Student Services
How would you research all the different community services for students with life issues?
Interesting question Dawn. It's true that students have lots of issues of daily living. The first task might be to identify student needs by asking students, grads, faculty, staff, and check student files. You might find they include car transportation, child care,homework help, domestic issues, study issues, and more. Once you start to understand these issues then you can see what solutions you can offer from school resources and where you need to connect with community resources. Thanks, Susan
First I would look at the average student and determine thier basic educational needs. These needs include but not limited to: housing, transportation to and from school, computers and other electronic devices that can be used in completing thier school work, food, health activities, social events, library both for books and electronic, networking, tutoring, access to staff members in all departments and a series of other activities too numerious to mention.
Arthur,
Good points, Arthur. We think student services is as important as the course work, labs, and instructors. Student services helps to insure that students are successful and as many needs as possible are met. This starts with an extensive orientation, then study skills, keeping in touch with students even when they are just 5 minutes late, anticipating and dealing with problems, employment skills training, placement assistance, graduation events, and running effective alumni services. Very big job in our opinion. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
This is a great question! One thing that has worked well for us in conduct an assessment of all new students and identify their needs early on. This allows us to provide them with individual assistance and support they may need.
Gabriel,
Great. It is important to determine what students' needs are. The good and the bad news is that they all have similar needs! This helps to create and then provide solutions. It helps to train staff on what to expect and how to either head off or deal with the problems. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
I like the idea of performing an individual assessment of the student's needs during the first few weeks of class. This helps Student Services identify needs but also communicates to the student where to go for assistance. Student Services is a resource to "help the students help themselves" and teaches students how to develop investigative skills and becoming a wise consumer that will serve them the rest of their lives.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. - unknown
Linda,
This is so well said. The reality is students don't realize that when paying school fees they are paying for student services and support. Many students think that they are the only ones with problems so they don't usually seek assistance, thinking there isn't any. That is why it is so important to show students all the services you offer and show them early and often. You might look at completion rates in relation to use of your student services. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
In the last year we created a board of the surrounding areas and the main resources that could be found in each location. Phone numbers, addresses and websites are now listed for food, emergency shelter, clothing, utility help, and child care for our local counties. Students have even started adding to the board when they come across new resources. It has been a very visual reminder that they are not alone in their struggles off campus.
Kara,
Wow. This is great. Ideally someone types all this up and adds it to your website as a resource and updates and hands out the information in classes. Ideally updates are announced and students are encouraged to add resources they use that are not already on the list. Imagine a prospective student seeing this on your website. They will see you are a caring institution. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
