DISCOVER - BECKI BROADBENT, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

My favorite way to start conversations with students is to use the phrase, “Tell Me…” 

I love how open this is and requires more than a Yes or No answer.  A few “tell me” phrases that I like to use are:

Tell me about your experience at the University.

Tell me about your goals & future plans.

Tell me your strengths when it comes to school.

After I ask these or other questions, I take the time to listen to their responses.  
Our discussion is guided by their responses.

Submitted by Becki Broadbent, MEd
Assistant Director
University College

DISCOVER

Below are some open-ended questions gathered from our advising colleagues across the nation.  These questions were collected from members of the Spring 2015 session of the 8-week on-line Appreciative Advising Course.  

In an initial, getting to know you meeting… 

• What life experiences have led you to come to our college?
• Who has been helpful in your learning experiences in the past?
• What is your dream for your life when you have completed this program?

When a student is sharing a struggle or needs help overcoming what he/she perceives as a failure:

• Please tell me about a time you faced a challenging situation that you were able to solve?  Who did you rely on for support? 
• Tell me about a time when you felt that you were actively engaged in learning.  How did you feel? What made you feel engaged?

When a student is seeking out initial career planning advice: 

• What are three or four things that are really important to you life now?
• Do you think that those things will still be important after you graduate?  If not, what would those things be?  If so, what will you need to do to make sure that these things are still integral to your life?
• Do you think that those same things will still be important five years after you graduate? If not, what will those things be?  If so, what will you need to make sure that these things are still integral to your life? 

For more information about learning about appreciative advising, click here.

DISCOVER - LATU KINIKINI, SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

It is important to remember why we are asking questions. When I worked with students on academic warning or probation, I purposely ask open-ended questions that will allow students to self-reflect.

In general, I feel that one of the roles of all advisors is to facilitate an engaging dialogue with students as they try to understand and make meaning of their college experience. Some of the questions I ask are: 

-How may I help you?

-Why are you in college/university?

-Why do you want to major in ______?

Another important piece to engaging with students is active listening without interrupting. Greek philosopher Diogenes put it well when he said, “We have two ears and only one tongue in order that we may hear more speak less.”

Latu Kinikini
Academic Advising Coordinator
Business Scholars

801.585.0486
1655 Campus Center Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112

DISCOVER CHALLENGE

The Discover phase is when advisors work with students to discover their unique stories and help them recognize their strengths, skills and goals. “By utilizing positive, open-ended questions they can extract narratives through which they can help students identify their strengths, passions, and skills.” 

Reference: Bloom, J.L., Huston, B.L., & He, Y. (Eds.). (2008). The Appreciative Advising Revolution. Stipes Publishing L.L.C.

Challenge: What are some of your favorite open-ended questions you use to discover a 
student’s story? Please share your questions and the contexts in which you use them 
(e.g. during a second-year MAP appointment) by emailing lpark@uc.utah.edu. 

For example, when Lisa Shaw—one of the subcommittee members—first meets a student, she

asks: 

• What brought you to the department? 
• What are you most interested in gaining from this major? 
• Where do you see yourself headed from here? 

"Once I get them talking about what they want from us, I can usually find out what 

we can do for them,” she says.

More Discover phase prompts to get to know students:

• What brought you to the University of Utah?
• Why have you decided to study ____?
• What are your strengths?
• Tell me about an accomplishment that you're proud of. 
• Look back on your last week. What activities energized you?
• Who are the positive, influential role models in your life? Why do you admire them? 
• What does your academic support system look like?
• What impact will your college degree have on your life?

For more ideas about how to incorporate Appreciative Advising into your professional practice, check out 
The Appreciative Advising Revolution Training Workbook: Translating Theory to Practice by Bloom, Hutson & He (2014).