As we enter the fifth week of the semester, some of your students may be struggling to understand how to engage with your course and where to find help. The following proactive strategies can help students navigate your course and access support resources.
- Clarify course expectations. Students bring a wide range of expectations to college courses. Help students refine their expectations by providing explicit guidance on how to be successful in your course, including how to utilize course texts, engage during class, interact with peers, complete assignments, and prepare for exams.
- Help students gauge their progress. Early in the semester, provide an activity or assignment, such as a practice text, that helps students to authentically gauge their performance. This provides a wake-up call to students who perform poorly while giving them time to adjust their behaviors and study habits.
- Create space for student interactions. Office hours can be intimidating for many students. Make office hours less daunting by providing a list of common reasons students attend office hours and holding in a student-friendly location, such as the Union or Study Commons.
- Reach out to struggling students. When it becomes apparent that a student has encountered an academic challenge, use MyPlan to raise a flag and reach out to the student. This flag also notifies the student’s advisor and other staff who can see larger patterns in student performance and provide additional support.
- Connect students with additional resources. Develop a list of recommended resources that students can turn to when they encounter challenges. These can include course resources (teaching assistants, supplemental materials), university programs (study stop tutors, support offices), and personal services (TIPS hotline, CAPS services). You can copy and paste sample resource statements from the Teaching at UNL Canvas Course.
These recommendations were developed by Brian Couch, associate professor of biological sciences, as part of his participation in the Faculty Fellows for Student Success program and based on conversations with faculty and student support staff.