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Words of Wisdom from 2 College Instructors

Thrive Global
Published August 29th 2019
Authors: Dickson/James

It’s September and young adults are settling into the Fall Term of studies at colleges and universities all over the world. As college instructors, we’ve taught thousands of students over the past decade, and we know that the first few weeks of a new program can be especially challenging. Despite their talent and ability, young people often struggle to navigate the complex web of new relationships, independence and the demands of student life.

As educators who regularly witness the stresses students face, we suggest that friends and family look for small ways to provide encouragement, as students find their way. Here are five pieces of advice that we share with our own students to help them become more independent.

Get Organized. Time Matters. The term flies by and students should focus to complete assignments and stay on top of course readings. We suggest that students block off specific study hours each week and schedule a regular date with the library. We’ve seen firsthand how this pays off during exam time. We also recommend that students budget approximately one and a half hours of study time for each hour of class.

Get Known. People Matter. College and university professors teach hundreds of students each term. We are more likely to know students who sit near the front of class, take the initiative to ask questions, and attend our regularly scheduled office hours. We have noticed that many students who connect with faculty seem more inspired to do well in their studies.

Get Involved. Connections Matter. Students should get to know their classmates. Joining a campus club, volunteering at campus events and participating in cooperative education programs are excellent ways to make friends and gain valuable experience in the undergraduate years. Many companies offer internship programs specifically designed for young adults. Our recommendation is to organize work experiences early, keeping in mind that most summer internship recruitment takes place in the Fall.

Get Access. Resources Matter. Universities and colleges provide many resources for students. Campus writing centers give valuable feedback on written assignments. Career centers provide access to experts with practical ideas about honing resumes and LinkedIn profiles. We advise students looking for employment to clean-up their social media presence and to remove saucy photos they might not want to show Granny.

Get Help. You Matter. Life happens during the college years and there is no question that student life can be stressful. If things go sideways, it’s important for young adults to know that they can reach out to those around them, including their professors. Most campuses have entire teams of people trained to assist young adults. We encourage students to communicate with faculty and counsellors about their exceptional circumstances or hardships. We’ll try our best to make appropriate academic accommodations.

For those students who are truly struggling, we remind them and their parents that it’s okay to take a break from school. Looking back, many of us can attest that we’ve taken different paths, most of which were not a straight line. We hope these suggestions will be helpful to the young adults in your life as they navigate the college journey.

Caroline Dickson teaches human resources management and business strategy at Langara College in Vancouver, Canada. Kevin James is on the faculty of the Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia and Langara College.

Publication Link: https://thriveglobal.com/stories/five-tips-for-the-college-kid-in-your-life/

CD

So, your kid is off to college? Two profs offer tips on how to support them

The Province
Published September 2nd 2019
Authors: Dickson/James

Opinion: The move from high school to college is massive for kids and parents alike. Here are five tips to help ease the transition

As summer comes to a close, many first-year post-secondary students have packed up their bedrooms and started what is likely the biggest transition of their lives. About two million students are attending colleges and universities across Canada this year — many for the first time.

As college instructors, we have faced many freshmen and have seen how the first term can be especially challenging. Despite their talents, young people often struggle to navigate the web of newfound independence, relationships and demands of student life. We suggest that parents and family look for small ways to provide encouragement. Below are five simple ideas for those wishing to provide support.

Facilitate a graceful exit

Leaving home and heading to university is a major milestone that deserves attention. Finding a way to mark this transition helps to acknowledge your adolescent’s shift into adulthood. A special family dinner, a small gift or a card to commemorate the occasion will help to close one chapter and open the next. Know that if your child has moved out, it’s not uncommon for parents and younger siblings to go through a grieving period. Be prepared and consider how you can support yourself and family members as you all adjust to a new dynamic.

Schedule a weekly call

The first year of college is challenging and sometimes lonely for many students. Don’t underestimate the stress of new living arrangements, friendships and the academic pressures that come with college. By scheduling a regular phone call or FaceTime session, your voice of reason from the sidelines will boost their confidence. Studies show that, on average, 30 per cent of students drop out after their first year. By keeping the lines of communication open, your continuing support will help to keep your young adult on track.

