I would be courious to know waht college learning ideas you have to help with retention
We have a very comprehensive Orientation program now, however I like the idea of a 15 minute Orientation session for each class.
I like your point that we should not take for granted. Consider focusing early on, though. Typically, you will lose students in the first two terms... maybe third term. Infant care works early on.
Dr. B
We gather information during their start with some questionaires asking about housing needs, employment needs, transportation needs, etc. We also communiacte well with each department trying to note red flag items. Our instructor staff is also very adept at recognizing "at risk" student behaviors. Communication is the key though.......and it should start with admissions, on to orientation, to their first class and beyond. We should never fail to realize that even a student that has been enrolled a long time can still become "at risk".
Excellent... A mentoring program is perhaps the best of all. How do you learn about students who are at risk? Is the loop closed?
Dr. B
We have an oriantation the week before the students start date and another the first week they have started school. They go over all the departments we have on board and they go over all our SOP's. We also have a mentoring program witch consist of other fellow students who have been here a while and can help the new students with all the changes they are going through.
I think that currently we could improve the student interaction at our orientations. We have increased the amount of program specific information that studnet are getting, understaning that the better the understand what the program involves the more likely they are to succeed and complete the program, but this leaves little time for the students to interact with one another and I think that this is critical. Students connecting with other students helps them to feel connected and to develop a support system of other students who are having similar experiences.
Currently, we have a new position that instructors will rotate through. The position allows an instructor to be removed from the classroom for a period of time and is allowed to focus on student success. This process begins during the orientation process. It s appears to be working well.
Admissions regularly brings prospective student on campus tours and we always take time to answer questions and explain exactly what the students are doing
So, classify your orientation... admin, employment, student success, rules and regs? Think about my question... too many are admin in nature... not really geared to student and employment success.
L
I do a orientaion the first day of class and try to review it as often as I can.
Good... Always link to the profession. In this profession you need to practice your craft. Practice dressing, etc... Does this make sense?
Dr. Banks
we are adding to our orientation a why book. with uniform policies, attendance policies, we feel the students need to know why. also during orientation we are very honest about the industry that they are about to enter. we review our orientation with the directors to see what we can add or take away. it is a ongoing process.
I think from an on-ground campus perspective it is great to introduce staff and faculty as well as having time for Q&A at the conclusion of each segment of orientation.
I agree that the more comfortable the student is from the beginning, the better chances of retention.
One thing that was a problem when I was at an on-ground campus was that new students would sometimes bring their small children. The children didn't have the patience to sit for two hours. They would sometimes become fussy and ill mannered. This impacted others in the room and altered their learning opportunities. I always felt like that was a time that new students should utilize child care. They would get more from the orientation as well as everyone else present.
The campus I came from had a very good orientation but I can see that there is room for improvement. We never had formalized mentors but that is a great tool. I see lasting friendships forming from mentors.
Online students are required to have an orientation to the technology. Sometimes, we forget to include an orientation as to how to be a successful student in an online environment. Do what you can to ensure engagement in a prompt, friendly and accurate way. Students want to know that someone is there to help them.
Dr. B
The online division of our college has students go through a mini course as part of their orientation. The mini course served as a sandbox that they could explore the various aspects of the online experience. Form my understanding, the orientation process is being revamped to add additional features to make it more comprehensive and fulfilling for the students.
Excellent... students sharing experiences is wonderful. Don't forget to reinforce career goals, too. Remember, students are studying to get "the" job.
Dr. B
Our school has a proactive approach to orientation that covers a great deal of information that students need. Orientation occurs the week prior to the start. Not only do we provide day to day information, but we have current students speak to share what their experience has been like. Students have a chance to meet with their program chairs at this time to learn specifics of their program as well. The program has been successful and well received. Recently we've started talking about expanding and formalizing this into the first week of classes as well to confirm information. Launching successfully and reaffirming student goals during the first week of class is a definite retention endeavor.
