Jul 1 2020
Self-Advocacy in a Remote College Environment
How can you prepare for and manage the term – or several terms – that you may be distanced from your professors and other support? Before classes start:1. Be in touch with your major/minor department advisors to get questions about class offerings, credits, grading, attendance, and anything else you can think of. 2. Look for and bookmark the Registrar's webpage for information about any adjustments to classes, grading options, and potential calendar changes and deadlines. 3. Be in touch with your disability services office and counselor (if relevant). It's best to connect early, in advance of any concerns or hurdles you might face during the term. You also want to make sure your paperwork is ready to go when classes start. 4. Check in with your campus's Basic Needs Center, if there is one. Questions about food, housing, and economic security can be answered, even if you’re remote. These folks are amazing resources and it's likely they know about assistance you can access even if you live in a different community than your campus. Also, BN staff may have information on counseling and mental health – and physical health – resources, even if you’re not on campus. 5. Check in with your campus library to see what resources they have available to you for remote research. Librarians may be your most important allies during remote instruction. 6. Know where to find campus tech support, just in case. It's likely that something will not work as you hope at some point during the term.7. Check your email! Don't miss communications that may help you get ready for the term. When classes start:1. Review your course syllabi as soon as you can and ask questions! Specifically look to see how and when your professor/TA is available for office hours; it the time and method doesn't work for you, explain and request a change. 2. Introduce yourself to your professor and/or TA as a way of connecting in a low risk way. This will help you break the ice and make it more likely for you to communicate with questions when you need to. 3. Ask substantive questions about class material when you don’t understand something. You won't be able to rely on others as much as you might otherwise in a normal classroom space.4. Ask tech questions if you can’t access material. And if need actual tech assistance, you’ll know how to reach the campus tech folks for help (see above!). 5. Provide documentation that you need for class accommodations, which may be the same or different in online environment. Again, you will have connected with this office before classes started! 6. Seek out classmates that may have similar questions or approaches or challenges with the class. This isn't easy online, but with Zoom, discussion threads, and other opportunities, you may get to meet some of your classmate. Take advantage if you can. Nerves and insecurity about self-advocating are very common: 1. Try not to avoid advocating for yourself. It's hard but you want to get what you need. Professors and others want to help but often we don't know how unless you tell us. 2. Practice your communications! You can script out what you want to say before calling or sending an email; you can rehearse your questions with a friend or family member. I do this all the time!! 3. No communication is a one-shot deal. If you don't get all your questions answered, or if they're not answered sufficiently, ask again. Sometimes you have to sit with answers to know what you don't understand.~~~~~~~~~~~Contact Professor Diascro (she, her, hers) with questions, concerns, thoughts about college by DM @10mbc_pod or email at tenminutesbeforeclass@gmail.com. Art by ORCSAIDMusic by Matthew Diascro
