90% of Our Energy

On 10% of the People

“We spend 90 percent of our time dealing with 10 percent of our students.” This was an assessment spoken to me decades ago by an Assistant Dean at the campus I was working at the time. Taking into account that the Asst. Dean was responsible for administering student conduct and academic integrity may color their perspective, but their words are not entirely to be dismissed. 

As I rose through the ranks, I would see this adage come to life in various ways from student conflicts, cases of academic probation, and the number of students who were non-compliant with deadlines. There was also the positive 10%, the over engaged, the ever participatory and the students who could be counted on to volunteer their time at the drop of a hat when we needed students to sit in on some event or another. 

“Frustrated Person” Photo by Igor Omilaev on Unsplash