Student Retention Issues - outside the classroom
From my experience I have found that most student attrition comes from issues outside the classroom and the College. These issues can run the gambit from birth to death, marriage to divorce, and everything in between.
Lillie,
This is a very good point that needs to be considered. Often it falls to the instructor to do the career counseling as in the student may have made a wrong or poor choice in terms of career selection. Helping them see explore other options even if it means they go to another program or school is better than having them just suffer through the coursework without the benefit of see their career goals being achieved.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I feel as well that good career counseling is needed in the post-secondary institution. so many times we feel because they are adults they know what they want to do with their lives. They come to the admissions dept. and many times the students do not receive the guidance needed in selecting a course, once enrolled the teacher feels they should not discourage the student and the student remains in a course that is not where they need to be.
Hi Gregory,
I agree about the need for better assessments to assist in placing students. It is sad to see students come into classes where they lack the skills needed to be successful or where they have no understanding of the career requirements. Either way the end is not going to be good for them. A waste of time, money and effort by everyone. Through good career counseling then viable options for career selection could help these students get the education they need to be successful in a career of their choice.
Gary
Many students leave for financial reasons or because they are not mature enough to actually take care of themselves away from home for longer periods of time.Others just don't have the ability to do the required courses. A better entrance exam or screening process would seem to help retention because some students that are let in really have no chance of completing the program.
Hi Harry,
This is a problem throughout colleges. Those colleges that focus on more in-depth knowledge of their students have a higher retention rate. Also, those colleges that do an assessment of multiple intelligences and learning preferences have higher retention rates as well.
Gary
I agree with this observation. 70%+ of our students leave school due to financial reasons. They respond they like the program, think the instructors are great and like the school in general.
What is frustrating is that enrollment procedures really stress quantity in the short term rather than getting an in depth knoledge of an new student to make sure the individual has the where-with-all to complete the prgram, not just start it.
Hi Jan,
Good point about it being better for some students to leave and then come back. They need the time to rethink and regroup just where they are at in their career development. When they come back they are ready to focus on being good students and being successful.
Gary
Hello,
Student Retention is our main goal! There are many things we do to help retention and keep students in class. First we listen to what is underlying the students request to leave school and then offer other assistance, for example: schedule changes, leave of absence, tutoring to be successful in class, links to and information about transportation, social services, medical, and day care issues.
Then there are the students who walk in with an airline ticket and say I am leaving today; those who have never been away from home and are seriously homesick; and students who moved to this state to go to school but came unprepared for the cost, big city life, and the academic rigor required. For some students it is better they leave and come back later when their life is in order.
Those we KNOW are thinking about quitting school we give 110% in retaining them and are often successful.
Hi Meggan,
You are right it does in the final assessment depend on the motivation of the student. You can be supportive of their situations and help them in anyway you can but it is up to them to acquire the knowledge and skills required of their field.
Gary
I'm amazed at how many different situations I see arise every quarter. Several births, several hospitalizations, deaths, etc. I think last quarter was my worst. I try and work with the students on getting caught up, but it depends on their motivation to succeed in the course ultimately.
Hi Amy,
My experience as well which means that we instructors need to be as supportive as possible as the students work through the situations and if the students still leave school they know that they have a supportive instructor waiting should they come back.
Gary
