Yes, we do send these letters on to the next instructors. We have been encouraging all instructors to remind the students of these letters periodically. To students that are having issues I find that it does help them refocus on school.
We have an electronic and hard copy form available to all staff and faculty. This is a one part form that is turned in directly to me. I will make a copy for their advisor and any staff member on a need to know basis. I keep a copy of every alert form until the alert form has been closed out (showing that an action has been taken and the issue has been resolved)and turned in to me. THis is handled by their advisor in the Student Services Department. Last year, we had 212 alert forms turned in. They are to be used any time a student is having academic or attendance issues, or a personal issue that could prevent them from coming to school or finishing their program. The have been a very important retention tool for us and have made a significant impact in our ability to catch problems early.
The forms have a section for the advisor to qrite the resolution to the issue and they must also document the alert form in our student database. The original alert form is then placed in the students academic file.
Are these letters passed on to subsequent instructors as the students progress through the program?
One of the intervention strategies we use at our school is alot of our programs have the student write a letter to themselves on the first day of class stating what their purpose was in coming to school, what their end goal is, who do they have to support them. We encourage our instructors to bring this letter out when the students are having issues with feeling like they will succeed to remind them of their purpose for coming to school. This usually helps get the student back on track when they read this letter in conjunction with talking to their instructor. We also have group projects in class that help students have to participate on an equal level. I believe these interventions help address academic erosion
Sounds like a good system, Susan. Are you pleased with the results? How often are the alert forms being used? Are the forms a multiple part paper format? Are you creating a web based data base?
We have a weekly meeting with education and the Student Services Department to discuss students with academic and attendance concerns. We come up with a plan of action and the appropriate person will follow up with the student to ensure that they are aware that we are available to assist them.
We also use an alert form system that allows staff and faculty to immediately make the appropriate individuals aware of potential issues that could affect the students academics, attendance, or ability to be successful or continue in school. These forms are kept confidential but are used in order to take immediate action.
Our school has purchased a program that is available to our students 24/7 that will help them with any type of problem from financial to academics to childcare. As long as the student is registered they may call a toll free number or access the program on line and request resources and or speak to a counselor. Our Student Services Director can make a mandatory referral for any student he feels need assistance. The Director of Education will also use a mandatory referral if a student is having attendance / academic issues. Our Program Coordinators can also make a referral if one of their instructors has a concern regarding a student. We have seen great results with this program. Usually the studdent will speak to the Student Services Director, Director of Education or the Assistant to the Director of Education prior to calling but this program at the suggestion of one of the above employees but are fee to call at any time. This program is described in detail at orientation for the student to use at any time.
Our school has purchased a program that is available to our students 24/7 that will help them with any type of problem from financial to academics to childcare. As long as the student is registered they may call a toll free number or access the program on line and request resources and or speak to a counselor. Our Student Services Director can make a mandatory referral for any student he feels need assistance. The Director of Education will also use a mandatory referral if a student is having attendance / academic issues. Our Program Coordinators can also make a referral if one of their instructors has a concern regarding a student. We have seen great results with this program. Usually the studdent will speak to the Student Services Director, Director of Education or the Assistant to the Director of Education prior to calling but this program at the suggestion of one of the above employees but are fee to call at any time. This program is described in detail at orientation for the student to use at any time.
The school monitors performance as well as attendance & behavior. If any are affected, the support staff meets with the students.
Yes, He is the new student success person, He was a Chief (still is)for 2 different classes, He has helped get them to the correct person for whatever need they might have. he also simply give's them time to vent and to see if there is an altertenitve to the situation.He has helped al lot , according to the students that he has helped . a big PLUS for our campus and students.
How often do you make referrals to the Student Success Instructor?
One of the best strategies we have is our Student Success Instructor. We (the instructors)notify him of any student we feel is at risk, and he contacts the student and either councils them, helps the student directly or passes them on to the Financial Aid department or whomever he thinks can help.
What is the basis for the attendance policy? Does it reflect expectations of employers in the field? Do students understand the relationship?
What are the credentials of this counselor? Is it someone who worked in another department before taking on this responsibility?
Alex, do you know how the staffing level is determined for this department? If you are part of a system, is the staffing level the same for all schools?
We have a student success department that deals with all students problems from academic failures to personal needs. This has helped the students tremendously and has increased our student retention and our student success.
Our school utilizes a Student Success Counselor that instructors can notify if a potential problem exists, such as attendance or academic failure. This counselor will go to the student and try to identify and discuss any issue the student might have, and might be able to motivate the student to succeed while heading off a larger problem.
We have student Sucess cordinator to try to work thru any issues that they are having at the time , wether it is Financal or personal they will get the help they need to help stay in school.
We have an attendance policy that is flagged when students reach a point that the have used half of thier alloted time to be missed a meetting with the student and he informed of his time and asked for a reason for it and help and quidence is offerd
We have both a Retention Officer and Student Counselor on our campus. When I think I have identified a student in crisis, I take several steps of action. First, I will discretely speak with the student and confirm or refute my perceptions. If the student would benefit from intervention I notify the Counselor and Retention Officer while simultaneously making notes in a data base that is available to campus personnel. Then I will fill out a form that was previously used as a discipinary tool, but I have more recently seen it as an opportunity to demonstrate my sincere interest and concern for the student's experience. Usually, these steps are sufficient to bouy the student's perceptions and prevent a downward spiral. If not, I have already made the Retention Officer and Counselor aware of the situation and I will personally set-up an introduction with one or both of them then walk the student to the meeting and introduce them in person. Follow-up/through is always critical. I keep an eye on them to make sure they're headed in the right direction.
