every department has to work on retention from finacial to instructor to President.
Teri, I think many faculty believe that retention to be a conflict of interest and that it might involve adjustments to grades because of the high pressure to keep a student. Faculty seem to come on board once they see that their part involves doing the right thing (their job) to engage students and help if the student is experiencing difficulties with the course content and to refer a student if issues are beyond the professors realm of expertise. Faculty can in fact help to improve retention by listening and communicating with the students. Simple actions can show a student that a faculty member really cares about them.
I will hold club meetings, I will schedule guest speakers or field trips for my classes, I will follow up with all students who miss a class and I will provide real world assignments so students can see the relevancy of work covered in class.
1. A class survey at the end, something more personalized
2. Daily revue of the situation with the class and when possible with "in-doubt" student
3. Keep in mind the eight stages process
1. Id. Students needs - Survey - Our students are very different from one start to the next, The survey should be given to each start group. Compile the results to have number and results to ask for services for the students need.
2. Talk with faculty and go over with them some of the key topics from the RT 101.
3. Review policies and procedure to make sure that we have the right people in the right places at the right time
1. Student Orientations -- Student Council members have a Q&A on what to expect as a student
2. Club Rush--Students can feel excitement meeting the Club Advisor and students who are current members during the 2nd week of the term
3. Finals week Meltdown Movie Mania. Play a movie in our Theatre one day during Finals Week.
I will work with my team to insure that:
1. Expectations set during the admissions process accurately reflect the product delivered during the program;
2. All members of the school team understand the our success is measured by our students' success
3. Our orientation process is more effective in setting the correct tone and providing information most helpful to student success.
Lets the students buy in to their education and that we are in to help them.work hand i hand with the dean of students to help them before its to late.
1. Following up with students, especially "at risk students" via email or phone calls.
2. Communicating with students that I am available if they have questions or concerns. I also let them know that I have an open door policy if they need to see me.
3. I ask my current students on what I can do to make the course I am teaching better. What are things that I can improve on and what are things that they did like about the course.
I will continue to confirm student evaluations are being conducted in a timely manner before the close of the term. I will meet with instructors one on one to discuss and remind them of the support measures we have in place to assist students. I will make myself more readily available by visiting classes daily and speaking to students about the good and bad of the program from their point of view as well as provide them with feedback.
Bill we have a “retention committee” that addresses issues that I have not been involved in but intend to. That is the fourth thing I intend to do in the next month or so. That fits where you have meeting with other players in the retention effort.
Three things that I will do to improve student retention seems meager after the many suggestions and recommendations (and reasons) presented in the course. The first thing I will do is look over the last two or three quarters of student evaluations to see what I have missed as far as implementing their suggestions/recommendations or taking steps to resolve issues that students deemed negative about the course, support, or me. Of course that means to accentuate the positive and use the many things that students like to tweak what is in place to reach the nay-sayers.
The second thing I will do is continue to be active and enthusiastic in the classroom, always having “good days” and keeping students not only engaged but motivated about the course and the course material. This involves making it relevant, getting everyone involved and talking to me and each other, and making the classroom a comfortable place for everyone to learn. The student’s feeling of being welcomed and in an environment that is not intimidating will help them focus on their interests and not on “coping.”
Lastly, I will reach out more to students who are behind in assignments or seem to have problems with them. Being online, this can be done by e-mail and instant messaging and chats. I am already “live” 6 hours a week to be available to students who might need help including extra instruction. I have prepared several mini-presentations targeting student needs in the past and these have been received positively and show results.
I will commit to completing academic tracking reports weekly, I will make myself more visible and available to the student body, and I will work harder to have a positive attitude that I can share with my colleagues.
Assist student's with transportation issues, advising/counseling, open door policy
1) Proactively contact students to build a stronger relationship with students.
2) Attend College Success classes and outline services available to students.
3) Survey new students to find out their needs regarding improved student services.
1) Propose to administration a graded student communication system. Many students do not provide their correct phone numbers and/or email addresses. Attempts to contact such students fail
2) Propose a "student in trouble" councelor to admin.
3) I teach math, and one question I hear frequently is "WHY" - why do I need this - how will it help in my field of study. Perhaps I can determine each student's field of accadmic study.
1. Meet with the leaders of the academic team to relay some of the information learned through this course.
2. Send out more communication to my advisees than ever.
3. Work with the new students from the recent start to ensure that they are familiar with services, clubs, and opportunities throughout the school.
1) Push for Upper Management to take part in this specific training class (RT101) not just the instructors. So we all can learn together to identify methods for improving retention.
2) Educate management that there is no one formula for measuring retention
3) Look for potential signs of stress in my students and respond proactively.
1. Develop the awareness of wanting our students to succeed.
2. Continue to identify students that need intervention at an early stage.
3. Assist with planning activities around the school to aid in school committment, academic erosion, and academic stagnation.
help define the culture through presentations to the students; faculty and staff.
