How do you follow up with first-year students after the initial advising meeting?

Clear and proactive communication will help demystify the college-going process. Email is an excellent mechanism for record keeping. Next, students learn the advising process and begin to take ownership. Finally, including helpful links will ease any anxiety about specific platforms or software for completing course registration.

I believe that a summary email is one of the most important aspects of the advising meeting. The life of a student is a busy one, and the whole meeting can be forgotten within hours of it ending due to the student having other obligations to attend after. A summary email provides a document that the student can revisit any time they need to for reference, use as a starting point to ask more questions and move forward for the future. This is also a handy tool for the advisor as well, as they can revisit their own email to refresh themselves on the student before the next meeting. Advisors are very busy as well.

Here's a step-by-step guide: 1. Send a Personalized Email: Reach out to each first-year student with a follow-up email summarizing key discussion points from the advising meeting, along with any action items or deadlines. 2. Provide Resource Reminders: Include links or attachments to relevant resources discussed during the advising session, such as academic support services, study guides, or important campus contacts. 3. Schedule Follow-Up Appointments: Encourage students to schedule follow-up appointments to address any additional questions or concerns, ensuring ongoing support throughout their first year.

A follow-up email after the initial meeting is a nice gesture to show you care about the student's well-being. I try to incorporate something I remember about the initial meeting that is specific to the student, so they know it is not just a form email that goes out to everyone. It also builds trust and encourages the student to make progress on the goals you set or to follow up with you on how they are doing. Some students need follow-up to continue performing, while others don't like feeling like they are being watched. Knowing your student's needs is essential in following up with them!

Include key discussion points, action items, resources shared, and deadlines. Encourage questions and express availability for further assistance. Reinforce support and emphasize the importance of academic success.

One thing I’ve found helpful with regular check ins is that it assist the student with brainstorming, planning for the future and deciding to stick to the major they are currently in, or change majors. Being able to regularly check in with your advisor and hash out concerns and ask vital questions, instead of having to wait until the next semester or even longer in some cases will cut down on stressful decisions and situations. Students are discovering new avenues and interest each day!

Debe existir un modelo claro de fases de contacto y temas relevantes a conversar con el estudiante, independientemente de los espacios por demandas de inquietudes puntuales de los alumnos. Es importante en el caso de alumnos foráneos a la universidad tener además dentro del alcance del modelo herramientas que acompa?en su adopción al entorno.

This is how: Regularly check in with first-year students after the initial advising meeting. Schedule follow-up meetings or send emails to address progress, challenges, and any new concerns. Offer guidance on course selection, extracurricular involvement, and resources. Encourage open communication and provide ongoing support to foster academic and personal growth.

An example I’ve seen includes inviting advisees to campus events both virtual and in-person. Maintaining communication by sharing resources is a great way to build authentic relationships.

Refer first-year students to additional resources post-advising meeting. Provide links to academic support services, counseling, and career development centers. Recommend books, articles, or online platforms for personal growth. Encourage participation in workshops or mentorship programs. Foster a holistic approach to student success.

Celebrate first-year success in academic advising meetings by acknowledging achievements, whether big or small. Highlight progress made since the initial meeting, commend efforts, and recognize improvements. Offer words of encouragement and support to inspire continued success. Emphasize the importance of perseverance and growth mindset.

When I learn that students are either switching into one of the majors I serve or either switching out, I am sure to send them a congratulatory email celebrating the fact they they made a major decision impacting their future. This is not always easy for students to do because they are uncertain about what their future holds. Outlook makes it really easy to send these types of messages. You can simply type the word "Congratulations" and the confetti appears. I also make note of things they tell me they may be worried or anxious about during our time together so that I can follow up with them and celebrate them when they do well.

By listening actively, validating emotions, providing relevant guidance, and connecting them with appropriate resources. Building trust and offering empathetic support are key in addressing their needs effectively.

Before I started working as an advisor I help create a post visit survey for a customer service based department I used to work in. This survey has acted as a base for subsequent feedback surveys in positions I have had since then. This base survey asks three questions, "What went well during today's visits?", "Is there something I did that you didn't like during our interaction?", and "What advice do you have to help me improve?". Asking these three questions have helped me see my strengths and weaknesses and make improvements for future interactions.

I should preface this with: our college at our university has an advising team dedicated to our colleges first year students. We actively reach out to students monthly with a newsletter directed specifically to first years. We have big events where our first year team will actively engage with our students. We do events such as Advising in the Halls where we meet them at our specific communities dorms. We work to meet them where they are at.

"Be Watchful - Care ' :: One who advises first-year students has the capacity to serve as a representative of the resources and culture of higher education on their campus. ? Pointers such as approaching deadlines for course registration and withdrawal, appointment scheduling for the tutoring centre, the significance of participating in student organisations, and the date of the Psychology Club's inaugural gathering are a few examples of succinct observations that can significantly influence your students' first-year experience. Such reminders can be delivered in a matter of seconds. Implementation can range from sending follow up?emails to devoting class time to these topics to engaging in small conversation prior to the start of class.