Academic Support All-Division Meeting - Unconference by Jessica Chrisman-DeNegri

Creating a Sense of Belonging

jchrismandenegri — 2025-04-29 19:43:25 UTC

How do we help students and employees feel seen, valued, and connected?

Supporting Each Other to Support Students

jchrismandenegri — 2025-04-29 19:45:14 UTC

How do we care for ourselves and each other so we can do our best work with students?

Reaching the Students Who Need Us Most

jchrismandenegri — 2025-04-29 19:49:19 UTC

Who might we be missing in our services—and how can we connect with them more effectively?

Employee development

2025-05-29 14:04:27 UTC

Employees need to see opportunities for advancement, clearly defined growth opportunities, and we need to see our colleagues being given opportunities to advance as well

Supporting Each Other: Proactive Communication

2025-05-29 14:06:06 UTC

Proactive communication that allows team members to prepare for events or busy periods outside of the norm.

Feedback

2025-05-29 14:08:23 UTC

I want to receive a spectrum of feedback. Praise is fabulous and makes me feel great but I can't be that perfect! How am I doing. What do I need to do better? How can I be my best? Instead of a blanket email about an issue, speak with me directly about expectations.

2025-05-29 14:09:26 UTC

Giving our teammates time to process emotions after heavy encounters or stressful times.

2025-05-29 14:10:38 UTC

Connecting people to resources that treat their entire existence and acknowledge that when someone shows up in a way that feels off, they may be going through more than we realize.

Transparency from leadership

2025-05-29 14:11:32 UTC

Hear about too many things "through the grapevine," which leads to feeling like I'm not important enough to warrant an update from leadership.

2025-05-29 14:11:33 UTC

Not gate-keeping information. Allowing the entire team to feel included and involved in processes rather than things being kept from them until it is decided they need to know. How are employees supposed to know expectations if it is not explained

Belonging: Energy

2025-05-29 14:12:05 UTC

Respecting the energy level our teammates and students show up with. "Low and slow" is sometimes the way to go for students and staff during stressful or information-heavy interactions (admissions, registration, testing, financial aid, etc.). A lack of visible enthusiasm does not indicate a lack of desire to be there.

2025-05-29 14:13:46 UTC

Understanding we are all human, make mistakes, and can learn from each other.

TAKE YOUR PTO

2025-05-29 14:14:54 UTC

Taking time for ourselves and taking our PTO and not judging each other for taking our PTO or taking breaks when needed.

2025-05-29 14:16:32 UTC

Caregivers. The amount of people that show up hoping to receive services only to be distracted by their care giving responsibilities is a shame. We should be providing spaces to assist so that education/services are available to all.

2025-05-29 14:17:18 UTC

There are many students who struggle with technology and how to use it. We should provide free courses before students begin courses to ensure they understand how to use canvas, our website, and for some, even a computer.

2025-05-29 14:19:19 UTC

Communication across campuses. We are ONE college yet there is this weird situation where one campus gets information before the other or has more resources for employees and students. Information is not shared across campus evenly and this needs to change if there is ever to be a sense of belonging felt.

Parents

2025-05-29 14:20:40 UTC

FERPA is important. Is there a way we can reassure and inform parents about the student experience without taking the agency away from their children? A parent orientation meeting? A "So Your Child is Going to College" flier with a list of questions they can ask their child to make a connection and empower them to take on their appropriate roles? Maybe this already exists and is happening! :)

Working Together

2025-05-29 14:29:24 UTC

I feel like we could do a better job at working together among the Academic Support Division. We all have so many talented individuals, and we could support students better if we did more work across departments.

2025-05-29 14:32:43 UTC

I understand we have the EAP resources but I truly believe our employees deserve to have counseling available to them when needed. There are certain situations where we need an in-person then and then appointment to work through what is going on. Our students deal with heavy stuff, which we then carry. We need better mental health resources.

Let's All Respect Each Other's Areas / Specialties

2025-05-29 15:07:53 UTC

We are diverse in many areas. Each one of us is the captain of our own ship. Respect each other's areas / specialties. By working together and understanding each other, we can create a better work environment and achieve greater results. Let's value each other's specialties and areas and support each other. We can create a culture of respect for everyone.

jchrismandenegri — 2025-05-29 15:50:47 UTC

Creating inclusive, safe, spaces and use nonviolent communication, avoiding microaggressions, and taking breaks when we need to.

Feedback without fear

2025-05-29 18:38:43 UTC

Need clear, safe channels to share feedback, even critical feedback, without fear of reprisal or being ignored.

Our physical spaces send a message about our priorities

2025-05-29 18:42:15 UTC

For students, it reinforces the feeling that they're expected to succeed in environments that don't fully support them. For faculty and staff, it erodes morale and signals that their work isn't valued enough to deserve well-maintained, dignified spaces.

Mentorship?

2025-05-29 18:53:25 UTC

Pair newer employees with more experienced staff for informal support, connection, and insight into the hidden culture of the institution.

