By now, most of you have settled into the new academic year. NSO events are winding down and you are catching your breath after initiating lots of conversations and drinking more cups of coffee than you care to remember. If you are like most of us when doing follow up, you probably tend to gravitate quickly to the “low hanging fruit” or those you feel the most connection to (kind of like we do with MPD!). So, for those of you who are ready to move down the list and perhaps out of your comfort zone — into every corner of your campus —
Only have a few minutes?
A pithy email pointing to excellent resources will serve folks and not add too much to your already overly full calendar. Try these:
- Pass along this excellent resource to new graduate students: Beginning Well: Advice for New Graduate Students.
- Pass along this excellent resource to new faculty members: Beginning Well: Advice for New Faculty Members.
- If you are connecting with a faculty member who is new to you, but not to the university, pass along this excellent resource: Beginning Well: A New Academic Year.
Have a bit more time to invest?
In-person connections are the best. Try these ideas:
1. Create your own “Welcome to Campus” gift for that new faculty member that someone told you about. Log in to the Staff Store and order the following:
The Gift:
- Include the items from The Well if you are visiting a female faculty member.
- The first article in The Well Booklet, “A Scholar’s Prayer”, is a great one to point out at the start of a new academic year.
- Print an article from the “Beginning Well” series (see #2 above).
- Toss in your business card.
- A couple tea bags or packets of Starbucks Via instant coffee are a nice addition.
The Visit:
Stop off at his or her office. Introduce yourself. Leave the gift and ask if you can circle back soon for a visit. If he or she isn’t in, leave the gift hanging on the office door or with an administrative assistant and then follow up with an email.
The Follow Up:
- When you get home, send the faculty member an email commenting on your visit and ask him or her if you might get together for coffee or lunch soon to get more acquainted.
- Wondering what to say? Connecting with New Faculty on Your Campus will give you lots of ideas and even a script!
2. Create your own “Welcome to Campus” gift for that new graduate student you met through an NSO activity. Log in to the Staff Store and to order the following:
The Gift:
- If you are meeting with a female student, toss in the items from The Well.
- Toss your business card into the bag.
- Print out an article from the “Beginning Well” series (see #1 above) and put that in the bag.
- Purchase individual bags of trail mix and include a note that says, “Consider us a companion on your journey.”
The Visit:
Contact the student and offer to take him or her out for coffee. As you prepare for the visit, read 5 Tips for Involving Graduate Students. It will help you understand grad students a bit better and provide you with ideas of how to include them in the life of your chapter.
The Follow Up:
- Email the student and thank him or her for the visit.
- Pass along the resources mentioned above in #1.
NOTE: The ideas above are useful even if the students and/or faculty are not new to campus–just adjust your note accordingly. And they are great ways to connect with grad students and faculty throughout the year when you have opportunity.
Thanks for your willingness to invest in graduate students and faculty on your campus. May God bring fruit from these new relationships and bless your efforts as you reach into new corners on your campus.
Thank you to The Well, ESN, Faculty Ministry, and Graduate & Faculty Ministries for providing all of the above resources!
