i would say our organization is composed of intelligent hearts. yes.
Jim,
Great post. You summarze what makes a career college great!
Jeffrey Schillinger
At our campus, we stress the importance of greeting students in the hallways. If a student is in the staff area with no one else engaging him, we are encouraged to ask the student if they have been helped; 95% of the time, they have been. Also, it is common for people from other departments to inform academics about problems students are having, and they help us to address those problems.
These examples are not just of heart intelligence, but also community and team work.
In my mind the intelligent heart culture has all employees working toward a common goal. In our case it is educating the student to become the best possible technician they can be. In most cases, I feel we do a very good job. Our reps do a good job bringing in potential students and the process goes on from there. Financial aid does there job in getting them in and making them want to be there and the education department works overtime to keep them there and keep them motivated. All of the deaprtments work as one to guide and help students from start to finish. We even spend a little time in other departments to see what they do which I feel helps this process. When one of the spokes of the wheel bends, it throws the whole thing out of whack. The good thing is everyone can recognize when a problem is occuring and pitches in where they can to get everything upright again. We are a cohesive team that works and plays well together. I believe for the most part the students come out the other side ready to go.
Understanding we are unique individuals with certain strenghts and certain weaknesses and treating out students as such.
Communicating more effectively with our students.
I think the best sum of words to describe our culture here is "every student, every day!" The faculty on my team strive to touch base with each student they instruct on a daily basis. And then, we all communicate to let each other know what is effecting each student in various aspects of their lives. I believe we are a true compilation of "intelligent hearts." "Intelligent hearts" are created by people realizing that each student has something to offer the class as well as the industry of the discipline in which we teach. Once that is realized, educators are capable of instilling confidence in the student while constructively molding them with technical and soft skills. Their has to be a relationship...not a personal relationship, but an understanding that there will be giving and receiving from both the educator and student. When this "relationship concept" is manifested in the participants, there becomes a level of respect and engagement that requires both parties to follow-up and follow-through.
Sheryl,
Thanks for this post. What are some other specific behaviors that indicate an intelligent heart?
Jeffrey Schillinger
I would describe my work place as a great school to help empower our students to do more and do better. Yes, it is made up of "intelligent hearts"!! My perception of a intelligent heart is a person that goes out of there way to help others without expecting anything in return.
Jody,
Your definition of an intelligent heart is a good one.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Everyone at my school work together to help the students. No matter what department you are in. We are a team and we look after every student and try to help the best way that we can.
My perception of an "Intelligent Heart" is that we look after the studnets and care and want each and every student to succeed in school.
Karin,
No school is perfect, but what you describe is the kind of career school we should be publicizing.
Jeffrey Schillinger
We have a strong "Intelliegent Heart" interdepartmental culture and work through multiple avenues to ensure success within our school and corporation for both faculty, staff and students. We have incorporated many ideas, such as committees, student focus groups, student surveys, in addtion to daily reporting of absences, emails, texts, phone calls and face-to-face meetings and tutoring. With an entire building being focused on success it certainly makes it easier and has taken a long time to get to where it is today. Could it be better? Sure, as they say, "It takes a village!"
Jeff,
Whether we like to admit it or not, the "ventors" can really damage an insitution.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Jason,
What is the one thing that sets your faculty members apart from faculty members at other institutions? In other words, what make an "educator of the year?"
Jeffrey Schillinger
My school's culture is made of mostly intelligent hearts. I perceive an intelligent heart to be kind and nurturing. Our staff goes beyond classroom teaching and extend a kind ear, thought or deed to help motivate our students not only in school but in life.
our school fosters student success one student at a time. for the past 2 years in a row, someone from our faculty has won the local culinary educator of the year award.
The "Intelliegent Heart" has been part of our education departments culture for some time. It has only been in the last term or two that they have been stressing that it is the responsibility of all departments to procedure with dealing with our customers this way. It seems to be helping but in tough economic times the return on investment takes some time to show up on the bottom line. We just have to be persistent.
I feel that most of our campus has an intelligent heart but not everyone. When I'm in the break lounge I hear people talking about some of the "rotten Apples" they have to deal with, but most of it is just venting. I know for a fact that the same instructors that vent away from the students, would do anything in their power to incourage, mentor and monitor every student they are around. Even if the student is in another class. I think that this was a good CEE, but I disagree with the Idea that everyone will be positive everyday. Everyone has up's and down's, as long as the "venting" is done in a time and place with no students around I don't feel that it will bring around the end of the company. Yes I agree with the positive and negitive influance we can have on students. I also feel that every time you have an interaction with a student it should be done in a positive manner. Everyone vents! My point is that venting on occation (out of ear shot of the students)can help releave some built up tension.
We have a mixture , some employees just focus on their job and others do fucus on student retention.
The instructors that I work with all have an Intelligent Heart. We have brought into the vision of our department and the organization. We are student oriented and encourage students to be positive.
