Communication Strategies Faculty Resources: Advocating

Students use this strategy in the classroom, at home, and on the job when they:

• Recognize when they need help and where to ask for that help, including:
  • Asking an instructor for help accessing academic supports.
  • Identifying gaps in their skills and seeking help (tutoring, attending office hours, etc.).
  • Meeting with an instructor to ask about a mark on an assignment.
  • Asking for what they need in order to do their job better.
• Work in a team by:
  • Speaking up in class to ask for more time to finish a group assignment.
  • Speaking up during a group meeting to make sure a classmate gets to share their opinion.
  • Asking group mates to do their share of the work.
  • Reaching out to an instructor to tell them that a classmate is struggling and needs help.
  • Allowing one another space to learn and build capacity.
• Communicate and act with intention and care by:
  • Reflecting on when they can and should speak up on behalf of others.
  • Using inclusive language in their communications.
  • Setting clear expectations for themselves and their teams.
  • Ensuring they create an inclusive environment and building psychological safety

Read about developing the strategy of "advocating" with your students in the Faculty Blog post: Communication Strategies: Advocating

To learn about how to advocate for others, students can:

• Watch this LinkedIn Learning Video: Advocating for Others.
  • Note: use your RRC email and password to log into LinkedIn Learning.

To learn about how to be an advocate, students can:

• Watch this YouTube video: How to be an Advocate.

To find out how to boost their self-confidence, students can:

• Watch this TED-Ed video: 3 Tips to boost your confidence.

To intentionally build their self-confidence, students can:

• Use this daily Self-Esteem Journal.

To learn how to speak up, students can:

• Watch this YouTube video: How to Speak Up in Meetings.

To learn how to advocate for themselves, students can:

• Read this info-graphic: How to Speak Up and Be Heard: Self Advocacy.

To get help if they (or a friend) have experienced violence, harassment, or discrimination , students can:

• Click on this link to access No Wrong Door at RRC.

Students can access the following resources through Library & Academic Services to develop this strategy:

• Tutoring for individualized and small group support, if students advocate for themselves or others that they need help to understand the content of their courses.
• Writing Tutoring, for individualized in-person and email support to develop writing skills, and to help develop self-advocacy skills through writing. 
• EAL Tutoring, for individualized language development for students whose first language is not English, which can help develop the confidence and language skills required for self-advocacy.
• Academic Coaching, to develop the academic skills needed for success within college.