What do I have to do to get my students to see me???

Question

I am an academic advisor for a voluntary educational program. If my students come in, they usually come back because I give great advice and I'm an easy going guy that doesn't cram my beliefs down their throats and have a lot of optimism about their potential.

On the other hand, I have many students that just don't bother to show up in the first place! I know actually seeing another person face to face is kind of old fashioned, after all there's virtual dating on the internet where people only ruin the romance by actually meeting, but seriously, I feel neglected...

Plato: Great idea. Been there, done that. Wish that worked.
:(

Actually, no, my students not showing up does not mean I have done my job. There is clear evidence that students not showing up have a lower GPA and a higher tendency to register for classes beyond their preparation levels (which leads to lower GPAs). I explain this in some of my e-mails, but apparently the e-mails get ignored.

It gets worse: Although there is no evidence of effective advice to date in terms of encouraging students to show up, the new evaluation policy means my raise depends on students showing up for meetings, regardless of whether administrators have any clue as to how to get them to visit!! I am starting to think that this evaluation method is cruel, although usual, punishment for anyone fool enough to try to help people in my profession. And, yes, I am already looking at other jobs. On the other hand, if I could get the students to just show up, I know I could do a great job.

And yes, I did think about offering my services in other capacities, but I think the fact that I am a hairy short nerdy white guy might make that a form of marketing suicide.

Oh, dustiiart, if only I could marry your mind. I would LOVE to do those things! I would love to be dressed in blue jeans and a sweatshirt that says "COLLEGE" on it. I would love to have a pizza party or snacky thing! I'd love to just have a open coffee house chat. And my students would probably go for that too! Problem? I'm tied up in this damn red tape!! Damn the man! Damn the man!!

Ok, specifically, to have food served at all, there has to be a formal "guest speaker" from outside of my program... Sadly, the preference seems to be for someone at least slightly patronizing (UGGGHHH!!). THEN, (AFTER approval by the program director) we have to get the funding approved through the finance department, a process that takes at least 2 weeks! They will be obnoxious about how the funding is disbursed, the location, and who has catering rights to what turf on campus (UGH!). When it's all said and done, going to the dentist to get cavities filled sounds less painful. I guess that's why we have to take sick leave to go there. Pfht... We even had something like that for our orientation... I think the major problem is that we're *voluntary.* You're right though. We'd get more response with a candy coating.

Answer 1

Perhaps there is a level of perceived intimidation in the student going to your office...i.e. a lot of people don't like to be psychoanalyzed and perhaps this is how they are perceiving you despite your laid back attitude and great advise, both of which I don't doubt you have.

What about a less "formal" setting? Sort of a gathering place for all the students to meet with you...present a forum where they can discuss certain things with you and then if they have specifics that they prefer to discuss more privately you can schedule this with each of them...might get you a bit further with them. Having some kind of refreshments (so it's very, very informal) might assist as well.

An hour or so of this and you just might break the ice with a lot of the ones who just don't show up normally.

Good luck with this...just know it isn't you I'm sure, it's the assumptions they are having about these more formal appts, I think.

Answer 2

i wouldn't be hurt if they don't come in.. that just means you have done your job. but for the ones who do come in reward them by not worrying about the ones who neglect there right to show up. keep focused on the ones who need you. :)

Answer 3

Try emailing them or send them a text message to stop by your office for advice.

Answer 4

Do like some teachers do and have sex with your students that will make them come back. dont take me seriously im just kidding infact you should probably delete this im just a jerk.