I became baffled after watching an admissions rep at a school tell a prospective student that they were choosing the wrong program that they wanted to go into based on program numbers not based on what interested the student. I found this practice to be overbearing and the student dropped within 6 weeks based on the fact they were not happy in the program.

I find that it is very important to be consistent from the first day so that the students know what is expected of them.

I don't teach it anymore, but I used to teach the very first class of the nursing program. I would tell them that they were standing in a dark room holding a match. In a few days they would start to understand a few things, but it would be like trying to see the corners of the ceiling by match light. Each class they would get a progressively bigger light, candle-light, flashlight, ect. I told them at no point would they ever be in a room where the light showed everything, because no one can know everything. So, at times when you feel lost and like you are in the dark, maybe what you are trying to learn is just a match light. You just don't have it yet, but you will. And that if you feel like someone else is standing in a room full of light (and understanding) that there are dark rooms to them that you see without difficulty. Try your best. Because no one can know what they haven't been taught. Study. But don't beat yourself up because you SHOULD know it but don't. Look for other ways to see the problem. Look for other ways to seek the answers.

Mistakes are okay and can happen to everyone even instructors, I think emphasizing this point to student will help them stay positive and thus keep them motivated. Since failing and not doing well can cause great negativity in ones self keeping students uplifted and happy regardless of any out come will aid in there success in school.

I think its important to give students independance and confidence with there responsabilities in school so that if they see there class mates doing well then they will want to achieve these same goal in class as well.

It is important to change the dynamics of the classroom in order to keep the students engaged.

What we do here is, every 3 weeks one of our classes takes their students on a tour of the campus. This is the last class before the students branch off into their electives. The class visits all of the electives and the instructor from each class essentially does a presentation on what the class is about. We kind of "sell" the class, but most of the students do not get the full tour when they sign up, or they signed up from out of state and they have no idea what we offer until after they are here. So it seems that we have another role as an instructor here.

Homework should be broadly defined. It is not confined to academic tasks related to classroom work. Homework is also an opportunity for personal reflection on the meaning, significance, or symbolism of a recent experience/event such as college orientation. Orientation "homework" can focus admonishing students to work on a list of benefits they will receive from their graduation, how their daily routine will be amended to foster academic success, how family and friends see you now and how that perception will gradually change as you move toward graduation. Orientation Homework is the school's opportunity to encourage students to "Think Outside the Classroom Box."

Student age, maturity, and SES influences how well they perceive their possibility for academic success.

Intelligent heart really is caring and noticing other people and their feelings, actions and hearts. Paying attention to their reactions to what is happening to them in their lives.

While there is not a "one size fits all" retention strategy, there indeed are a "core set" of tenets that are fundamental for establishing, then customizing a comprehensive institutional strategy.

Instructors cannot be all things to all people. When you have the knowledge and expertise to handle a student concern, then by all means do so. However, when the concern is beyond your ability to help, always leave the student with options (hope), by using the referral process. Maybe you cannot personally resolve a student concern, but there is another resource person or agency that can.

Retention strategy begins upon admission by group orientation that educates students on proper study habits, test preparation skills, editing term papers, fostering a sense of "learning community" consisting of supporting the academic success of your peers and receiving support from your peers.

I taught in middle school in Africa for several years and discovered that when the student were getting squirrely that if we got them up and out of their seat and had them sing a nonsense song they could again concentrate for another hour. I tried this with a university group and it work just as well.

I think it is very easy for instructors to forget our student are customers. We tend to think of them as people who should be wanting to learn, forgetting that they may not know 'how' to learn or how to study. I am frequently surprised at how busy and crowded my students homes are and how little time they have to study; let alone know how to organize sufficiently enough to study well.

I know that I myself respond very well to positive feedback from others, praise or 'good job', but was raised with critism and find myself thinking critically. It is something I have found I need to watch with my students.

How can we continue to motivate students if jobs are not readily available?

I believe the establishing a bond with every student is key to retention. Before the start of each class, I like to share stories about my day at my dental office and would ask if anyone has anything they would like to share. This opens the communication door.

I feel the orientation process is a great way for the student to gain information about the school their about to attend. I also believe the instructors need to be involved with the orientation so that the students can meet the instructors.

I like the idea of having an admission check list. However, I feel the check list is sometimes set aside to fill a seat. When this happens you get students that are really not motivated to be there, cause problems, and often interrupts the learning process of other students. Everyone deserves an education, but where is the line drawn to eliminate what we know will be a problem student. I like the idea a an admission check list, but I like the idea of a motivation check list even better!