College professors and college-access advocates share their tips for students headed back to the classroom. And, meet the newest member of our Local Network.

Headed back to school? Be kind, stay organized, and make connections.

It’s that time of year. College students are moving into dorm rooms and classes are starting up. 

It’s one of the best times of year if you ask Russell Lowery-Hart, chancellor of Austin Community College. “Seeing the energy and excitement of our students is why I work in higher education,” he said.

“Going to college today doesn’t look or feel the same as it did 10 or 15 years ago. What students need from us goes beyond the lessons they learn in the classroom. They need us to understand that college is just a part of their life,” Lowery-Hart said in an email statement.

He also recommend that students connect with their advisers and with peers on campus: “Being an active member of your college community gives you a support system to stay connected.”

I asked others across higher ed this same simple question: What advice would you give to students starting college this fall? 

Here’s what they had to say, in their own words: 

JC Lopez, Grinnell College vice president for student affairs:

“Practice kindness, be thoughtful, extend grace, and embrace empathy as foundational values. These values will guide you not only throughout your collegiate journey but also remember to practice those with yourself.

As you embark on this incredible experience, find ways to uplift one another as a class. There is strength in the relationships and community you shape and build together.”

Sara Yelich Miller, executive director, Green Halo Scholars:

“Find adults on campus who care about you and invest time to build relationships with them. Faculty, staff, and administrators work on your campus because they care about young adults, and it's important to have a few people you can go to when you need extra support.”

Danny Tejada, college counselor at We Go to College:

“Learn how to use the calendar program your school email uses. Add your email/calendar to your phone. Add your classes, club meetings, meals, hangouts with friends, studying time, and time to yourself to your calendar. Don't forget to add reminders/alerts for every entry.”

Kevin McClure, associate professor of higher education, University of North Carolina Wilmington:

“Talk to your professors. I know, easier said than done, and movies are full of aloof faculty-types. But it can make a huge difference in your experience if you go to office hours and stay in communication with your professor.“

Sara Urquidez, executive director at Academic Success Program:

“Go see career services ASAP!  No matter what classification you are, they can help you prepare for whatever you want to do next (even if you aren't totally sure yet)!...The better the career advising office knows you, the more they will be able to help you prepare for life after college!”

Adrienne Jones, assistant professor of political science, Morehouse College:

“Schedule study hours and find a regular space to study. Also, [taking notes by hand] helps to connect the information to your brain and typing those notes as part of study time increases the likelihood that you’ll get familiar with and master the material.”

Meet our newest reporter

We’re excited to share that Miranda Dunlap will cover community colleges at our partner The Houston Landing. She started in the role this week, and previously covered K-12 education at the Landing.

The Houston Landing is one of four newsrooms we partner with in Texas. Miranda will be part of our Local Network, the full-time higher ed reporters we support around the country.

Community colleges make up about half of all college enrollment in the Houston area. I asked her what excites her most about this beat:

“I’m eager to shed light on the experiences and challenges faced by an often overlooked group of students,” she said. “Plus, these institutions are incredibly important to the city of Houston, yet there’s not enough journalism holding them accountable.”

++ Next week, we’ll be in Austin for our annual in-person Local Reporter Summit as well as for TribFest. Sara Hebel, Open Campus co-founder and editor in chief, is moderating a TribFest panel about the future of higher ed. Will we see you there? Email me.

We’re a nonprofit newsroom that relies on your support. If this type of reporting matters to you, donate to Open Campus today.

Elsewhere on Open Campus

From Florida: Ben Sasse announced last month he’d be resigning as president of the University of Florida. Since then, reports of his exorbitant spending while in office have drawn significant scrutiny (he stands by it.) Divya Kumar at our partner The Tampa Bay Times breaks down some of the other challenges awaiting interim president Kent Fuchs and Sasse’s eventual permanent successor.

From California: Adam Echelman at our partner CalMatters dug into for-profit trucking programs that have received state funding despite producing shoddy results.

His reporting has already sparked change: California’s Employment Development Department removed four schools from its list after he inquired about why they were receiving state money, despite being unlicensed or under state or federal investigation.

From Texas: Tina-Rose Chipeta, a sophomore at Texas A&M, learned this summer that her financial aid package would drop by $10,000 — and she found out after she had already enrolled in classes and signed up for on-campus housing.

She isn’t alone. Ongoing problems stemming from the revised federal financial aid application, the FAFSA, mean current college students are learning of aid changes later than usual this year. It’s a problem that’s exacerbating gaps between low-income and higher-income students in Texas and elsewhere.

Chipeta told Sneha Dey at our partner The Texas Tribune that she isn’t sure if she’ll be able to stay in college after this semester.

Keep in touch

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