"I got a letter and I have a question..." How was I selected? Each year we aim to work with 10% of new students and support upper-division students as needed. You may have been referred to us by your advisor or a faculty member or because we noticed something that suggests you may fall off track to graduation. Mid-term grades, repeating courses, and not taking classes in your major are some examples. We invite students who are new to UAH based on insights we have about retention and graduation - it may be related to your major, being the first-in-your-family to attend college (several of us were), or those with higher financial need as some examples. Do I have to participate? The short answer is no. The better answer is that doing so can make a difference, so you should! Similar programs show that students are more likely to stay enrolled and graduate, earn higher grades, feel more connected to the university, and express more satisfaction with their education. Who wouldn't want that? We recommend meeting with us at least once before deciding that you do not want to invest in yourself this way. Where, when, and how often do we meet? We commit to meet with you every other week for a full semester or for the entire academic year. You schedule at your convenience (we recommend booking a standing time). We can meet with you in person or over Zoom, your choice. Who are the advocates? We are all full-time faculty or staff at UAH who have worked in higher education in various roles, including advising, student accessibility services, residential life, mentoring, and academic support programs. We have taught first-year experience, public leadership, helping skills, and English as a second language. But, before all that, we were students – just like you. You can learn more about us on the Get to Know Us page. How private are our conversations? We value your trust and protect your privacy as outlined in The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). However, we are required to enlist help if we believe you are of an immediate threat to yourself or others, if you share information that suggests a child is endangered, or if you report gender discrimination, sexual harassment or assault as described in Title IX. If you need a confidential source of support, we will refer you to medical professionals in Health Services or Counseling.
