HELPING STU
DENTS LET
GOA D V I S
I NG O
U T OF A
MA J O
R
Theresa WatersOSU Advisor Coffee Talks27 January 2012
OBJECTIVES
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•List reasons why a major may not be a good fit
•Describe the 5 step “DECAF” method
•Describe at least 3 communication strategies
•Understand the Practical and the Developmental approach
•Develop a list of personal strategies
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A TALE OF TWO CONVERSATIONS
REALITY CHECKNot all students are pursuing their “best fit” major/career
Advisors will probably have to direct these students out of their current major
Round peg in a square hole? How did the student choose the major?
What are reasons a major may not be a good fit?
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Courtesy of “Reality Check: Advising Students out of a MajorNicole Kent, 2009
COMMON ADVISING OUT SCENARIOS
• Student not physically capable of the career they have selected
• Student not academically prepared / interested / capable
• Selective program admission
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BAD NEWS: DEFINED
Any information which adversely alters one’s expectations for the
future
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Medical Oncology Communication Chapter 2 – Giving Bad News
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DIFFERENT STYLES
DELIVER
THE N
EWS
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Think “DECAF”
AND THEN MOVE FO
RWARD
WhatHow
WhereWhen
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DECIDE…
DECAF model:“Breaking Bad News”Rodriguez and KollsNACADA webcast 4/8/10
DECIDE
P R A C T I C A L• Transcript
review• Money talks• Statistics
D E V E L O P M E N TA L
• Prepare questions to guide conversation• Philosophical• If you could…
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Where is the student?
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Emotional Development
DECAF model:“Breaking Bad News”Rodriguez and KollsNACADA webcast 4/8/10
EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
P R A C T I C A L• Give
‘permission’ to move on
• Refer to career services
• Set timeline or contract
D E V E L O P M E N TA L
• Value of ‘failure’
• Ask ‘who are you pleasing’?
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RealPerceived
Alternate paths
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CONNECTIONS
DECAF model:“Breaking Bad News”Rodriguez and KollsNACADA webcast 4/8/10
CONNECTIONS
P R A C T I C A L• Name / contact
for new advisor, help make initial contact
• Assign exploration
• Set timeline or contract
D E V E L O P M E N TA L
• Encourage to think of all possible connections
• Offer ideas on where to explore
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CAUTION: G
RIEF AHEA
D
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STAGES OF GRIEF• Anger• Denial
• Bargaining• Depression• Acceptance
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EngagedHigh Self-monitoring
Attention to non-verbalFeedback
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ACTIVE Listening
DECAF model:“Breaking Bad News”Rodriguez and KollsNACADA webcast 4/8/10
ACTIVE LIS
TENING +
A D D I TI O
N A L CO M M U N I C
A T I ON T
E C H N I QU E S
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Reflection of meaning / feeling
Supportive confrontation
Assignments?Explorations?
Check-ins?
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FOLLOW Up…
DECAF model:“Breaking Bad News”Rodriguez and KollsNACADA webcast 4/8/10
FOLLOW UP
P R A C T I C A L• Assign
exploration• Check-ins• Help students
talk to their parents
D E V E L O P M E N TA L
• College To-Do or Lifetime “Wish List”
• Check-ins• Role play how
to approach family if a concern
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•Reasons why a major may not be a good fit
•5 step “DECAF” method
•Communication strategies: active listening, reflected meaning, supportive confrontation
•Practical and the Developmental approaches to advising out
•Develop a list of personal strategies
SUMMING UP
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Questions
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Images :Depts.ttu.edu Essentialsofnutrition.comUgaadmissions.blogspot.com Kirktaylor.comBeckstrombuzz.blogspot.com Orient.bowdoin.eduWetlandsinstitute.orgRegiscareerservices.wordpress.com
References:
Batista, Ed. “David Bradford and Allan Cohen on Supportive Confrontation” 16 Oct 2006. Accessed 19 January 2011 http://www.edbatista.com/2006/10/david_bradford__1.html
Farell, Monica. “When Students Get Bad News: How Understanding the Grieving Process Can Help Advisers Handle Difficult Situations.” The Mentor. August 6, 2001, by Penn State's Division of Undergraduate Studies.
Kent, Nicole. “Reality Check: Advising Students Out of a Major” NACADA Pre-conference 2009. (powerpoint)
Rodriguez, Jose and Kolls, Susan. “Breaking Bad News: Delivery Techniques that Help Students Make Good Alternative Choices.” NACADA Webinar Series. 8 April 2010.