Great! Having your admissions people help to retain them through the first few weeks is very helpful. The continuity in relationships helps students to feel connected.
Do you have a process where faculty or other student services people contact students who stop attending after the two weeks?
Susan
We call our students that do not show up for orientation. We also call students who miss school within the first week or two.
I am planning to call the students the 1st week this is a great idea.
We run a small school, and admissions places calls a day or two in advance of orientation as well as to those absent from orientation. Often no response is heard from the no-show student. How much follow-up is too much?
Admissions calling is an interesting idea and I think can be a benifical in some instances. The relationship the student has with his admissions rep can serve to bridge some gaps.
Ultimately, the Instructor should be the one who initiates the contact. It is the Instructor who needs to establish the relationship needed to forge the bond that will get the student to class and keep the student in class.
At our campus, the Instructor is required to make the call. The Dean and the Associate Dean also keep on top of these contacts. Often times the student gets several people contacting them either by e-mail or via telephone. This serves to let the student know they matter and we care and we pay attention.
Right! Ideally, the faculty and admissions are working collaboratively to ensure a smooth hand-off. Building those systems and encouraging that interaction early in the enrollment process is a real advantage.
Susan
I agree concerning the coordination part. Many times the faculty do not know who the Admissions Rep is, and having that key piece of information would be beneficial in information sharing about the student and any potential issues.
they know the student better
We are not currently doing this, but I'm going to suggest it be implemented. I feel that this would be an excellent method of reassuring students that they made the right decision, and that we are sincerely interested in them having a satisfying educational experience (and that they are not just a tuition payment).
This certainly helps to smooth the transition from one area to the other...and it's a great way to get some additional referral leads!
Susan
We have a similar process. Admissions has the primary responsibiliby for the first 30 days. Then the Director of Education assumes responsibility for follow-up calls and letters to students who are absent.
I concur with your comments. The hard part is the coordination but we have found that a simple email works really well to keep all those involved informed.
This is excellent! Making those calls a week prior to classes is an excellent way to begin transitioning the students in to your institution.
In our school each facilitator call the students of his class a week before the class start to remind them when(day)the class start and what assigments they should turn in the first day. Also rep call the students that are absents the first day of class to know how we can help them, put them in contact with the facilitators and remind them to do their homework for the next workshop.
True enough...it is a balance. However, in most cases attendance is so key to a successful academic experience you cannot afford to neglect it. On the job, they will need to be responsible for their attendance. A large part of our mission should be to help them prepare for a successful career, including attendance.
In most cases, if it is framed that way...in addition to the fact that we just plain, 'care' that they are doing alright, most students are appreciative of the contact.
Susan
It is important, as you note, to balance how long the Admissions staff is available. While the student has built a relationship with their Representative during the enrollment process, making that transition to faculty is key. Sometimes, however, the Admissions team can be helpful to get the student back on track.
Susan
The program director calls the students when they are absent. Many students do not like the idea of having anyone calling them. They say that they are not children to tell them what to do.
We would like all instructors to follow this guideline. This is a step by step process that we use campus wide.
1. When a student is absent or sick, instructors need to call. Instructor needs to call before shift during break, or after school. Let secretary know or write on absent sheet.
2. If no call from student on day 2 the instructor will inform Program Director. Instructor will make efforts to contact student.
3. On day 3 Program Director will make attempt to call. The first generated letter will be sent to student. The registrar will be notified by the program supervisor as well as Dean of Students.
4. On 4th day Registrar, Dean of Students will try to make contact. We will inform Program Director what we find out. We will make a final attempt to contact.
5.On the 5th day regardless of in a row or sporadic, if we don't hear from student, the student will be dropped. If a student does not comply with the student regulated guidelines, student will be terminated from term.
We have a policy that admissions will be resource for the first 30 days students are enrolled. After the 30 days this will be given to Program Director. We try to install a team approach where all parties stay involved with the students and thus far we have seen a decrease in drop rates. this of course is not always smooth running. It takes a lot of communication and effort on all parts to be successful. I have seen improved retention rates when the student feels like they are part of the "Family".
I agree. It is an interesting idea. I always enphacize the importance of students making that transition to the academic department but I see how this may have an impact on the students by hearing a familiar voice. Definitely something to consider.
In our school it is the admissions department who is responsible to make sure that students are in class. We do make the calls to the students who are late or not there....during that week we also teach them about calling in if they are late or ill. Teachers do call as well as our back up and to tie themselves in with the students. I believe that it is imperative to the success of the students that their admissions representative maintain contact with them within the first week since the rep is the one who made the initital bond with the student and really knows any issues that may come up.
