Walking With Students to Increase Satisfaction and Retention

Abstract

The Walking Office Hours exercise was originally instituted as a requirement in an introductory health topics class. Students were required, in pairs, to walk with the instructor for one-half hour on campus. This activity was seen so positively by students that it was repeated as a requirement for a human resources management class. In both courses, students unanimously reported a higher “comfort level” with the instructor following the walk and believed Walking Office Hours should be repeated in future classes. Although this classroom research project involved students walking with a professor, the activity could easily be adapted so advisors could walk with students.