Mentorship
Need help emailing your professors?
Dow Council has created several templates to aid some tough conversations you may need to have with your professors. You can also email us for suggestions for more templates or to schedule a 1 on 1 session with a Dow Council member if more support is needed.
Some advice:
-
Try not to wait until it's the last-minute issue
-
Decide whether you want to speak in person/virtual(in which case an email simply asking for a meeting is preferable) or start the conversation via email
-
Be prepared to accept a negative response and try to see the professor's side
Before you start:
-
Be VERY clear on (1) how your issue is affecting your academic performance, (2) what you are seeking, and (3) how this would help you in the course or personal life.
-
In the email, you will have to clearly lay out your reasoning — do lots of thinking ahead of time so that you can be CLEAR and CONCISE (clear both in terms of writing but also logic!)
TEMPLATE TYPE
PERSONAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT YOUR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
Description DESCRIPTION
File
TIME ZONE DIFFERENCES
BIAS EXPERIENCED IN CLASSROOM SETTINGS
EXTENSION OF DEADLINE
Use this template if you are currently undergoing any personal issues that may be hindering your ability to perform well in class.
Use this template if you are in another time zone and need accommodations with due dates and class attendance.
Use this template if you are experiencing racial, gender, religious, etc bias in the classroom amongst peers or your professor. (Do not be afraid to address these matters with your professors first because they may be unaware of their biases).
Use this template if you are currently undergoing any personal issues that may be hindering your ability to perform well in class.
Still need help?
Bias Data Gathering System(BDGS)
The BDGS serves to gather information about the K communities' biases. It will collect information regarding preconceived negative preferences, inclinations, or attitudes about groups of people.
​