consider the facts. The student stated that her record was incorrect, and told the advisor where she saw the discrepancy. The advisor checked one screen, and did not find the source of the discrepancy. She contacted me and I checked a few other screens and could not find the discrepancy. However, knowing that the student saw something somewhere, we kept looking. We found the problem buried deep in her record and then contacted another department to have the record adjusted. Instead of telling the student, "Nothing's wrong with your record," the advisor was able to respond, "I found the source of your concern and have requested that your record be adjusted."


Students come to us for help, and they come as humans. Rather than giving into the temptation to provide less than quality advising to our challenging students, try to understand the source of their behaviors and attitudes. For instance, this student had every right to be frustrated that she had requested a change in her record on multiple occasions, and it was not done. By having the problem solved, she is more apt to develop trust in her advisor and the institution. Students who approach us in anger are often fearful. The source of their fear may stem from a fear of academic failure, financial loss, or low self-esteem. When we are able to reduce the fears through providing comprehensive advising, we have a better chance of positively engaging students and affecting behavior change.


While all of us may experience these negative emotions from time to time, it is important to remember this. If you find yourself in contempt of your students, it's time to find a new profession. Thoughts such as "students are so lazy," "students are so demanding," or "why can't these students figure it out on their own?" can indicate that an individual is at risk for burn-out or is not a good fit for the role of advisor. It is my hope that the good days far outweigh the bad, and that you are able to enjoy the opportunity to share in your students' academic journey.

Purposeful Student Engagement - An idea for the holidays

As student retention becomes of increasing concern in the field of higher education, there has been a movement to focus on student engagement. Engaged students tend to be retained more than those who feel isolated or uncared for. Often, advising administrators develop campaigns that direct advisors to "reach out" to their students, with little direction other than a list of names, emails, and phone numbers. The focus is often on how many students can be contacted and, ultimately, enrolled.


Student engagement should not be limited toward these kinds of efforts. If an advisor needs to be told to contact her students, then something is already missing. Advisors, by the very nature of their roles, should be actively engaging their students every day. They should strive to know their students and to develop a relationship with them. These relationships will increase job satisfaction for the advisor, and will positively impact students who seek advising.


Recently, I sent out a mass email to all of my students, which I have included below. The response was amazing. Many students took the time to thank me for the encouragement or for simply being part of their academic journey. Others replied to inform me of challenges and successes they have experienced, while others simply followed up with an advising question. The payoff can be significant in helping students feel cared for, connected, and informed. This type of exchange can provide further opportunity to engage in proactive advising. For instance, the student who responds, "Thanks for the encouraging words; they are much needed!" opens the door for further discussion. Check his record. See how he's doing. Is he registered for next semester? How are his grades? Respond with an empathetic ear and further inquiry. Establish a dialog. This will truly exemplify student engagement, and will be meaningful for both the student and the advisor.


Mass email:


Students:

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I wanted to take a moment to tell you that I am thankful for you!

I am truly fortunate to be able to work with students who are passionate about their careers and have chosen to pursue an academic achievement earned by very few.

I am grateful for the opportunity to help you develop your academic plans, strategize in order to overcome obstacles, and celebrate your successes. I am inspired by those of you who have faced significant life challenges, losses, and hardships and continue to persevere toward your academic goals. I am energized as I listen to you describe your work and articulate your research ideas. I am excited to have the opportunity to be among the first to call you “Doctor.”

The road to a doctoral degree is a long, trying one, often filled with unanticipated, sometimes seemingly insurmountable barriers. During those times when you’re not sure if you can continue in your program, reach out to me. We’ll try to find a way to make it work! If you’ve stopped out of the program, make sure to keep in touch with me so that you don’t lose sight of the academic and professional goals that brought you to NSU in the first place.

I value the partnerships that I have developed with so many of you. If we have not yet met, please drop me a line, give me a call, or stop by to say hello.

Wishing you all the best as we approach the holiday season.

Sharing the Passion

I have been a higher education professional for 30 years, working in academic advising, career and personal counseling. I've worked with students in proprietary settings, community colleges, public and private universities. The populations with whom I've worked range from traditional aged, campus-based undergraduates to online doctoral level students.

Throughout my career, I've always maintained a strong passion for the work I do. Assisting students to achieve their academic and professional goals is extremely meaningful work, and can make a significant difference in a student's college experience.

I welcome you to join me in sharing best practices through tips, experiences, and ideas. Let's share the passion!