The Care and Complimenting of Students

Abstract

We pioneered the idea of “compliment cards” to boost morale, encourage, and demonstrate caring to our student employees, faculty, and staff. Small, postcard-sized decorated cards are stocked at our service desk and available for anyone to use. Student employees have taken the lead on designing them with different themes and sayings such as “I love our chats!” or “We appreciate you!” Compliments given range from big appreciative statements to things like “Your outfit is amazing!” The cards are small ways to show we care, in a tangible form that can be looked back on (several students keep theirs pasted into books or hanging on their apartment walls). They provide opportunities for students to form bonds and appreciate one another. Faculty and staff also use them to show how we value students holistically, not only for their contributions to workplace tasks.