Open Major Spring 2013 Specialization Meeting

Maureen SchaferAssociate Director Academic Advising CenterThe University of Iowa

Carrie MorrisAcademic AdvisorAcademic Advising CenterThe University of Iowa

Get the Conversation Started: Helping Students With No Interests1Academic Advising Center at Iowa43 Professional Academic Advisors

Advise most students entering the University at least through their first year

Advise Open Majors

Open Majors Committee2Our time together..Define students with no interestsDiscuss what we as advisors bring to the table

Discuss strategies for getting a conversation started to help these students move forward

Advising Homework - My Blueprint3Diversity of Open MajorsCompletely open but interested in many areasNarrowed down to 3 main areas or majorsNO INTERESTS AT ALLThe double whammy NO INTERESTS AT ALL and NO MOTIVATION TO FIND ANY4Signs a student might be struggling toidentify interests:Unable to articulate courses or careers of interest

No outside-of-class experiences have been enjoyable

Apathetic, not excited about major exploration process

Looking for answers but without a lot of self-knowledge

5Advising ChallengesIf a student doesnt share a lot of information about his/herself, it can be hard for us to help

It can be challenging to be enthusiastic when the student is not

It is tempting to show them the list of majors and ask them to choose

Time constraints6How to fight the frustration?Recognize and understand our response.

Get the conversation started!

7

What do we as advisors bring to the table?Can we identify with these students or do they frustrate us? Why?

Did we have a lot of interests as college students?

Is the student getting your best advising?

8Uncovering the layersWhy the lack of interest?A result of their background, schooling, family?

Lack of interest may be masking other issues.

9Guiding FrameworkVirginia Gordons 3-I Process

Inquire

Inform

Integrate

10Virginia Gordons 3-I ProcessInquireinvolves identifying students academic and career concerns, clarifying their needs, and making appropriate responses that help them move to the information-collecting phase. (p. 47)Virginia Gordons 3-I ProcessInformInvolves the acquisition and effective use of educational and career information. (p. 63)

Integrateadvisors and students determine what additional assistance is needed to help students organize and make meaningful connections between the information sources they have collected. (p. 79)What do we do?Get the conversation started!

13Be honest with the studentThis is normal.

This is a process. It takes hard work and time!

14Use open-ended questionsThe wonderful word WHYTell me more about thatWhat was your favorite part?Letting them speak, looking for the nugget

15Persevere through uncomfortable momentsSit through uncomfortable silence

Ask the difficult questionsDo you want to be in college?

Be ready for strong emotions

16How does your student operate best?Extroverts process ideas while talking

Introverts prefer to process ideas alone first and then talk about them

Use appointment time wisely

Advising homework17My Blueprint

18Our experience with My BlueprintAn option for staff

Most successful when started in the appointment

Challenges:Takes timeAdvisors feel they must have the answers, connect the dots

19Recommendations for using My BlueprintProvide training on how to use it

Provide examples/success stories of how it is used

Allow flexibility

20Closing the appointment with a planGoal is to have them feel like they accomplished something (even small!) and that they have a plan for moving forward.

We want to leave them with a tangible reminder of what we have discussed. 21Assigning Advising HomeworkAssess their willingness for doing some work on their own

Determine together what they are ready to do

Coach on next steps

22My Blueprint-planning side

23Accountability is important!Follow up an important part of this process

Make note of what you agreed they would do so you can ask next time

Tell the student when you will follow up 24Final ThoughtsThese students can be challenging.

Goal is to make small steps to get the conversation started.

Advising strategies/tools can help you through this process.

Remember that these students require more time and guidance but they can find their way!

25CommentsIdeas

26Thank You!Maureen SchaferAssociate Director, Academic Advising CenterThe University of Iowamaureen-schafer@uiowa.edu

Carrie MorrisAcademic Advisor, Academic Advising CenterThe University of Iowacarrie-morris-1@uiowa.edu 27