I don't necessarily agree with that comment. As educators we meet many people who come to us with a very diverse background and if we are doing our jobs correctly, students should feel comfortable with us to express or share what is going on in their lives. These narratives, which can sometimes be filled with "mental health" challenges, provide us with guidance on how we can help he/she stay engaged in school.
Additionally, I have never liked the use of "Customer Service" when referring to people with come in contact with. The label seems cold, sterile and disconnected with our "guest". I prefer to use "guest services" which requires us to have a entirely different perspective on how we treat people - internal and external. Guest service asks that we treat students and anyone we come in contact with as if they are in our home. This means listening attentively, and offering assitance when needed because we want them to come visit us again.
I do agree and viewed your video by the way. It was like candy. Only training the student in their career is like trying to cover the chickenpox by using one band aid. You’re not treating the whole patient. From financial planning, appearance, building their self esteem, and so on. We are trying to treat the whole patient.
Sounds simple, doesn't it! :)
Yes we are. Not only are we in the for profit business of education, we are also in the customer service industry (our students). If we are successful in helping our students graduate with the skills and knowledge necessary for employment, we will increase our enrollment.
I have not thought of it as mental health but you do have to be aware of the circumstances that each student is coming from. I know as an instructor that a student may have experiences that will help in an explanation of a subject matter. I also have to be sensitve to each persons background and not alienate people to the subject. Some times a student may of had a bad experience in high school and is sour on the whole learning experience, as an instructor you have to key in on this and try to pull a student out of his/her shell. The end result will be a better experience for the student and you as an instructor.
Yes, most definitely. Educators aren't the only ones in this type of situation though. Nurses, medical assistants, funeral directors and many other professiona also share this diversity in their jobs. Think about nail techs, hairdressers and even bartenders. They all have customers in their chairs but the nail tech and hairdresser are doing more than painting nails or cutting hair. They are giving good customer service by listening and showing that they care and many times offering advice. Many professions multi task in their jobs.
Thanks, Earl. Convincing students we believe in them goes a long way toward helping them internalize the HABEs they need to be successful. Teaching them ways to address all the requirements of their lives is the most important step we can take to help them. We cannot expect them to be a student first, putting school as a much higher priority than their families and jobs.
I agree! I feel we are a little bit mental health, a little bit career advisor, and a little bit parent.
As it has been stated in this course, helping students understand how their HABEs affect their efforts to achieve their goals are extremely important. Most of our students might have the view that to obtain their degree is a major hurdle. We can help students take a critical look at what is on their plate and teach them ways to internally face theses challenges (HABEs) and externally seek out the support systems to achieve their goals.
Thanks, Cheryl. There is a saying that goes something like "The teacher will appear when the student is ready." By doing the things you describe above, your school can increase the odds that the right person will be there when the student is ready.
I agree! The act of learning is impacted by the students' state of mind. There is a wealth of information available on learning styles and typifiers, and I do deliver a test on learning style to my students as well. Helping students understand how they learn best as an individual gives them a clear understanding of how to use tools and techniques that are best for them in managing their education. However, one step above this is mental health. If I have decided I am capable, then I will be. If I have been told I will never amount to anything, or have been degraded somehow in life, perhaps by emotional abuse, I may not have the mental capacity or strength to allow myself to learn. In cases like this if the student can seek counseling before starting school they may see much better scores which in turn will boost their self-esteem and persistence. Sometimes too it takes the right person at the right time to be there for the student and push them in the right direction, to mentor them to provide resources and offer help which is both appropriate as well as helpful while still staying within the guidelines of school policy.
Earl. What are the keys to helping students balance all of their responsibilities and still do well in school?
Yes...we are in the mental health business as well. As instructors, we often encounter students who are balancing school, family, and job. Therefore, stress can be a reality and helping them cope with everyday life stressors can be quite helpful to them. It is a good practice for instructors to know something personalble about their students. This will also let the students know that the instructor cares about them as a person as well.
We are consulers at times you need to read the students as they come into your class to see their mind state
Sarah,
You make an excellent point here. One of our most important responsibilities is to help our students find balance. We should always understand that many of our students are also parents, spouse and employees while they are in school. We have to help them find ways to meet all their responsibilities.
That being said, we should never pass a student who does not deserve to pass nor graduate a student that has not mastered the requisite objectives. We do have to find creative and supportive ways to get students to the right place while staying within policy and regulatory requirements.
I fully agree that we are in more than one business....with education and mental health being just two of them. I work at a school with almost 600 students and 100 employees. I never know on a day to day basis what is going to happen here. You have to roll with the punches and do your best to provide customer service to everyone. We are here to provide an educational experience, but our students are people too (not just students). They have lives outside of school that sometimes interefere with their education. It is our job to help them balance their lives and thier educations...by whatever means possible.
Some career educators state that in addition to being in the education business, we are also in the "mental health" business. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
I firmly believe we are also in the "mental health" business. It's not uncommon for an instructor to attempt to help students put aside a personal struggle in order to move them toawrds learning. This is no easy task, as their personal struggle may be something more difficult than we've ever experienced.
In addition, we have students who come to school with HABEs that are very negative. They don't believe they'll pass Math, so time and again they fail. They don't believe they'll do well on exams, so time and again, they score poorly. We, as educators, need to help students realize the power of self-fulfilling prophecies and encourage them to reach their full potential (the full potential we know they have- not the lack of potential they think they have!)
We most certainly are in the "mental health" business and often, our students are better for it!
Thanks, Larry.
Some career colleges have contracted with providers of counseling services for their students to help them address the types of issues we cannot typically address effectively.
As I mentioned before we are in the mental health business to certain degree. Sometimes the personal issues are of such "nature" we should only direct the student to the appropriate resource and not give them "personal" advise.
Take for example, a health issue they or a loved one may be having that is affecting their concentration in class. Inquiry as to the matter may violate privacy and escalate to a legal issue for the school.
