Asking for help is not a sign of weakness

At IU Indianapolis student success is our north star. We are here to serve our students, our learners. Our curriculum and programs are focused on helping our learners succeed. Discussions with academic advisors, department chairs, deans, and faculty members highlight the need for a holistic approach to addressing student needs. This work happens inside the classroom and outside.

We know that students drop out of their program due to academic and financial reasons. Research also shows high levels of stress, anxiety and depression among college students. There is evidence that college students are becoming more demanding of themselves, and more sensitive about making mistakes. Social media adds complexity to these challenges.

We see this when students drop out after one poor grade or when they have a financial hold. We see these tensions play out when students do not get into the major of their first choice. As I shared in a previous post, the student panel at our Design Sprint exercise welcomed efforts that would make the change of major a positive event including a congratulatory email to the student applauding them for making the change.

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. As Brené Brown explains, vulnerability is not a sign of weakness, rather it is our measure of courage. The same applies to faculty and staff. Having a mentor or friend, a department chair or dean, who provides guidance, or a senior colleague who reviews your research or attends your class and shares comments on teaching – these are learning opportunities available to us at universities.

I will always be grateful for the opportunities I had early in my career to be coached and mentored. I had wonderful colleagues who shared suggestions on how I might improve my research and my teaching. While that seemed unnerving at first, I know that I am the better for the faculty who took the time to coach me. I will always be grateful to them for their suggestions. Perhaps more important I remain grateful to them for the experience they afforded me to never be ashamed when I was told I could improve.

Allowing ourselves the opportunity to be mentored is a special gift and one that we owe ourselves.