Tiffany Havard

Advising students is meant to be a learning opportunity. Sometimes students have the connotation that an advising always means they are in "trouble". Building a trusting relationship with students is very important, so that they can receive the feedback they are given and not always see it as punitive. 

I have learned that there are so many components to student retention. We need to look beyond the surface when a student is struggling. Many times financial strain, home stress, cultural barriers, or other extraneous factors are leading to their struggles. Not every student that is struggling with retention is because of academic reasons alone.

Allow the student to begin the conversation by asking "How do you feel you are performing?" This will allow you insight to their perception and then you can either provide correction accordingly or agree with and reiterate what they say.