We offer student critiques every quarter. THis allows the student to anonymously express their concerns or the lack there of. We also send out graduate surveys for the students to make suggestions and offer feedback that may be used to make a more positive experience for other students in the future.
Are the students able to readily answer the question about their preferred learning style?
There are simple assessments available to help them determine their preference and the relative strength of the preference that also helps them understand that there are multiple ways to connect with the material being presented.
Lily,
You are so right that faculty need to continually nuture the relationship with students. I teach both lectures and clinic courses and use similar questions. I also like to add:
* How do you like to learn best? Visually, auditory,etc.
* Which area or topic can I help you with the most?
~Ileana
The underclassmen can ask any questions they want of the older students. Popular questions for big projects are "how long did this take you to do?" and "what software is this?" and "what was the hardest part?" It turns in to a real learning experience for the underclass students and they get very involved.
What method do you use to present the project results? Are the upperclassmen part of the presentation? Do the underclassmen have a chance to talk with the more advanced students?
Lately our new plan is to show the senior and junior level project results to the freshman-level students. That way they have an idea of what they can expect to accomplish at that level and what is a realistic goal.
What procedures are you using to uncover ways to help each student to meet their expectations? Is this a formal institutional evaluation? Who is leading the process?
We are working on ways to help each student to meet their expectations along with being satisfied with the school. It is true that you will not be able to keep all students, but with proper training and a carrying staff you can save some of the students that you would lose.
Sounds like a job that requires extraordinary inter-personal skills to maintain a positive working relationship with peers while being effective as a representative of student grievances.
To whom does this ombudsman report? Is it a full time job? How do other staff and faculty relate to him/her? Do the students respect/appreciate the power of this position?
Congratulations on the improvement in student enjoyment/satisfaction!
Low standards attract low performing students and chase away the ones who want to be challenged. Which student would you rather have in your classroom? Students want the satisfaction of mastering useful, complex skills.
Is there a system in place to address issues raised in the surveys? Do you use faculty mentors to help new instructors understand the survey results to avoid having to terminate an instructor?
Why do you feel the burden of retention is placed on the adjunct faculty? Are they the only people to have contact with the students?
My school has a department devoted to representing student grievances. They are student advocates and present issues escalated to them, and in turn investigate those problem and seek resolution. Things may not always work in the students' favor, as often, students turn to them when they are in the wrong. However, when there is any chance the that the student has been wrong or misled, that department is there for them.
We also have an excellent Student Affairs department with advisers who liaison with other departments on the students behalf. They do a great job at bringing student questions or concerns to the faculty when the student is afraid to address the faculty directly.
It utilizes student surveys. However, I feel that the burden of retention is placed on the adjunct faculty member who lacks the training to deal with several scenarios. Also, the student has to share responsiblilty to complete their coursework. Sometimes, they wait the last minute to do their assignment, or never come to class despite emails and phone calls follow-ups. I think there should be a period that schools must follow if a student does not enter the classroom.
On the first night of class, professors are instructed to go through their syllabus and expectations to make sure students are informed of the steps they need to take to ensure a successful outcome. The syllabus is also posted on the student portal for access at anytime.
Students submit course/professor evaluations at the end of every class (plus a midterm evaluation for brand new professors). Our campus president reads every evaluation before they are submitted to the department chair, who reviews the evaluations before handing them down to the professors. I have seen professors teach only one term based on poor student evaluations.
Additionally, we encourage professors to take a few minutes every quarter to allow students time to complete the virtual Zoomerang student satisfaction survey. Department chairs respond to all students who have requested feedback and, I believe, the Director of Education addresses all of the negative responses.
We have had the universal experience of INCREASED student enjoyment/satisfaction every time we have rolled out stricter rules. We used to worry about students being up in arms about higher standards, but not so much anymore.
It's interesting to me that you vary the frequency of surveying based on where the student is in the program. What led your school to doing it this way?
How frequently do you conduct the surveys in the first and second semesters? Do you continue to administer them in later semesters? If so, how often?
Student surveys are conducted more frequently during the first and second semesters to help identify potential problems that may lead to future retention issues.
We do student serveys every quarter. In the serveys are able to let us know if they satisfy or not with their class or their Instructor.
We have students appreciation day every quarter. The president of the school, staff and teacher cook all day for the students.
We make sure each instructor stay in contact with
students.
Our institute utilize student survey ,Class room evaluations monthly basis. These feedback give us constant direction to work on area. We have student appreciation with new start, that also break the ice between studnets and faculties and administration.
