Ready to Quit Students
What are all the stretegies we need to work with Ready to quit students ?
It is always important to listen to the reasons why a student is wanting to quit. In my experience, some student have legitimate reasons that will not allow them to continue their schooling. Too often, "for profit" schools forget that, and pressure that student to not quit to avoid a drop. Retention is important, but never at the expense of an individual's best interests.
Hi Dawn,
You are proof in the making for your students. You can speak from the stand point look at me I've done it and still doing it. You can do it too; very inspiring for your students.
Patricia
I've also found it helpful to share my own experiences with working/going to school fulltime and being a single parent. It helps them to hear that they are not alone and see that it is possible!
Hi Barbara,
Yes, I feel this practice is very positive. Students have to learn how to persevere and keep their eyes on the prize. This written document is a good reminder, if they happen to want to quit.
Patricia
With our new students,we ask them to prepare a brief statement with their personal goals, and how this institution can help them achieve said goals. If the student becomes a "ready to quit" student (hopefully before), we can refer to the statement, then talk with while encouraging the student to refocus on their personal goals of which they wrote. Do you think this practice is a positive step?
The first thing I do with a student is to ask them to remind me why they originally decided to go back to school. Find out what is inteferring with that goal. I remind them that there are always going to be things in life that try to trip us up and keep us from succeeding. I ask them if they are willing to find a solution to their problem and what I can do to help. Helping them see their life after they graduate gives them the desire to care on. Usually just talking it through gets them back on track.
Hi John,
Somethings are totally beyond an educator's scope. What really matters is that you find the appropriate person to help the student.
Patricia
I agree with Mr.Jerls; if you can at least find out what the root of the problem is you can at least refer the student to the proper department/ persons who may be able to help them!
At my institution, instructors contact students if they miss class to determine the reason for their absence. This information is furnished to the department chair. If there are repeated absences, both the instructor and department chair will contact the student to discuss the student's issues and offer encouragement and possible solutions.
I agree early intervention may save that student
I believe your response really is the crux of why students disengage from school. The current financial climate is seemingly, at least at my school, the one factor that students drop out. However, I also believe that lack of funds is really not the issue because if they are really engaged in school they will find a way to pay for it. so, having those conversations with students can uncover some real reasons. The faculty can really play a major part in helping students from quitting by taking care to let the Academics Team know who these students are so that an intervention can happen. A student may change his or her mind by just knowing that the school is here to support them.
I have found a lot of the time, outside influences are the contributing factor to the ready to quit students. Some of the time is family problems, or finances. This also plays into the non-contributing students or the sleepers. I had one that always dozed off, when I talked to him, I discovered that he was a single parent of 3 and working 10 hrs daily plus school. So some times we need to talk to the students, just our understanding helps.
I agree with the other instructors it helps to get to the bottom of the problem. Some times just talking to them will help with the problem.
Hi Dustin,
At my institution we would handle a ready to quit student exactly as you have indicated. We too have all the on site help available as you have mentioned. These services really help with retention.
Patricia
Hi Anthonia,
There are many! Here are a few I've tried:
1) Have them talk to the DOE or Director
2) Have them talk to another student that was wanting to quit
3)Poise the question: How is quitting going to solve their problems?
4) Make them see the benefit of a college education
5) Have them talk to a graduate that want to quit, but did not, and now he/she is very successful
Patricia
We should get the root of the problem of why they want to quit. Whether it is peer pressure from students or lack of money/job. Our campus has an employment department that helps with local jobs, and we also have a student pantry in case a student has no food in their's. Just talking to them usually makes the whole difference. Listen and help them form a plan of attack to get back on line with what their goals were when they started in your school.
