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SILVER MEDALSHelping Students Adjust to a Second-Choice Major

Patrick Morton – Texas State University – Round Rock Higher Education Center

Ashley Ransom – Texas State University – San Marcos

Outline:

Introduction Appreciative Advising Delivering the “Bad News” Helping Students Adjust to a Second-

Choice Major Conclusion Questions?

Appreciative Advising: An Overview

A series of steps or phases that “intentionally use positive, active, and attentive listening and questioning strategies to build trust and rapport with students.”

Bloom, J.L., Hutson, B.L., & He, Y. (2008) The Appreciative Advising Revolution. Champaign, IL: Stipes Publishing

Appreciative Advising Phases

Disarm – Put the student at ease by a warm welcome, a professional and comforting environment and giving your full attention

Discover – An attempt to find the values and strengths of the student by using positive inquiry and open-ended questions, active listening and reinforcement



Dream – Encourage the student to let go of everything else and simply wish, then connect the dream with the values and strengths of the Discover phase

Design – Determine actionable goals and incremental steps needed to achieve what is put forth in the Dream phase



Deliver – The follow-through of the Design phase, give the student positive support and encouragement as they move toward their goals

Don’t Settle – Encourage and help the student forward in the goals, a time to challenge the student to exceed their own expectations rather than simply meet them


Think of a time when you may have used Appreciative Advising…

Share

*Disarm you with a smile…

*Smashing Pumpkins. (1993). Siamese Dream.

The Disarm Phase should be used every time you interact with a student but it is crucial when delivering

bad news.Advisor Tips:

1. Greet them warmly with your full body facing the student

2. Smile

3. Good posture, but not rigid

4. Remove distractions


Advisor Tips continued

4. Maintain eye contact

5. Call student by name

6. Use teamwork pronouns when possible – “we” “us”

7. Small talk

8. Treat the student as you would have your son or daughter or best friend treated

Disarm Phase


Delivering Bad News

Stick to the facts

If relevant use personal disclosure, it shows empathy and triumph over adversity

Focus on their potential, be sure to discuss the courses where they did well

Let Them Grieve

“If advisors quickly dismiss students’ voluntary or involuntary abandonment of their plans for the future and encourage

students to move on, advisors trivialize the predicament most students confront.

Perhaps in hindsight, most students will see their loss as “minor,” but for most it’s

anything but as they confront it.” ~ Maura Reynolds

Reynolds, M. M. (2004). Now What? Some thoughts on advising students in selective majors from a faculty member with no training as a counselor. Retrieved from NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources Web site: http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Clearinghouse/AdvisingIssues/SelectiveMajors.htm

Recover with Discover

For the current advisor: “I think we need to figure out a Plan B”

For the new advisor:“I need to know what other majors are out there.”


How to utilize the Discover Phase

Use open-ended questions to discuss their passions and strengths: “What do you like to do?”

Let them ramble and actively listen, feed it back to them

Be non-judgmental and be authentic



Disclose when appropriate

Affirm/rephrase what they say: “I am impressed by…”

Highlight initiative, praise proactive behavior

Don’t be afraid of silence

Emphasis on their potential


Discover Phase Activity

Tell me about a time where you feel you made a difference.

Describe your most important

accomplishment as an advisor.

Pair up and discuss the following:

Discover Phase Questions for the Student

1. Describe three life events that have made you who you are

2. Since coming to this institution, what is something you have accomplished that you are proud of?

3. Who are the most important role models in your life? Why?

4. What qualities in these people do you hope to emulate?


From Discover to Dream

LISTEN

Remind the student to be open to possibilities; there is more than one way to achieve their dreams

Looking for connections to the values and strengths revealed in Discover Phase

Dream Phase Tips for Advisors


1. Think about one of your wildest dreams2. Narrow that down to a part you think would

actually be achievable3. Now, what would you need to know/have in order

to actually achieve this part of the dream?4. Name one step that you could do next week that

would move you towards your own dream

Dream Activity

Twenty years from now, you are on the cover of a magazine. What magazine is it?

When you were in grade school, what did you say you wanted to be when you grew up? What about now?

If salary, education and time were irrelevant, what would be your ideal job?

Dream Phase Questions for Students


To Achieve the Dream…

•Your local Career Services Office

•Information on how to declare the new major

•www.rileyguide.com

Questions?

Resources:


Reynolds, M. M. (2004). Now What? Some thoughts on advising students in selective majors from a faculty member with no training as a counselor. Retrieved from NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources Web site: http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Clearinghouse/AdvisingIssues/SelectiveMajors.htm

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