Confidentiality is an issue that continues to arise at my institution.
We are in the process of digitalization of all our documets.This is making it easier to access files and limiting the use of actual paper documents.
Excellent awareness, Keith! Understanding areas that may present a challenge from time to time is key to addressing it appropriately. It sounds like you the work you do with teenagers helps serve as a reminder for how you hope to portray yourself both inside and outside of your job. Keep it up.
..."not use disparaging comparisons of secondary or postsecondary institutions"
This something I have danced around before; not naming specific schools of course, but making comparisons that were not always positive toward other types of institutions. I am disciplining myself to stay focused on what our school has to offer, its uniqueness and working to ensure an in individual fit for a potential student, as opposed to contrasting us with other schools.
I strive to always use best practices. I am work with a 501 (c)(3) charity for teenagers and this helps me in my admissions job.
Thank you for sharing your challenge, Emmanuel. With students today, being efficient, accurate and transparent in your approach is not only appreciated but expected. What are some of the ideas that you have to improve your knowledge of how to do this with each student?
Trying to work and provide the students if the most efficient and correct way to assist students.
Thank you for sharing your experiences, Patricia. It looks as though you've seen how to apply business practices in one industry effectively within another, congratulations! I get the sense that honesty, integrity, and compassion are some of your core values which I have no doubt shine through in your interactions with others. I must agree that it is critical that you emulate the behavior you expect from others. I have no doubt that you do this daily!
I have been in the Medicare home health business most of my nursing career, over 23 years. In fact I founded a Medicare Certified HHA in 2002, that continues to be in the top 5 agencies in our market today. I sold it to a publically traded company in 2006 and just recently left their employ to put my full attention into my medical training school. This code of conduct is how I have run my business in the past and how I will continue in the future. I recognize the areas of concern for the industry, with the negative practices reported on career colleges. This is a good step in trying to curtail that activity. In the home health business there was and continues to be widspread fraud and bad practices as well, the industry as a whole suffers. The majority of homecare agencies provide ethical, skilled, professional, reasonable and necessary care to their patients. My hope is that most career colleges are not practicing outside of this basic moral code of ethics. I feel the schools that truly have the wellbeing of the students and the community in mind will prosper. A good business reputation is built on years of hard work and commitment to do the right thing, over the top customer service, 120% of the time!
My challange with the Professional Code is to continue to maintain it systematically as our business grows, and to make honesty, ethics and compassion the norm. We are teaching persons how to care for others that are weak, frail and elderly. If we don't emulate the behavior we wish to see in those caring for our parents and loved ones, we should not be in business.
Sounds like an interesting and common challenge we're seeing these days, Diana. It surely must be difficult to change behaviors that have been in place for decades – including terminology. There are several ways to approach this however the basic premise is you must first change people's beliefs before you can change a behavior (such as using certain terms). In other words, people may not believe they need to change or choose not to. Change (even if it's positive) is a hard thing for people to embrace.
One practical suggestion would be to help people understand the ramifications of NOT changing their behavior. What could happen? This might "inspire" some to change. Another suggestion would be to make the change more positive by offering alternate words for people to use in emails, memos, discussions, speeches, etc. Maybe this could be accomplished by an activity in a meeting where you engage them in creating flash cards. On one side is the former word (I.e. Conversion Rates) and on the other side can be alternate words they now can use. Of course you will surely have flashcards that don't have alternative language and it may simply read STRIKE FROM VOCABULARY!
Although this can be a frustrating process, it may take longer than anyone wants to shift the language. The good news is it CAN BE DONE. Just model the behaviors and catch people doing things the right way, too and announce it!
I am in Compliance and review and approve admissions scripts for our organization, along with a Legal counterpart. We have made tremendous changes over the past 3 years and continue to look for ways to improve our scripts to ensure they are student centric.
An example of a challenge would be changes to language due to the legal or regulatory environment which we make to a script and it is filtered to Admissions, including training, however senior leaders in the organization continue to use terms that we have made a concerted effort to change. Part of this challenge is that we are publicly traded and these are terms that the investors know and also use to evaluate our stock price. Suggestions as I have raised this concern with these leaders?
It looks like you've got a great deal of resources available to you to help your students, which is wonderful!
Target the Prospective students interest.
Evidence of tools available for their studies.
Put them in contact with Past and Present students
Allow them to question them.
Invite them to participate to School Fair whereas they can meet their Professors and also create a friendship ambiance where they can know each other.
Companies will be invited to take applications and offer Prospective students future positions after their studies.
Interesting challenge for sure. I'm curious, what are some of the tools you have to help your prospective students right now and how might you add to or enhance these tools to make this less of a challenge for yourself?
Provide the right tools to the Prospective students to make an appropriate choice .
I check the BLS numbers frequently. I will do so more often now. I will make it a point to give out the info and invite them to cross reference it.
Establishing a rapport and actually "listening" is what I am over coming, since I have a goal to meet, I realize I must, make sure the student feels I am listening to their needs.
Nicely said, Doug. Isn't amazing what a little time on the front end can help you accomplish when working with your student to move ahead? Keep up the good work!
I think simply taking time for assessment of their needs is the key to having them become introspective as well. Then they can take ownership of their decision.
Hi Barry. What I'm hearing you say is that you want to work on better understanding the needs of the person in front of you in order to serve the student ethically, is that right? One of the best ways to ensure you are working with your students in an ethical fashion is take a sincere interest in where they are coming from and provide them with the tools and resources they need to make their own best decision. It sounds like your desire to better understand your students is leading you down the right path. Keep up the good work.
