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

2

•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

3

4

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?

5

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

8

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…

11

Where is the student?

12

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’?

13

RealPerceived

Alternate paths

14

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

19

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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22

•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

24

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.