“Maximizing Your Advising Role/Facilitating a Positive Experience”
Suggested Within Group Activities
Encourage teamwork, particularly if group has a wide range of students
Host holiday or other parties as appropriate
Provide public recognition at meetings or other settings
Establish shared mutual expectations on a regular basis
Assist group in assessment/evaluation exercises
Manage risks/ask the appropriate probing questions
Encourage inclusivity on all fronts
Encourage timely publicity and connect group to publicity resources
Encourage good record keeping, it will pay off in the long run
Be present at meetings, particularly officers meetings
Research and communicate the purpose and history of your group
Know and discuss campus based resources and general policies and procedures (i.e. funding, fundraising, publicity, space reservations, etc.)
Suggested Outside of Group or Individual Activities
Conduct one on one introductory meetings, lunch is always good
Learn student development theory, particularly the Leadership Identity Development Model and Tuckman’s Group Development Model
Research and communicate the purpose and history of your group
Keep in contact with local, regional or national resources
Know how you can help students in their curricular and co-curricular lives
Lunch meetings on an on-going basis
Provide recognition, particularly personal and for non-organizational activities/notes of congratulations
Thank you notes are always good
Translate student involvement experiences into career development/transferable skills
Nominate students for awards, graduate professional school, or job references
Know and discuss campus based resources and general policies and procedures (i.e. funding, fundraising, publicity, space reservations, etc.)
Networking, particularly for civic or professional related organizations
Consider other involvement activities for your members/nominate students to committees or other assignments
Encourage good record keeping
Establish shared mutual expectations on a regular basis
Assist individual members in assessment/evaluation of their experiences
Questions for discussion
What have you done within groups to facilitate a positive experience for students and their development?
What have you done outside groups to facilitate a positive experience for students and their development?