Hi Kevin,
The instructor must do their due diligence to keep the students interested and excited so that they want to come back the next day. The instructor has to sell the student on returning each day.
Patricia Scales
After reviewing a number of prior entries to this question I'd have to agree that instructors play a critical role when it comes to generating the passion required to keep a student enrolled in a program. In my first year of university I had three horrible professors and two I thought were fantastic. The instructors that kept and retained my interest sparked my passion for English and Philosophy. I'd planned on being a psychologist when I entered University)but the course took place in a study hall filled with 800 people where we watched "psychology" unfold over television monitors. The instructor wasn't even there. :) My desire to pursue this discipline was over but six weeks into the term.
Hi Robb,
Retention is the job of all. We all must do our due diligence to retain students. Instructors interact with students on a daily basis; we have to work retention daily.
Patricia Scales
Hi Cynthia,
Instructors are very vital when it comes to retention. The brunt of retention truly falls on the instructor. The instructor sees the students more than anyone else in the building.
Patricia Scales
I would think that the instructors have the most important role in keeping students in school. After that, the financial aid office who makes sure the student has all options available to them would be paramount.
Actually, every member of the institution is potentially a key player in the retention of students. Anytime a school representative (instructor, administration, advising, career services, financial aid or other support services) interacts with a student they have to potential to either positively or negatively affect the students perception and attitude towards their school and education. All it takes is one bad interaction to potentially cause a student to give up, fail or withdraw.
Of course, those that are closest to the student (instructor and the adviser), can have the most impact on student retention. It is their responsibility to be aware of both student success and failures; issues that can effect their rate of progression.
Hi James,
Well said! It sounds like you are a retention coordinator. You definitely understand retention. It takes the work of everyone with the student being the most important in the equation.
Patricia Scales
Everyone in the instructional institution is a key player in keeping students enrolled, from the instructors, who have the most interaction and influence on the learners, to the support staff in financial aid, student services, employment services, accounting, and student housing. At our campus we also have the leadership team consisting of the education managers, the education director and the campus president. As the saying goes, "It takes a village to raise a child." Everyone working together as a team is critical to helping keep the student in school so that they can complete their education and become a successful citizen, but perhaps the most important person of all in this equation is the student. If he or she does not have the desire and the will to complete their education and move on to a better life, then no power on earth can keep them enrolled.
Hi Tom,
Great system in place to help work retention. Retention is really the job of all personnel. Some personnel roles are more invovled than others, but it really takes the effort of all to effectively work retention.
Patricia Scales
Certainly the instructor plays a key part. Depending on the institution, there are others who can also play a role. We have a Success Adviser to work with students. Our admissions reps build a close relationship with students from the beginning, so they also fit into the puzzle. A program usually has a director, and our directors know all students in their program. We also have a mentor program at our institution. In our case, there are many players who play a key role in helping retain the student throughout their program.
Hi Valerie,
I concur! When students are engaged and they understand the benefit of the course they will continue to come back!
Patricia Scales
I agree. The instructor is the person that is teaching the student and it is important to use all different teaching techniques to keep students interested. Enjoying learning will always keep student retention.
Hi Mary Lou,
I can tell you want to retain your students so that they can graduate. You have want it takes to be successful with retention.
Patricia Scales
Hi Mary Lou,
Real simple. Let them know how much you care and share your knowledge so that they can be successful. Also, let them know that anything worth having will not be easy. It is natural to have some lumps and bumps along the way.
Patricia Scales
caring and sharing --telling them our stories--success and failures
There should be 3 major conncections in the first few weeks as provisional studetns...we need to make sure they have a mentor in their faculty advisor, admissions, and a friend in their major...academic faculty are key...we need to instill education is fun...use TPI philisophy everyday...aslo the FISH Philosophy---be PRESENT--helping others is what our mission is all about!
Hi Kerry,
I concur! Retention is the job of ALL personnel.
Patricia Scales
This is not a simple question to answer, there are alot of people involved in this.
The student experince has to be a good one from start to finish this includes addmissions, F.A., student services ect. ect. and also the class room of course, everyone in this process is a key player
Hi Keith,
It is certainly the instructor's job to engage the student. Students want excitement in the classroom.
Patricia Scales
The instructor and the student the instructor has to keep the student interested and the student needs to do his/her part to make the class a success.
