Reflections of a Dean

If you are an adult learner attending a college or university, you are the target audience I hope to reach. During the course of your affiliation with your college/university, I would venture a guess (or two) that all has not gone well for a variety of reasons. In my 25-plus years working in higher education, I have advised and guided many students through various concerns, such as finding classes on a schedule, interacting with faculty, meeting your advisor, and turning to staff for non-academic-related issues.

It is my goal to share my skills and background with adult learners in the Reisterstown/Owings Mills area so that they may be successful in their chosen programs. I do not offer a collection of resolutions, rather I offer practices and strategies which should assist you in your quest for a degree. The strategies and ideas will come primarily from my experiences as a dean for a local university.  At times, I may use other sources to best present a techniques or strategy.

The old sayings, “It could only happen to me” and “Is anyone listening?” are a few of the frustrating comments many leaders hear at various campus settings. You (adult learners) are the not the first college students to experience challenges. I hope this blog will help guide the adult learnes in the Reisterstown/Owings Mills area as you face future higher education hurdles.

In order to begin this blog with a successful launch, I think it would be useful to share several of the topics I plan to post on this blog from time to time. I hope area adult learners will find these topics interesting and a source for reference. This is a tentative list which is subject to modification. The selected topics are:

-Setting goals

-Working with the faculty

-Working with an advisor

-Preparing for a test

-Anxiety

-Time management

-Reflecting

-Balancing home and school

-Listening and understanding the professor

-When in doubt, ask

-Forming bonds

-Expectations

-Understanding the testing styles of professors

-Writing well

-Procrastination

The next posting of this blog will focus on setting goals. A few suggestions--think of your present goals, remember how you created those goals, ponder whether those goals are working for you, and debate if now is the time to readjust those goals. As many working students know, there are usually two formats regarding goals—school-related and family-related. Together these formats generate the drive and determination you have in achieving those personal goals. More on these soon.

Have a great and productive day!