Retention
I know the importance of this topic, but I have always stuggled with it.
We teach adults, yet have to have them sign-in each hour to prove they were in class. We have to follow the course discription and requirements of the college, but we as instructors are pentalized for students not completing our courses.
I don't mind being pentalized for things I can control, but when a student gets put in jail or just quits coming to class; I can only do so much to get that student back in the classroom. Prep classes are the worse or if students are placed in courses that they are not ready for.
How do you improve retention when you are faced with so many variables?
Hi Jeremy,
Good point. This is why I would be talking with college administrators about attendance patterns, polices and supports so they know you are doing your job as an instructor. When excessive absences occur they will know have worked at contacting the students and attempted to help them work through their family issues and get back into school. There are some things that an instructor just cannot overcome no matter how hard he/she tries.
Gary
Also, what is the statics or percentage that we as instructors have on retention? I can make learning "fun" but I cant make a student come to class if that have family issues or if they have a problem with student services. But I am the one who has to sign a paper as to why I have low retention.
It is so important that the student understands what will lead to retention. If this is outlined before the start of class I feel it is less likely the will be retained
Hi Jeff,
Good question and one that a majority of instructors ask themselves each time they teach a class. The key is to sort out the difference between enabling and supporting. You are babysitting when you enable students and you are supporting students when you help them achieve their career goals. I have had students that due to horrific home situations needed to be called and reminded to be in class on time. This was a support that they needed. So you have to treat each situation individually to make sure you are letting the students be adults while supporting their efforts. Other times I have let the students fail because they made the choice that they were not going to put forth the effort to be successful. As sad as that made me, it was their choice so I let them continue down the failure path.
Gary
I too have struggled with this as it seems that part of the education experience is learning to be responsible for your actions and choices. This lesson said don't babysit your students, but isn't asking why they were not in class, why they do not have their homework, and many other myriad of questions babysitting? Where is the line between being caring and babysitting drawn?
Hi William,
You make a good point about the students that are currently enrolling. The challenges seem to be greater in helping them stay in school and be successful. There is a feeling of entitlement among many of the students and this attitude has to be changed. As you started your comments "You are at a career college." They need to assume responsibility for their own futures and in doing so know we will be there to help and support their efforts.
Gary
You are at a "career college". Our faculty struggle daily with this topic. I always feel like an adjunct social worker at the end of the week. I think we have to be ever so creative in marshalling any available student resources to try to help with or resolve, if possible, those external issues that negatively impact the learning process in the classroom.
We have to work on this every day. It will never end. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it seems that the economy and the general quality of incoming students both have declined of late.
Hi Joanna,
Good question for which I don't have a good answer. This is one of the major challenges we educators face. We can do only what we can do. Keep up the work that you are doing and the support you are providing because for some students you are making a difference in their lives.
I would suggest you keep a log and document your support efforts and share these efforts with your school administrators. They need to know you are trying to help students be successful but that you can't teach the students if they are in jail or not there. It may not solve the situation nor relieve the pressure on you but through documentation you can show you have put forth a professional effort to help student be successful.
Gary
