Instructor impact
I firmly believe that a career college's instructors have the greatest impact on retention. Its my experience that instructors that can strike a balance in acting as a role model for students and providing the best knowledge to assist the student with their career goals, all while treating the students with the respect of a future peer in their chosen career field have the best retention rates.
I agree 100% with you on this one. The instructors are the ones that are with the students 90% of the time. They form special bonds with their instructors and look up to them.
Yes, we monitor continuously the teachers in classes through visits to the classrooms and surveys, also through meetings of knowledge where we can check the student's interaction with the teacher, I hope this answer your question.
Evelyn,
I completely agree! Does your institution have any processes in place for instructors to follow up on these observations?
Susan Backofen
In my point of view proffesors usually have more frequent and continuous contact with students than any other institutional representative for this reason they are an important key to student retention also instructors are in a good position to observe specific students behaviour which can serve as red flags for potential attrition (e.g poor midterms grades, flagrants absenteeism, failure to complete assignments, in-class boredom and passivity.)
Nadine,
I love your analogy of the novel...we do have much to offer in the 'writing'
Susan Backofen
Very well said! I agree. We are definitely an influence but as we read, there are so many other factors that come from their personal life.
I do realize how much they look up to me for my success and trust that I will lead them to their own. I try through out the whole novel to give them the ending they expect by building their self-confidence.
Jenny, I must agree with you. Instructors can certainly play and influencing role on the student, but sometimes it depends on the subject matter. If the student is only taking a course as a prerequisite then you may find that the student is not influenced by that instructor to the greatest degree. I try to impact my students not necessarily by the content of the course, but on my educational success. I like to tell the students about my struggles pursuing my education so that they won't feel like they are the only ones to struggle for an education.
Instructors have the greatest impact on retention. Unprepared ones will certainly drive away students expecting professionalism. Excellent reinforcement!
I agree John. I think part of that impact is having real-life experiences to draw from. Without those, I think you lose a certain level of credibility with today's student.
Jenny,
Interesting analogy...and I agree. It 'takes a village' and we all need to do our part.
Susan Backofen
John,
Excellent points. You are correct that faculty play a critical role. I especially appreciate your comment about treating students like future peers
Susan Backofen
I do believe instructors have a great impact, but I don't know if there is any one greatest impact on retention. I think a student's experience can be compared to a beautifully written novel. It must have a beginning that makes you commit, a middle that holds your interest, and an ending that you would like to read again.
