Hi Daniel,
It takes a lot of time, energy, and patience to work retention. These are characteristics of parenting as well. Retention is extremely challenging.
Patricia Scales
Hi Edward,
Nicely stated! The bulk of retention really does fall upon the instructor. It is always better when the back-up team helps with retention as well. It takes a village to work retention.
Patricia Scales
The key players are the instructor who spends the most time with the students and has the greatest opportunity to make a lasting impact on the student.
Also, the school must have a good back-up team in place to provide the help necessary to support the instructor with the required information and services.
I think the instructor is the front line in student retention. I find that Retaining students can be very challenging. It is difficult to advise the student of his or her failings without acting like a parent. I like to portray an experienced professional that can provide knowledgeable advice. I also try to avoid personal or family issues that can Couse an uncomfortable situation.
Hi Maple,
Students need to know that we as educators genuinely care about them. Students need our nuturing as well as our leadership.
Patricia Scales
The instructor is the key player in keeping students in the program. If the instructor makes the class interesting, fun, challenging and students can see the value of their education, more than likely they will remain in school. Instructors must also demonstrate a caring attitude, understanding and keep their students motivated. Student retention is not only the responsibility of the instructor but everyone who works with the student.
Hi John,
You are right! Someone has to be able to reach the student. We all play a role in retention.
Patricia Scales
Hi Victor,
Everyone plays a role in retention. Some students will open up more to their advisor than they will to their instructors. As long as someone can reach the student, we can possibly save the student.
Patricia Scales
I agree instructors spend more time with students than anyone else, lets not discount the role other services play in the students success. Financial Aid may equally important in retaining a student as the instructor realizing a student needs help understanding a concept. Advisors play a big role in student success(and thus retention). I've has instances where a student was more comfortable discussing an issue with their advisor who then met with me and helped develop a repore with the student. Between us we were able to solve the issue and the student was able to succede.
I believe all personnel are key players.the reason is that every personal interaction the student has with the institution can affect their mind set at any given point and time. This interaction could be the deal breaker between staying and leaving.
Hi Adam,
The bulk of retention really does fall on the instructor because we deal with students more often than anyone else in the building. We have to sell our students on coming back the next day.
Patricia Scales
Hi Jennifer,
You have it when it comes to retention. It is everyone's responsibility to help with retention, and communication is key!
Patricia Scales
Certainly the entire team plays a part in student retention, including advisors, instructors, program chairs, financial aid and the tech department. I think the key is for everyone to communicate when a problem arises. For example, if Sally has a problem with an assignment, technology and financial aid, we may not all know about it, but her frustrations are mounting and thus this could lead to her dropping out. For this reason, it is important to constantly communicate with one another about student issues.
Everyone is at the school. The instructors probaly the most because we deal with them daily. We have to make sure they are getting what they need to succed in their chosen field & that they to understand why they need to know these things to succeeed in their carreers.
Hi Nichoe,
I concur! All should be involved with retention. It takes the effort of everyone.
Patricia Scales
Hi Greg,
Our students really need us as role models. We should be the professional that we want our students to become.
Patricia Scales
Instructors are maybe the most important role models for keeping students on track, asking what their goals are after finishing ,giving them some insight to personal expereinces lets them know you are relating to them on a personal level which goes a long way somtimes .
The old saying that it takes a village to raise a child may be transferable to retention by the following statement: It takes a team to retain a student.
Part of that team is the advisor, instructor, department chair, student services and the student themselves. I also believe that retention begins at enrollment with ensuring that students enrolled have the best possible chance to succeed.
Hi Richard,
It takes an entire educational institution to help with retention!
Patricia Scales
Hi Evangeline,
Everyone at the school should be involved with retaining the student. All departments are important. Instructors play the biggest role in managing retention. The outside source, such as the family can certainly help encourage/support their student.
Patricia Scales