Encourage use of campus resources

Universities and colleges offer a wealth of services. Supports can include free peer tutoring, career coaching and personal counselling services. Encourage your student to take advantage of all that their campus has to offer. For example, most institutions have writing centres that provide free feedback on written assignments. While we aren’t advocating for helicopter parenting, being knowledgeable and dropping subtle hints every now and then can be of great of value.

Know your kid’s schedule

University and academic term schedules are easily found via a quick Google search. Place the exam periods in your calendar. Your extra awareness around these stressful periods will make you more sensitive to the pressures your kid may be facing. This proactive approach also allows you to help out around planning. By keeping an eye on the end of the spring term, you can encourage your student to think about summer job applications well before the stress of exams hits.

Be open about finances

Students we come across who finance part or all of their education are often more serious about their studies. Contributing financially, whether through summer employment or a part-time campus job, teaches the value of money and can be a source of motivation.

It’s a long trip from your kid’s bedroom to their new college or university dorm room. The move from high school to college is massive for kids and parents alike. But, in our experience, the journey can be successful. Just because they’re no longer living under your roof doesn’t mean that you can’t still offer your guidance from time to time, to help along the way.

Caroline Dickson teaches human resources management and strategic management at the Langara School of Management. Kevin James is on the faculty of the Sauder School of Business, University of B.C., and the Langara School of Management.

 

Publication Link: https://theprovince.com/opinion/op-ed/caroline-dickson-and-kevin-james-so-your-kid-is-off-to-college-two-profs-offer-tips-on-how-to-support-them

CD

Five tips to help students settle into post-secondary life

The Vancouver Sun
Published September 14th 2018
Authors: James/Dickson

It’s September and post-secondary students are settling into the fall term at colleges and universities all over Canada. As college instructors, we’ve taught thousands of students and we know that the first few weeks each year can be especially challenging for some. Despite talent and ability, young people often struggle to navigate the complex web of new relationships, independence and demands of student life.

In his recent message to parents of new University of B.C. students, university president and vice-chancellor Santa Ono had words of advice: “As your kids transition from high school to university, it’s time to let them navigate challenges on their own. They may stumble, but in doing so they grow.”

We agree. Many students who stumble will grow from the experience. As educators who regularly witness the stresses of student life, we suggest that friends and family look for small ways to provide encouragement as students find their way. Here are five tips we share with our students at the start of each year to assist them in becoming more independent:

Get organized. Time matters. A 13-week term flies by and students must focus to complete assignments and readings. We recommend that students block off specific study hours each week. Students should budget approximately 1.5 hours of study time for each hour in class.

Get Known. People matter. Most instructors teach hundreds of students each term. We are more likely to get to know students who sit near the front of class, ask questions and attend our scheduled office hours. We have noticed that many students who connect with faculty seem more inspired to do well academically.

Get involved. Connections matter. Students should get to know their classmates. Joining a campus club, volunteering at campus events and participating in co-operative education programs are great ways to make friends and to gain valuable experience in the undergraduate years. In addition, many companies offer internships specifically designed for young adults. Start planning for work experiences early, keeping in mind that most summer internship recruitment takes place in the fall.

Get access. Resources matter. Universities and colleges provide many resources for students. Campus writing centres will provide feedback on written assignments. Career centres provide access to experts with practical ideas about honing resumes and LinkedIn profiles. We advise students looking for employment to clean-up their public social media presence and remove saucy photos they might not want to show grandma.

Get Help. You matter. Life happens during the post-secondary years and there is no question that student life can be stressful. If things go sideways, it’s important for students to know that they can reach out to those around them, including instructors. Most campuses have teams of people trained to assist students. We encourage students to communicate with faculty and counsellors about their exceptional circumstances or hardships. We’ll try our best to make appropriate academic accommodations. For those students who are truly struggling, we remind students and parents that it’s okay to take a break. Looking in the back mirror, many of us can attest that we’ve all had different paths and that most were not a straight line.

