The field of faculty development is very focused on helping faculty to develop themselves. It was very validating to attend the 35th annual Professional and Organization Development (POD) Network in Higher Education conference last week. One of the more interesting sessions focused on the preconceptions that faculty have about their students. Do you classify your students when the walk into your class or tell you their story? Do you raise or lower your expectations when you decide what "group" they belong to? David Green and Celia Popovic have a book coming out soon that explores this topic. If you can't wait, you might want to look at Dr. Popovic's dissertation work that focuses on the same topic. Preconceptions about our students can cause problems for everyone. We strongly suggest that you try to get to know your students better both in and out of class. Holding informal sessions in the Library or Setzer Center where you can interact with your students in a relaxed setting helps to form bonds and provides an additional link for the students to LU. That relationship development has proven to stunt the attrition rate. Think back to your college days and you too will (hopefully) remember fondly the relationships that you forged then that have survived to this day. Do your part to create Cardinals for life.