Break The Ice
You have 30 seconds. Find TWO things everyone on your team has in common that have nothing to do with TCC, TRIO, or being at this luncheon.
What are two unexpected things we have in common?
Name one thing an instructor can do that makes it easier for you to ask for help.
Then the faculty member responds with one thing students can do to make communication easier.
What is open communication?
Clue:
Students, ask your faculty teammate:
“What was your FIRST job?”
Who were you before you became Professor __________?
A student fails the first exam and immediately says:
“I guess I'm just not good at this. Maybe I should drop.”
Before dropping the class, what should the student do?
What is TALK TO SOMEONE AND MAKE A PLAN?
Possible answers: Speak with the instructor, meet with a tutor, contact TRIO or an advisor, review study strategies, and understand your options before making a decision.
Students, you have 60 seconds with your mentor.
Ask ONE question about their career, education, field, or professional journey that you genuinely want to know.
What is BE CURIOUS?
Facilitator: The question cannot be “What's your job?”
Everybody choose one: EARLY BIRD or NIGHT OWL. Tell your teammates why you chose it.
There is no wrong answer—just make the connection!
What makes you feel comfortable—or uncomfortable—speaking up during class or visiting an instructor during office hours?
What helps students feel safe enough to communicate?
Faculty, tell your students about ONE class or subject that was difficult for you when you were a student.
What is “Even professors struggled with something”?
You missed an assignment and are embarrassed to contact your professor, so you decide to say nothing.
What would be the better choice?
What is COMMUNICATE EARLY?
Contact the instructor, briefly explain the situation, take responsibility, and ask what options or next steps may be available.
MENTORS: Your turn.
Ask the student ONE question that helps you learn something meaningful about them.
But you CANNOT ask:
“What is your major?”
What is GETTING TO KNOW THE PERSON, NOT JUST THE STUDENT?
Examples: What are you passionate about? What would you love to accomplish? What made you come to college?
If someone handed you a FREE plane ticket today, where would you go? Everyone on the team must answer.
What is your dream destination?
Complete this sentence:
“Sometimes I wish professors understood that college students are also dealing with __________.”
What are responsibilities outside of the classroom?
Possible answers could include work, children, family, finances, transportation, health, stress, relationships, or other responsibilities.
Faculty, describe a time in college or your career when YOU had to ask someone else for help.
What is asking for help is a strength?
You have school, work, family responsibilities, and three assignments due at the same time.
Your stress level is officially at 100%.
What do you do?
What is PRIORITIZE, PLAN, AND COMMUNICATE?
Use a calendar or task list, prioritize deadlines, break assignments into smaller steps, communicate early, and use available support.
RESOURCE EXCHANGE!
Faculty: Share ONE resource, opportunity, person, organization, or piece of information that could benefit students.
Students: Share ONE type of support you believe students need more of.
What is SHARING RESOURCES AND NEEDS?
Name ONE song or artist that can instantly improve your mood or motivate you.
What is the music that gets you going?
Students: Name ONE thing that can make the difference between giving up on a class and deciding to keep trying.
Faculty: After listening, tell the students one way you could help in that situation.
What are support, communication, encouragement, and resources?
Faculty, tell the students about ONE mistake, setback, rejection, or failure you experienced that ultimately taught you something valuable.
What is growth through experience?
A student says:
“Everybody else knows what they're doing with their life except me. I still don't know what I want my major to be.”
What advice would your team give?
What is EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS?
Talk with advisors, faculty, mentors, Career Services, TRIO, and professionals in areas of interest. Not knowing yet does not mean you are behind.
60-SECOND MENTORING CHALLENGE:
Student: Tell the mentor ONE academic, career, or personal-development goal.
Mentor: Give the student ONE realistic action step they could take toward that goal.
Student: Repeat the action step back.
What is TURNING A GOAL INTO ACTION?
Your team has 60 seconds to create a FIVE-WORD motto for surviving and succeeding in college.
What is our College Success Motto?
STUDENT TAKEOVER!
Give your faculty teammate ONE piece of advice about supporting today's college students.
But there's a catch: before the faculty member can respond, they must repeat back what they heard the student say.
What is ACTIVE LISTENING?
You have traveled back in time and get exactly 30 seconds with your college-age self.
What ONE piece of advice would you give yourself?
What is the advice I wish someone had given me?
A student wants to transfer to a university but has no idea whether their classes will transfer into their intended major.
What should they do BEFORE enrolling?
What is CHECK THE TRANSFER PLAN?
Meet with an academic advisor and the transfer institution, review the degree plan and transfer requirements, and determine how completed coursework will apply.
Don't let this connection end when lunch ends.
Before earning these points, identify ONE appropriate way this new connection could continue after today.
What is FOLLOW-UP?
Possible answers: Email, office hours, attending a campus event, asking another question, connecting with a resource, receiving an introduction, or checking in later in the semester.