College success advising used to take place over in-person meetings and by phone. But between video chats and texting, more informal ways of communicating have become mainstays of advising in recent years. These channels are often less intimidating for students, not to mention more convenient, making it easier than ever for students to share feedback or reach out when they need support. Social […]
Does your approach to text messaging make it easier for you to do your job? College success advisors are often stretched thin, but texting campaigns can help increase student engagement with your program and even connect you with the information you need to provide effective support. Text messages are easily tailored to different student segments, […]
Throughout the past year, there have been sharp changes in students’ needs, expectations and priorities that have forced higher ed institutions and college success programs to rethink their approaches to supporting and engaging students. Heading into a new academic year, there is now a huge opportunity to embrace new models of learning and engagement, blending […]
Every student you support is attending a college that will have an outsized impact on their path to a degree. As a college success advisor, imagine what would be possible if you had a direct line to those colleges. What if you could pick up the phone to make a warm hand-off, or coordinate on […]
Financial aid verification adds an extra step for students applying for college, a routine process that comes around again each year. For college success advisors, this is familiar territory, but the process is anything but routine for our students. We shouldn’t forget what an unnerving experience it can be for students who may perceive verification […]
When supporting students’ college persistence, it’s important to recognize where your goals overlap with those of their institution and how you can partner effectively. Most college success programs are exceptionally responsive to their students’ needs, but their services are unlikely to match the breadth of offerings at a college campus. Imagine if your advisors had […]
When a student is struggling in college, it can take a lot of courage to ask for help. It’s not easy to overcome insecurities and self-doubt to admit that their grades are suffering. Financial difficulties, mental health struggles, and family problems can leave a student feeling vulnerable. Whatever the challenges they are facing, their college […]
College success advising is both an art and a science. The most effective advisors bridge technical expertise, from degree planning to financial aid verification, with the interpretation, empathy, and heart that make it possible for them to connect with students. It takes a certain kind of person to do this work well, but the blending […]
College students have been pushed to their limits over the past year and the pandemic has demonstrated their determination and resourcefulness like never before. This is true both in the ways they persevered through new challenges, but also in the ways they no longer could, as longstanding workarounds and fragile support systems were put to […]
Many college students are feeling isolated this school year, whether they are navigating strict coronavirus protocols on campus or tuning into virtual classes from far away. Particularly for first-year college students, this year presents a huge challenge for persistence amid practical challenges and personal upheaval. While in-person meet-ups are off the table, it’s more important […]