Top 5 Tips for Student Leaders and Post-Secondary Administrators

As a student leader, understanding and working with administration is an integral part of fulfilling this role and duty.  Integration and collaboration create an environment where they can bring forth ideas that will make a difference. With all of the complications students experience on campus in their university career it is important that they know they have support and we want them to be engaged.

Leaders are found and are required in every institution, some are there from the start, some grow with time, and some become found when the right opportunity emerges. Here are my tips for student leaders in working with university administration:

1. Know and understand the administration

Every department, office and faculty is different. It is good to familiarize yourself with who you will be working with, reporting to or addressing. It is easy to often complain about the way things are being done or the amount of laws and rules you may have to go through prior to your start up — but it is important to understand why these things are in place. Equality and efficiency are the back bone of administration and your best interest as a student is always first!

2. Be Professional, punctual and organized

Being professional is extremely important; it demonstrates a level of seriousness and communicates that what you are doing is a priority. Keep a file and take notes, and be up to date. Being organized really helps curb your stress and anxiety about upcoming projects. If you are stressing about your project, there is more opportunity for error, take precautionary measures to avoid this! Administrators have a lot on their plate but this is your initiative and your leadership, be ready to fill them in and get them up to speed as quick as possible. Lastly, being 5 minutes early is never a bad thing but being 5 minutes late can leave an impression that someone might not forget.

3. Start things ahead of time, be patient!

There are student initiatives, clubs and groups all over your university community. Do not leave approval or pitches for the last minute. Get an outline going and start communicating with your administration ASAP. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get a reply right away, everyone is working to make the university a better place and this takes time. Giving yourself ample time helps reduce stress and you can always show initiative and follow up!

4. How is this going to benefit your university community?

Being a student leader is all about diversity, co-operation and accommodations. Make sure your initiative does not appeal to only a minority. Be able to show your administration how this is going to benefit your university as a whole community and how this can be structured to adapt and accommodate future needs of students.

5. You can never say “thank you” too many times

We are all doing the best we can to make sure our academic communities are thriving, successful and FUN places to be. We are also all working together on creating a positive community where stress and anxiety is not just limited but where mental wellness is a priority and the proper resources are in place to sustain that. Saying thank you goes a long way!

Kaitlyn Kerridge is a student leader from Brock University

Kaitlyn developed a social media campaign for her campus called cope.care.connect

www.copecareconnect.ca