How can you involve students in the advising process?

1 Establish rapport

The first step to involve students in the advising process is to establish rapport with them. Rapport is the foundation of trust and communication that enables you to understand your students' needs, interests, and aspirations. You can build rapport by showing genuine interest in your students, listening attentively, using positive and respectful language, and providing feedback and encouragement. Rapport also helps you to identify potential challenges or barriers that your students may face and offer appropriate guidance and support.

2 Clarify expectations

The second step to involve students in the advising process is to clarify expectations. Expectations are the standards and responsibilities that you and your students have for each other and for the advising process. You can clarify expectations by explaining the purpose and benefits of advising, outlining your role and your students' role, setting realistic and attainable goals, and establishing a regular and consistent schedule for advising sessions. Clarifying expectations helps you to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, and frustration, and to create a clear and mutual agreement with your students.

3 Engage in dialogue

The third step to involve students in the advising process is to engage in dialogue with your students. Dialogue is the exchange of ideas and information that allows you to explore your students' strengths, weaknesses, preferences, and motivations. You can engage in dialogue by asking open-ended and probing questions, listening actively and empathetically, summarizing and paraphrasing key points, and providing relevant and accurate information and resources. Dialogue helps you to assess your students' progress, challenges, and opportunities, and to facilitate their decision-making and problem-solving skills.

4 Encourage reflection

The fourth step to involve students in the advising process is to encourage reflection with your students. Reflection is the process of thinking critically and creatively about one's own learning and experiences. You can encourage reflection by asking your students to evaluate their achievements, challenges, and feedback, to identify their strengths, areas for improvement, and learning styles, and to relate their academic and career goals to their personal and professional values and interests. Reflection helps your students to develop self-awareness, confidence, and autonomy, and to align their actions with their goals.

5 Promote action

The fifth step to involve students in the advising process is to promote action with your students. Action is the implementation of plans and strategies that lead to the achievement of goals. You can promote action by helping your students to develop realistic and specific action plans, to identify and access available resources and support, to monitor and adjust their plans as needed, and to celebrate and reward their successes. Action helps your students to apply their learning and skills, to overcome obstacles and challenges, and to reach their full potential.

6 Solicit feedback

The sixth and final step to involve students in the advising process is to solicit feedback from your students. Feedback is the information and opinions that you and your students share with each other about the advising process and its outcomes. You can solicit feedback by asking your students to rate and comment on your advising performance, to suggest areas for improvement or change, and to share their satisfaction and concerns. Feedback helps you to evaluate and improve your advising skills, to address any issues or gaps, and to maintain and enhance your relationship with your students.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?