There is no argument that in-person advisement positively impacts a student’s persistence in college. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a bit of a Catch-22: Remote learners who need to isolate because of COVID-19 are likely to feel lonely and depressed and could benefit from the contact and advice of an academic advisor, yet the pandemic is also forcing students to stay away from face-to-face meetings.
Students confined to dorm rooms or who are learning from home may feel a disconnect with their university, their professors and their advisors. They’re also likely to feel anxious about their course of study and unhappy about the isolation from peers and typical college experiences they’re missing out on. A positive, ongoing and supportive advisor relationship can go a long way toward keeping students in the learning groove and confidently moving forward with their studies.
But how can higher education advisors deliver the benefits of in-person advisement with a remote advisement model? With a variety of strategies, tools and techniques that can help students develop a good working relationship with their advisors and simulate face-to-face interactions. Some of these include:
1. Make personal connections.
It’s easy for students to forget that they’re speaking to or hearing from an actual person and member of their academic community when they’re advised virtually. Provide a photo and some basic information on your career, your philosophy, and perhaps a piece of personal information like a hobby or interest in your initial email.
2. Communicate with students proactively, frequently and supportively.
Stanford University’s Department of Psychology recommends that faculty advisors should be proactive in initiating contact with students. Avoid jumping straight into a discussion and give students a chance to discuss how the quarantine is affecting them. Check in frequently just to say hello and offer support. Set a regular schedule for one-on-one meetings with students.
3. Offer students a choice of contact channel.
Some students are more comfortable on the phone, others prefer videoconferencing. Some are more receptive to email messages and others would like to be contacted, at least initially, via text. You need to consider which platform works best for students. It may be a combination of several, or just one. Make sure you’re comfortable using all the options you offer.
4. Optimize online platforms.
There are online video options available, including Zoom, Google Meets and Microsoft Teams, for instance, that can just about replicate an in-person meeting. The biggest plus is that most students are already familiar with these apps and comfortable using them in social and academic settings.
5. Build your advisor community.
ACCT Now recommends that advisors reach out to colleagues with questions, needs, and resources. Seek out support and ideas from trusted peers, both inside the college and from other institutions.
While following these best practices might not completely substitute for in-person advisor sessions, they can go a long way toward fostering a supportive and productive advisement relationship with students. And in this COVID-19 world, they can also help students not only deal with academic issues, but with other challenges they face because of the pandemic.