I advise a student organization as part of my current position. In an effort to make a smooth transition from the previous advisor to me, I set up one-on-one appointments with the officers to get to know them, to ensure that the officer transition went smoothly, and to set goals for the upcoming year. Prior to starting my position, I was made aware that my predecessor was dismissed due to poor performance (a higher ed rarity). Anyway, at one student meeting, an officer and I met for coffee to discuss goals for the year, and what she could begin working on in her current position. She instantly remarked, “I’m not sure what you heard about our old advisor, but she was a hot mess. She never made an effort to get to know us, and even if she did want to spend time with us, I never would have wanted that. She just wasn’t cool.” Although I was happy to have received a superior coolness rating, I quickly changed the subject and assured her that we’re off to a fresh start. You have to appreciate the honesty, no matter how awkward!
11 Sep
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Posted by GatorTennis on September 14, 2009 at 9:19 am
Yes, advising student organizations is both an art and a skill. And, transitioning from old to new is challenging. Definitely get to know your students….I’ve also met as a team, had a retreat….but always made sure that it was “the students” goals….and not mine.
Posted by studentaffairsdarling on September 28, 2009 at 6:08 pm
It’s good to see you are welcoming to the honesty – In advising student organizations, it can be quite beneficial. If you can encourage your students to pinpoint what they didn’t like about their past advisor’s involvement, it can certainly help them build a foundation of expectations for the incoming advisor, in this case, yourself. Now, having them stay away from personal attacks and avoid descriptors like “hot mess” may be a little more challenging