Be clear about which parts of your guidance are advice, which are campus requirements and which decisions are yours. Before offering a solution, ask students what they're trying to do and where they're stuck. Point them to current requirements and the people who handle questions outside your role. Agree how and when they can reach you, especially near deadlines. Review real decisions and working records together so students can practice their judgment while staying responsible for their work.
Talk it through
- Could the student team distinguish your recommendation from a requirement?
- Which decisions are yours, and which belong to students or another office?
- Who can students turn to when a deadline is close and they need an answer?
Try this next
- Ask the officers to describe one current difficulty and show the relevant working record.
- Clarify your role, applicable requirements and the campus contacts for questions outside it.
- Agree when you'll check in and how students can reach you with urgent questions.