Help Seeking

Willingness and tendency to reach out for help when working through a problem

If you went to the tutoring center on your average college campus, who do you think you’d find? More students currently getting a B, trying to get an A? Or more students currently getting a D trying to work up to a C?

You’d probably find more students with a B working towards that A.

This is because seeking help is one of the best strategies to foster learning. If you think about it, going to college in and of itself is a way of asking for help. You’re looking to learn from your instructors, looking for guidance from your advisors, and looking for collaboration from your fellow students.

Keep in mind that, whenever you run into a challenge, there is certainly value in working and persisting to address that problem on your own. BUT, when it gets to the point that you’ve exhausted your effort, done all that you can, ask someone for help. Your instructors, advisors, and other faculty and staff are here just for that purpose.

Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something and to learn something new.
Barack Obama

How can I improve my Help Seeking?

Strategies to Use

If you’re uncomfortable asking for help, take a quick walk the next time you’re on campus. Find an office or program that you don’t know, and ask someone at the front desk what they do there. You’ll find that people aren’t all that scary, and actually looking forward to lending a hand.

Resources at Albany State

Counseling and Accessibility Services: Committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and affirming environment. We strive to provide care that recognizes the influences of race, ethnicity, gender, sex, sexual orientation, age accessibility, religion, and other aspects of identity that are sensitive and responsive to the needs of our diverse students.
The Office of Student Engagement: The center of your college experience. Let us help you get the most out of your time at Albany State University through campus activities, student organizations, special events and programs, leadership development and other student success resources.
Academic Affairs: Provides support to assist administrators, staff, faculty, and students to realize their academic goals in pursuit of high academic achievement. The Office of Academic Affairs at Albany State University oversees services related to the teaching, learning, and research activities on campus.
Student Success: Designed to help you connect with the right campus resources to help you succeed academically and socially.
- Effective transition programs that help incoming Rams fully acclimate to the ASU experience;
- Training and development throughout the semester for students to become self-regulated learners;
- Individualized assistance with study strategies, time management, and balancing college life; and
- Opportunities for students to develop into strong student leaders by expanding their academic networks, connecting them with appropriate campus resources, and helping them craft their own leadership identity.
Student Affairs: Mission-driven team that aims to enrich the Golden Ram experience for all students in the Albany State University tradition. Student learning and success is the cornerstone of all we do for you, OUR students.