Stand Up For Yourself

jsobieraj1 — 2025-05-29 18:54:17 UTC

Remember that others may not be able to "read" us like we think they can or should. Respectfully speak up for yourself and ask for what you need.

Support Feels Surface-Level

2025-05-29 18:55:12 UTC

Encouraging emails and occasional free snacks are appreciated, but they don't make up for chronic overwork, understaffing, or lack of schedule flexibility. Self-care can't be a substitute for institutional care.

2025-05-29 18:57:53 UTC

Stretching resources thin hurts morale and service quality. If something matters enough to launch, it should matter enough to staff and support properly.

Empathy

2025-05-29 19:32:11 UTC

Every department has its busier times and lulls. While some days might appear slower than others, we have no idea what else is on our teammates' and coworkers' plates. Empathizing and being open to support and hear each other out when called upon is the tide that raises all ships.

"No meeting" days

2025-05-29 20:07:55 UTC

Can we agree on occasional "no meeting" days as a division? Maybe weekly, or monthly, where we all block our calendars to provide guaranteed time to focus, reflect, recharge without constant interruptions?

2025-05-29 20:10:29 UTC

Consider options like compressed workweeks, remote /hybrid work, or flexible start/end times to help employees reclaim time for their personal lives while still meeting work responsibilities.

Creating a Sense of Belonging

2025-05-30 13:21:48 UTC

Taking time for students and staff to discuss their ideas, perspectives, needs, etc.

Departmental Connections

2025-05-30 13:24:20 UTC

Increased opportunities to work collaboratively on projects with coworkers or other departments.

Creating spaces where students can see themselves ( i.e. artwork, pictures, representation of cultures).

2025-05-30 13:25:54 UTC

So many things

2025-05-30 13:30:14 UTC

Better compensation that puts on pare with our peers in other institutions.

The ability to have meaningful advancement in our careers.

Timely and accurate communication. We shouldn't come to work to big surprises.

How to Help Students

2025-05-30 13:30:47 UTC

Publicize and promote services as much as possible- maybe using student leaders to help.

Make videos we can show to our classes, have students drop by classes.

I know we do a lot of promotion but using student leaders to spread the word could be valuable!

Seen, Valued, Connected

2025-05-30 13:36:23 UTC

We actively build positive relationships with students and employees.

We point out student and employee strengths.

We individualize our approach to every student based on their learning needs and personality.

We treat students like equals, so they know we value who they are and what they bring to the table.

We look to find common interests with students and employees to develop strong rapport.

We actively listen to student needs and adapt accordingly.

One way that we help students and employees feel seen, valued and connected by acknowledging, listening, following through.

2025-05-30 13:37:19 UTC

Ideas

2025-05-30 13:39:01 UTC

2.) We care for ourselves and each other with continual check ins with one another and with the ways in which we are seen by our leadership.

Ideas

bboard2 — 2025-05-30 13:41:00 UTC

3.) I feel like we need to strengthen our programs for English Language Learners through the development of a more set curriculum of courses aimed at helping these unique, talented students tackle their individual goals concerning language development.

Ideas

bboard2 — 2025-05-30 13:41:10 UTC

4.) Developing professionally and having more opportunities for interdepartmental relationships.

Ideas

bboard2 — 2025-05-30 13:41:13 UTC

1.) We help students and employees feel seen and valued by our outreach efforts and our examples of authentic care and empathetic connection.

Additional support for neurodiverse students.

2025-05-30 13:48:59 UTC

I’ve been an academic coach since November and have already had the opportunity to work with quite a few neurodiverse students. I see an opportunity for is to help this population of students identify effective study strategies for neurodiverse students.

Neurodiverse student support group/club

2025-05-30 13:51:22 UTC

Help students who are neurodiverse find support in each other and develop social connections.

Ask for what we need 😊

2025-05-30 14:07:34 UTC

neurodiversity in staff

2025-05-30 16:01:45 UTC

What accommodations are available? How do we support neurodiverse staff?

kwhiteshepard — 2025-06-03 14:20:53 UTC

jchrismandenegri — 2026-03-10 20:38:59 UTC

Student parents

Academic Support All-Division Meeting - Unconference by Jessica Chrisman-DeNegri

Creating a Sense of Belonging

Supporting Each Other to Support Students

Reaching the Students Who Need Us Most

Other Important Topics

Employee development

Supporting Each Other: Proactive Communication

Feedback

Transparency from leadership

Belonging: Energy

TAKE YOUR PTO

Parents

Working Together

Let's All Respect Each Other's Areas / Specialties

Feedback without fear

Our physical spaces send a message about our priorities

Mentorship?

Stand Up For Yourself

Support Feels Surface-Level

Empathy

"No meeting" days

Creating a Sense of Belonging

Departmental Connections

Creating spaces where students can see themselves ( i.e. artwork, pictures, representation of cultures).

So many things

How to Help Students

Seen, Valued, Connected

One way that we help students and employees feel seen, valued and connected by acknowledging, listening, following through.

Ideas

Ideas

Ideas

Ideas

Additional support for neurodiverse students.

Neurodiverse student support group/club

Ask for what we need 😊

neurodiversity in staff