Hi Lisa,
You are right! Everyone has the duty of working retention.
Patricia Scales
The key players are every person employed by the school. Retention is everyone's job.
I think that it is the responsibility of the entire school community in keeping students enrolled throughout their program. As others have said in this forum, it is everyone that each student comes in contact with.
I would also add that those folks also get the other students on board with this...isolation is a key factor in a students' motivation to come to the campus everyday. Just from my own experience with a student, I saw many people drop out of programs because the other students shut them out. I too have been shut out and therefore felt as though I was in a hostile learning environment, and therefore know how students who are experiencing this feel a lack of motivation and a drive to just finish with as little investment in their activities at school as possible as it is just exhausting to be in an environment like that. Anyway, as Instructors and school employees, we need to make sure that our campuses are friendly and supportive communities to arrive to everyday.
I believe every single person should be actively involved in the student’s retention. It mostly falls on the instructor, who is directly involved with the student. It would be more effective if there was a support system from other departments: Financial aid, Education Dept., Career Services Dept., etc...
I had a student who reached her fifth module and was dropped out of the program because of an incomplete financial aid file. We are equally responsible for helping them reach the ultimate goal; receive that education, find that dream job... All these should be taken seriously. We the "Edutainers" must do it with Care, Love, Persistance and a great Dedication to achieve extraordinary results.
Hi Rachel,
I love your outlook! You are certainly on point when it comes to retention. The small things help tremendously when it comes to retention, such as a simple smile and greet! Your school is fortunate to have you as an instructor because I know you make a positive impact on retention just from your response! Keep making a positive difference!
Patricia Scales
At my career college it was once defined in a meeting: Retention is someone who cares and a dream. It is true. Many of the students I have taught over the years have been kicked around through life searching for one person that believes in them. Retention starts in the classroom with the INSTRUCTOR!! As an instructor you have to be able to reach every single student, excite them about learning and show them what staying in school could mean to them, and their ultimate goals. You have to use soft skills, help them set goals, celebrate little goals along the way. Another component of student retention is a person for students to go to other then the instructor for "advising". In our school our program director is next up on the hierarchy. My program PD is an amazing women. Students will go in just to say hello and not with just issues. I think that caring and concern all the way around in every department, financial aide, admissions, etc is the key to retention. I say hello to nearly every student I pass. A hello and a smile is all that some people need to have a wonderful day!
Hi CARMEN,
Staying on retention is a must. Anytime you see a red flag from a student, you need to begin finding out about the student immediately.
Patricia Scales
I feel, it is everyone's role to encourage the student to continue coming to class. Making sure we contact them at the first time they do not show up for class and always encouraging students.
The instructors are the key players in keeping the students in class. The instructor has to be always on top everything, including some of the personal issues that the students encounter.
Hi Ronald,
At my institution too, we all help with retention.
Patricia Scales
I agree with you 100% when you say it is a group effort! From admissions to financial aid, to insructors, to placement officers....all have a say so in the success of our students. At least that is the case in our institution!
Hi Nam,
The key is to keep students engaged so that we can retain students. Once students lose excitement/interest, it is possible to lose them as a student. We have to help our students keep their eyes on the prize.
Patricia Scales
Hi Bruce,
Students have a lot of outside issues going on that they will bring in the classroom. We have to help our students to become better problem solvers so that we can better manage retention.
Patricia Scales
Hi Amar,
I agree! Everyone has to pull their weight to help manage retention.
Patricia Scales
Hi Hernan,
It takes all employees to effectively manage retention.
Patricia Scales
I feel that it is a team effort to keep students engaged and retention up. As mentioned before in a previous reply, we have several different students in a completely diverse environment. Each individual student with different backgrounds, experiences, cultures, and everyday activities that may or may not affect them with their educational goals, are faced with their own personal or emotional challenges. I believe we must bring it upon ourselves to challenge each individual to face adversity and maintain their path towards their educational goals. As an instructor, we observe student behavior first hand. We strive to motivate, stimulate, and encourage positive behavior. While it is important that the content and deliverance of each program must show value and distinction, it is the way we approach our students that would "key" success.
It takes a team effort to maintain such an environment. Beginning with the "Key Players" Admissions Representatives; their job is to inform customers what, where, when, why, and how any of our programs can benefit them. Admissions should go beyond giving information and selling the program. Their involvement with student progress is "key" to being successful.
Student services should go beyond placement assistant. Their involvement and monitoring of student needs and expectations would be "key" towards company respectability and reputation.
Respectable, reputable, encouraging, involved, motivational could only mean that we care.
When a student starts on campus I see support from every department every day. A student has issues in class we tutor them or guide them in there learning on projects.Every student one time or another my come to class not with there focuss and we try to find the issues maybe at home on the way to school or at work so they my focuss in the class room.
Retention is definitely a team effort. Teachers could be the main players in maintaining interest levels but everybody has an equal role to play.
I believe it is everyone’s responsibility to keep students engaged. Support should come from every angle. The counselors or admission representatives initiate the support by guiding the student in the most direct way for the student to achieve their goals. This support continues with financial aid, faculty, and other staff members. Everyone who is in contact with student plays a key role.
Hi Chemo,
I love your perspective. I am sure you do a thorough job in all areas! I like how you mentioned, adjunct plays a role in retention as well. It is certainly everyone's job to work retention. There is no magic wand of improving retention;it simply takes a lot of hard work DAILY!
Patricia Scales
