Encourage your students and take the time to truly listen to their needs and expectations.

I think as an instructor we have the ability to steer student commitment to a great extent. Relating the course material to the end result which is to become proficient in a task out in the field is major. In addition I believe we have the responsibility of working with students to show them that they can achieve this goal, and prove to them that they have the ability to do so.

pre requisites are needed for certain classes, students are sometimes scheduled into classes that they are not prepared for, they become frustrated and lose confidence ,resulting in quitting

The importance of retention,can be described as Job Security....

With the current economic conditions and competition between different schools trying to attract students, does anybody see for profit schools in general lowering their standards to to improve their retention?

If I have a student who is not sure of there job prospects thay tend to add classes to stay in school longer.

I try to show all students that at the moment they are having troubles or doubts, that this is only because they are new at what they are attempting. I try to explain that I have done this, "once or twice", and that they are just getting started. But I try to finish with a comment on experiance and its out come. I usually follow up with Thomas Edison and the light bulb.(If the student knows who he is)Edison found over 1000 ways not to make a light bulb before he and his team got it right. You got to keep trying if you believe.

When it comes to retention I feel it starts by being up-front and honest with the student/students. Most Post- secondary students are tired of being promised the world and getting a slice of pizza and a small glass of soda. Some of their first encounters were “Career Counselors “or “Sales Reps.” who earned a commission for getting a warm body to “sign on the dotted line”. They were promised untold riches and opportunities to earn Rock Star status in the word as we know it. Then, when they attend their first few classes they see that it might not be all that true, this makes the future Instructors job a lot more difficult because of the nasty flavor it left in the student’s mouth. I try to be clear on the course lessons and objectives. I also always keep in mind that these students are much more than just numbers, they are thinking, breathing, feeling Human Beings that have legitimate lives and experiences. Some students just quit because that’s what they know. If an instructor can display a little honest concern and compassion, with out getting overly involved in their personal life, it just might save the student from caving in.

It is my belief that stress can never be eliminated. However, I have found that introducing humor into most situations will help to keep it at a manageable level. You never want to make light of a student's problem, but presenting a humorous story of your own may divert their focus from the stressor and allow them to refocus on their lessons. Thus keeping their stressor in the background instead of in the foreground.

Listen to student concerns and be empathetic to their needs. Chef Mark Clink

What if getting involved leads the student in a negative direction? What can happen to the instructor?

Most students will respond positively if you treat them with non threatening respect. In otherwords, don't constantly harp on them when they are wrong, don't embarass them when they do the wrong thing. If they find the class enjoyable, they will try to see it through to the end.

Vocational training happens so fast for the student and as instructors we need to give positive influince to our students by giveing them a sense of accomplishment every day,and the feeling of success in every project they perform.

Recognizing a students problem,and intervening before it's to late to evaluate their problem will go a long way with keeping them in school..

Encourage them to succeed even if they don't think they can. Let student know they can do it.

In the industry, all departments must be on the same page. If you aren't working together as one entitty, the smooth flow of information, morale and just doing business will suffer. Once people start becoming unhappy, it is very dificult to turn them and things around.

If retention starts in the classroom, school administrators (managers) can't forget to focus some support, respect and appreciation to the teachers as well as the students. I beleive that an environment of encouragement an a appreciation for the faculty also needs to be considered and implimented.

Orientation is an area that could help in this regard. Student comes in for orientation and is told or (sold) on something that once he is in school he finds it's not exactly as he had envision. Now he starts to get depress to the point of loosing interest in the school that he thought was going to prepare him for his future.

Sometimes it is hard for instructors to relize not everyone we deal with is a intelligent individual. Though they do have dreams and aspirations of becoming something in this profession whether we feel they can or cannot we must follow through with the business end to ensure they get the mentoring and training they paid for and we still have a job doing what we love.

Retention is a problem that is everybody's responsibility,from facility maintenance to the school director....