Ask the advisor

Here is evidence of another group of people dedicated to your success at IUB!\nQuestion:\nI am an AI for a large undergraduate class. I was recently contacted by a student in the class who is having problems with family issues, as well as trouble with financial aid. This is affecting his performance in class. I am not sure what office on campus might be able to offer him help with these problems. Is there a service on campus that provides individual assistance to students experiencing these kinds of problems?\nAnswer:\nThis sounds like a common and unfortunate problem. Many students in college discover for the first time that real life and personal issues can have a significant impact on academic success. \nWhile there is no one office we can dedicate to assisting students with every problem, there are two people on campus who can offer a student the best guidance on dealing with ANY problem. One is the academic advisor. The other (if a student lives in a residence hall) is the Resident Assistant. Advisors and RAs are trained and experienced in referring to appropriate campus resources, problem solving, and crisis management. One group is professional staff, the other are your peers -- students just like you. If your advisor or RA can't help you find an answer or solve a problem, they know someone who can.\nI would also offer two specific pieces of advice to any student in a situation like this. First, since financial aid awards and eligibility requirements are so tricky, and since what is true for one student is not necessarily true for another, questions about financial aid should always be asked of the Office of Student Financial Assistance. They have very knowledgeable counselors who can help you learn to find, manage and understand your college financing. They are available in Franklin Hall 208 for walk-in appointments from 9:00-4:00 every weekday, or you can call the office at 855-0321.\nSecond, a personal or family crisis is usually best handled with professional help. Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS) is offered on the fourth floor of the Health Center. Students who have paid the Student Health Fee are offered two free sessions each fall and spring term or one in the summer term. Call 855-5711 to schedule an appointment. The Center for Human Growth is located on the ground floor of the School of Education and also offers counseling services to IUB students. Call 856-8302 to schedule an appointment.\nAnd, finally, if you are ever experiencing a personal crisis or some other issue that is hurting your academic performance (especially at a time like this -- when we are nearing the end of a semester), talk with your academic advisor. Although we are not counselors, we are good listeners AND we want to help you manage or resolve issues as soon as possible and minimize the potential impact on your academic record. You may have more options than you might think, and we know about them!