Overcoming student related road blocks
Retention is always been a struggle for any school I have worked out. However, last year we implemented a call system that allowed the instructor(s) time to phone each student that missed class. That way the student feels vested with the instructor- versus-a registrar they may not know as well.
Hi Pamela,
This is a great model for instructors to use. You have provided the needed communication formats to keep the students involved and informed. This is so important with adult students as life has a way of interfering with school at times and they don't keep up with the requirements as needed.
Gary
We use the same call system, and it does work to an extent. Some students systematically ignore the calls and messages left if they don't answer. I have set up an assignment at the beginning of each quarter that requires each student to send an e-mail to me using an account I set up strictly for student interaction. I require them to include their cell phone numbers. This helps keep my records updated, as well as giving me an email address I can reach them at. The assignment is good for up to 100 pts. depending on whether or not they include all the information requested.
I also set up a facebook account and add all of the students in my classes each quarter as friends. Times when you don't get feedback from phone or email, you can reach them on facebook. It seems to work quite well.
Last but not least, I give them credit for contacting me when they are going to be out of class for some reason, and in a class that may have an exam exemption, attendance is a requirement for this priviledge.
We have a very similar system on our college campus but we had a two pronged approach. Not only did instructors contact students we had an individual positioned where he would also attempt to contact students that had missed more than 2 days in a row. We had a very low drop rate with this approach. However, this individual was recently let go. We have seen a significant rise in our absences and drop rates. I feel that some students need the extra push to help keep them focused in our fast paced lives.
Hi Christy,
Great to hear your success rate. With all of the adverse publicity that is out there about career colleges stories like this help to illustrate the good about what is going on with the majority of career college.
Gary
Our school referral rate is 64% so that is proof we make an excellent efforts to ensure students are satisfied the3 educational process. We achieved this by development a student’s services department that deal specifically with student obstacles.
Great method that we use too and it has been successful. It is the difference between someone dropping out or staying in the program because they really believe that the instructor cares.
Hi Christy,
Hope this new system works for you. The key as you mentioned is the instructor connection. The call will be much more valuable when their instructor calls because as you say they know the instructor and knows that he/she cares about their success.
Gary
