8 Finding Your Place Making Connections Assignment
One of the central ideas of the Finding Your Place Podcast Series is that nobody really succeeds in college entirely on their own. Professors, staff, student tutors, counselors, advisors and alumni are all people who can provide support and guidance along the way in college. In a way, you get the chance to build a team of people who can cover your back and answer your questions. You may have already started making these connections, but this assignment will push you to strengthen and expand those connections, too.
For this assignment, you will choose any three (3) of the seven connection activities below. Each activity relates directly to a FYP episode, and you’ll want to listen to that specific episode before completing its associated activity. Take notes during your visit; your instructor will explain how you will report back and share what you learned.
Meet the Staff of the Disability Services Office
Episode 4: Getting Help (and Supplementary Episode: Disability Visibility)
Make a short appointment to meet with the director of the disability services office (or another support staff member there) at your campus. Find out about the services available to students, and learn how the staff there help students succeed. If you have specific questions or concerns about your needs, be sure to ask (you do not need to disclose any of these details to the instructor or to the class).
Meet a Counselor or Advisor on Campus
Episode 5: Managing Fear in College
Visit the counseling / advising center at your campus. Find out about the hours, ability to drop-in or schedule appointments, and the resources available for degree planning and/or mental health. If you have a pre-arranged advisor or counselor, be sure to try and meet with that specific person. If you have specific questions or concerns about your personal needs or degree pathway, be sure to ask (you do not need to disclose any of these details to the instructor or to the class).
Meet a Financial Aid Advisor on Campus
Episode 6: Seeking Financial Aid
Schedule a meeting with a financial aid advisor or support staff member at your campus. Find out about the types of financial aid available to you. Consider how the services provided there match up with what Mareese and Dave were able to discover. If you have specific questions or concerns about your financial needs, be sure to ask (you do not need to disclose any of these details to the instructor or to the class).
Meet a Member of the Curriculum Committee or Council
Episode 7: Exploring the Value of Gen Eds
Ask any of your professors if they can direct you to someone involved with setting the college curriculum (the outcomes of the courses your institution offers). Meet with a member of that committee or council, and ask questions about the general education curriculum (transfer goals, common graduation objectives, etc.). Ask them if they’d be willing to explain the main categories and the rationale for the general education curriculum. Ask how students can be involved in promoting and revising college curriculum.
Meet the Director of Student Life, or any Student Life Staff Member
Episode 10: Finding Your Place (and Supplementary Ep.: Crossing Cultural Boundaries)
Seek out a place on campus where you don’t normally go but feel like you would enjoy. Maybe it’s visiting the multicultural center on campus, the veterans’ center, LGBTQ center, or general student life or student clubs area. Take notes on what you see and how you feel there. Ask to have a brief conversation with a director or staff member to chat about the opportunities and resources available for students there.
Meet with Someone You Respect at College
Episode 11: Connecting with Mentors
Set up an appointment to have a conversation with a faculty or staff member on campus for whom you have a good deal of respect. Tell them you are trying to learn more about mentoring and would like to ask them about their lives and their approach to mentoring. You should have at least five good questions to keep the conversation going.
Meet with a Professor During Office Hours
Episode 12: Communicating with Your Professors
Schedule a 15-minute office appointment with one of your professors. You can tell them this is for an assignment and use this opportunity to learn more about who they are personally and professionally. Sample questions could include, “Can you tell me a little more about yourself?” or “Why do you love what you teach?” If you have specific questions or concerns about your needs in that class, be sure to ask those questions as well (you do not need to disclose any of these details to the instructor or to the class).
How to Earn Credit for These Visits:
Your instructor will likely choose one of these methods for sharing what you learned in these visits …
Paragraph Option: Write 2-3 short paragraphs about each visit. Be sure to describe what you experienced in each visit, what you learned from the other person, and also how you felt during the visit. Be sure to include any crucial words of advice that you learned so that you can remember this advice later on.
“Thank You” Option: Write a “thank you” message to each person you met with for this assignment. Be sure to include when you met, what you remembered from the visit and an appreciation for this person’s time and energy. Before you deliver or send these messages, you’ll show them to your instructor for this class so that you can receive credit for your work.
Oral Report Option: Using your notes, and maybe just a short outline, talk about your visits with the class. Summarize the highlights of your experiences in 2-3 minutes and be sure to share any important words of advice or tips that may benefit your classmates.
