Monitoring the students absences and placing a phone call or sending a letter. Instructors also monitor the students too and ask to inquire about any difficulties.
I am the Registrar at my school and we have roughly 500 students. I try to know all of them (or as many as I can) by name. I find it helps a lot when they come to my office and ask for something and I know who they are. It seems to impress them that I know who they are...and I think it makes them feel special. It also helps when saying Hello to them...to say "Hello Sally", instead of just "Hello."
Thank you, Sara. This sounds like a system that would benefit many career colleges.
I agree. I was having trouble with an instructor, so I immediately started observing her class everyday for a total of 6 class session. The students were happy to see that I listened to their concerns.
What does your school do to unequivovally demonstrate you are paying attention to your students?
Not only does our school supply an advisor to every student, but we have an entire Student Success Team that is dedicated to student retention.
As part of that team, I meet with students who are struggling academically and pair them with a student who has excelled in the same courses. This requires me to build a rapport with as many students as possible and always foster an environment of trust and acceptance.
We have one of the best retention rates in our company because of this department and I believe it has everything to do with the fact that we work so hard to get to know our students and their needs. Communication and trust are key.
Research on retention shows that building a sense of community makes a big difference in persistence rates. Potlucks help to build community in the school and field trips have a way of linking the students to the community and the profession.
Calling absent students is a pretty common practive at career colleges. The calls are only effective to the extent that the caller is genuinely concerned about the student and is offering to help them in some way. It seems that is what your team does.
We have quarterly academic reviews with each student as well as call each student each time miss class
We call all absent students each day even if they have only missed once. We make sure they're OK and remind them of missed assignments, due dates, etc. Lastly, we encourage them to get back to school to make sure they are reaping the full benefit of their eductation.
The department head steps in and observes to make sure the instructor is engaging, enlightening and continuely educating.
At the end of a module there are potlucks and there are field trips for our students.
I believe rewards are much more motivating then negative critisism. And yet constructive critisism is needed in order to communicate in an honest way.
Our school has instructor evaluations approximetly every 2-3 weeks and we have meetings for our departments as well
Thank you, Oliver.
What are some of the things your "student success mentors" do to help keep students motivated on on track?
We see the student on a daily bases and we have a Student success mentor assigned to the student and then we have additional staff assigned if the student is showing signs of failure. They still fail at times but we have a very high success rate.
Starts with admission rep taking steps to communicate with departments and the potential student. Admissions role doesn't end, even after graduation. The support staff and faculty become involved with all the students and communicate any issues that may need to be monitored.
There are several methods that are used to assure that students are receiving the attention they deserve. It begins with the admissions advisors using prompt follow-up, directing students to appropriate departments for further information, and friendly supportive service. This continues into the classroom environment with frequent contacts, quick turn around for student response, and again either mentoring or directing students to the appropriate departments for additional support. This process is monitored by the section leaders and immediate corrective action is taken if an issue arises.
Phyllis
Thanks, John. This is a good post.
Let students know that you care. Know their names, talk to them when they look happy, talk them when they look sad, let them know you respect them regardless of their performance in class. These levels of attention encourage students to stay enrolled in the program.
Our biggest challenge was our ATB student population. We were dropping those students by the droves.
Like Dr. Joe pace said during the video presentation on the class portal, "Attention = Retention". He mentioned how we need to seek out our students and make sure they aer connected to us, teh staff and faculty.
We started a similar program on our campus. Where we ask students to stop by the office of many staff people everyday for their first few MODs. They are encouraged by these mentors and given prizes if they are consistent in visiting their mentors.
