keeping students engaged when they do not start for a while
Does anyone have any best practices with how to keep students on board to start at your college once they have signed up but do not start for a while?
I believe it begins with the rapport you establish at the beginning of your relationship with the student. My follow up calls will recap on information I know about the student and then introduce a new feature and benefit to keep them engaged. " Hi Johnny, Last time we spoke you were headed to Florida on vacation. How was that? That's great, did you realize that the certifications you earn while in our program will transfer nationally? So if you ever get sick of the snow, you will always have the required skills to move somewhere warm."
Eric, Thanks for posting! Keeping student engaged with an agenda is key. What are some of the agenda items you cover weekly?
Elizabeth Wheeler
A big part of keeping students engaged is to make sure they are active and updated in the process. I also believe that setting up weekly calls with the student that have an agenda as well as a purpose will keep them engaged.
Looking for reasons and providing value for the student to reengage on campus is vital. Financing, career information, mid-way orientations are all great ways to keep the student engaged.
Rene,
Thanks for sharing your great ideas!
Elizabeth Wheeler
Invite your disengaged students to graduation ceremonies, student appreciation events, or other events that might be happening in your school. Email them the school's newsletter and invite them to student activities such as community or charitable events. Once the student sees how much fun the active students are having, they will want to be a part of it and possibly push up their start date.
Marcie,
Thanks for your question. It's a good one! Keeping in regular contact to keep them engaged would be a good start. Can anyone share ideas on how to do this?
Elizabeth Wheeler