If you have a post-secondary student in your life who you think might benefit from these tips, please pass them along. And, as Ono writes, “You will be amazed at how they soar.”

Caroline Dickson teaches human resources management and strategic management at the Langara School of Management at Langara College; Kevin James is on the faculty of Sauder School of Management at University of B.C. and the Langara School of Management at Langara College.

CD

Young Canadians need help finding the right career

The Province
Published August 26th 2018
Authors: James/Dickson

This fall, roughly 1.7 million students will arrive on post-secondary campuses across Canada. Unfortunately, many young people will sail through their entire undergraduate education only to find themselves feeling lost and without direction at the end of the voyage.

As college instructors, each with 10 years of teaching experience, we have taught thousands of students. This fall we will once again meet wide-eyed first years who admit to rarely speaking to parents or friends about career goals. We will encounter students who have selected a program of study because ‘it sounded good’. Take for example, Jesse, a 19 year old accounting student, who has no concept of what a career in accounting entails. He hasn’t set foot in an accounting office and he has likely never spoken candidly to an accountant about careers in the field.

As part of our research into the topic, we surveyed a group of business students and 45 percent indicated that they do not have a clear plan following post-secondary graduation. Despite the efforts of high school guidance counselors and campus career centers, we believe that Canada’s post-secondary students are in urgent need of more direction and support.

In order to better understand our young adults, we conducted a career planning workshop in Vancouver for high school and undergraduate students partway through their programs. Over the course of two days, we had candid discussions with students regarding their long-term plans. We confirmed that most students found the prospect of career planning to be overwhelming. They don’t know where to start. And most of the parents who participated in the discussion were not entirely certain how to support their kids.

The result is that many young people are unsuccessful in finding a clear career direction even four years into their post-secondary experience. We recently crossed paths with a student named Michelle, a 22 year old about to complete a Bachelor of Arts. When we asked her about her plans after graduation, she seemed stumped by the question. She mentioned that “philanthropy” might be a possibility, but it was clear that she did not have an idea of how to enter the field.

Michelle is not alone. In a 2015 report on career decision-making patterns of Canadian youth, Statistics Canada reported that for the majority of young adults, the process of identifying and narrowing career plans lasts well into adulthood. We see strong supporting evidence of this trend in discussions with our students.

Why is it that some students seem so unprepared for life after post-secondary study and their parents can’t seem to find ways to help? One possible answer is that society’s expectations of the education system tend to be unrealistically high. A credential from a post-secondary institution is no longer a sure-fire guarantee for a successful career and life.

As instructors we provide our students with three pieces of career advice to get students pointed in the right direction. First, we encourage students to take time to think seriously about their interests, abilities and possible related careers. Second, we counsel students to gain practical life experience by volunteering and getting involved in cooperative education programs and career-related extra-curricular activities. Third, we suggest that young adults talk openly about careers with family members and friends.

Self-reflection may not come naturally to some young adults. But making a detailed list of personal strengths and interests can be a first step. When it comes to imagining possible career paths, there are helpful online resources. One example, the Government of Canada Job Bank (www.jobbank.gc.ca), is an excellent starting point for researching potential careers.

In terms of practical life experience, students and their parents can sometimes overlook the very real value of working and volunteering during the undergraduate years. The Canadian University Consortium, in a recent study, concluded that almost half of today’s post-secondary population does not participate in co-ops, internships and volunteer opportunities. These activities are opportunities to develop important “soft skills” – the ability to communicate effectively and work well with others. These skills are highly valued by employers, according to a 2016 Business Council of Canada study.

Ultimately, we believe that the work of preparing young adults for their future careers needs to start in our homes. Families and friends can encourage students to take the time to think seriously about their interests, abilities and possible careers. The bottom line is that we need to help the younger generation by speaking with them and connecting them to people in the community who can help them understand possible career options.

The post-secondary years are truly about mapping out a course for uncharted waters in years to come. Instead of feeling rudderless and without direction, wouldn’t it be wonderful if young adults felt that they are on the greatest adventure of their lives? Which, of course, they are.