8: Learn About On-Campus Resources

Every college has a number of resources available to assist students, but far too many students do not avail themselves of these resources. This could be detrimental to their success in college. Even exceptionally good students will likely have one or more classes or situations in which they will need additional guidance or assistance.

Here’s some advice from your fellow students:

• “If you do not understand something, just ask. Some people have trouble with this because they are too shy to say anything. If you never ask, your professor will never know. You are paying for the professor’s time! However, if you are too shy to ask questions in class, then ask the professor in his or her office, or e-mail the professor.”

• “There is no dumb or stupid question. Always ask questions when you don’t know something.  This way you will learn what you did not know and you will be able to do better in those classes.”

• “Go see your professors during their office hours. Listen to them. They know what they are talking about, so don’t be ignorant.”

• “When you are doing your best and studying all of the materials, but you still don’t understand it, ask for extra help. You can even request a tutor to assist you. Some of us see tutors for a couple of our classes, and they have helped us come up with several good studying techniques.”

• “Use the writing or math labs.  Use the English Department to help you with a paper in your business class. The many tools and resources available to you outside of class can help you succeed in class.”

• “If it gets to be too much, just take a breath and then ask for help. If you become stressed out, visit the health and wellness center; they have counselors and some great tools to help you put things back in focus.”

Exercise: Discerning Available Resources on Campus. Need help with a specific class, or in general? Your task is to learn about the services and resources available. These might include tutoring, the student success center, the career center, the campus ministries, the health and wellness center, and the student life office. Visit these and any other resources on campus, in person. As you learn about the campus resources available to you, write a description in your journal indicating if and how they might assist you at some future time. Also explore online resources available for tutoring, career development, and more.

Dr. Ron A. Rhoades is an Asst. Professor of Finance at Western Kentucky University's Gordon Ford College of Business, where he chairs the (B.S. Finance) Financial Planning Program. An innovative, passionate teacher, he is the author of Choose to Succeed in College and in Life: Continously Improve, Persevere, and Enjoy the Journey (2014), from which many of these blog posts are derived.

Dr. Rhoades also serves as a consultant to the Garrett Planning Network, a nationwide network of independent, Fee-Only financial planners making competent, objective financial advice accessible to all people. He is the author of several books, dozens of articles, and he is a frequent speaker at financial planning and investments conferences. He is the recipient of many awards for his advocacy on behalf of the fiduciary standard. Dr. Rhoades is also a member of The Florida Bar, and he practices estate planning and transfer taxation for select current clients.

Dr. Rhoades and his wife, Cathy, reside in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

To contact Dr. Rhoades, please e-mail: WKUBear@gmail.com.