How College Administrators Show Their Dedication to Their Students

College administrators hold challenging positions. One of their roles is to support student life and their academic studies. While a variety of programs and priorities can be implemented or addressed to make higher education enjoyable and productive for students, many administrators focus on the following to attract good students and help them achieve their academic goals. Here are just a few of the ways that college administrators show their dedication to their students on and off campus.

Quality Instruction

Well-educated, articulate, and dedicated instructors are at the heart of a good education. Professors are the conduit through which information passes to students who are then able to absorb and process it as part of their learning activities. Administrators who build successful academic programs recruit and hire instructors who can develop effective lesson plans and connect with students to forge a meaningful teaching and learning bond. Quality education and instruction should be at the core of what college administrators focus on providing to students. After all, instruction is the purpose of college in the first place.

Functional Classroom Furnishings

Instead of allocating college budgets to new buildings and decorative landscapes, thoughtful administrators take steps to provide a comfortable learning environment in each classroom. Whether a lecture hall, discussion group, or science lab, each room and its furnishings should be planned to accommodate specific learning activities intended for that space. Solid or swivel cushioned seats, sturdy lab tables, and computer stands are common types of classroom furniture that may be selected. By putting thought into the furnishings and environment that best helps student growth, administers can nurture student talent and learning.

Financial Aid

Although financial aid may be coordinated by the national FAFSA program for eligible students, some college administrators work with the local community to secure grants for student tuition and fees. Foundation scholarships are another potential source of funding for students in need. Structured payment plans, borrowing instead of buying textbooks, and campus work programs are more ways that college administrators try to make college affordable for students who have the ambition and grades to start college. Going the extra mile to help students find ways of financing their education speaks volumes about administrators who want to see students succeed.

Support Services

Support services vary from one campus to another, but they are provided to facilitate student life and academic achievement. Tutoring by successful peers or paid tutors is a valuable service to help students who are struggling with difficult subjects or hard assignments. Counselors who are available to talk with students experiencing anxiety or stress related to college studies or their personal life is another type of service provided by many administrators. Laptop computers are sometimes loaned or given to students who enroll in full-time coursework.

There is much a college administrator can do to foster student success. Students who are looking for the best college to attend might want to select one where administrators are fully invested in helping students earn a degree.

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan