Prof. Kroh,
That is an excellent question, I have found that most expectations are realistic when they are verbalized. And we haven't revisited what the students expectations are throughout their program to determine if they have changed.
We have students complete a survey following each module and use this to gauge many things but not their expectations. By not knowing if they change how do we know we are still meeting that expectation?
Jan
Surveys are done after each module is completed to evaluate the course material, instructor's knowledge of the material, delivery methods used, and several other parameters.
We take special care training recruiting staff and on advertisement material to make sure students get the right information about our institution. It all starts before student even begins to take classes.
Yes, we have a few support services that we offer students. One in particular allows students to better communicate with faculty and staff; and for staff to better communicate with students. It also allow us to track students at risk students to increase early intervention.
Karitsa, is there any particular service that was most effective in improving retention? It's good to hear that you are tracking performance so closely.
Because we have improved the services we provide we have seen an increase in retention. Our problem area is students who attend in their first sememster. These students are more prone to dropping out so we have monitored that over the last few years and have seen a increase in retention. We plan to look at other areas where students may loose focus dring thier program and figure out wasy to increase retention. We track effectiveness through the use of what we call retention software.
You have described a very thoughtful and thorough process, Karitsa. Of course, the proof is in the results. Are you pleased with your student success rates and utilization of the services that you provide? Do you track effectiveness?
That seems like a surveying, William. Do the students take the process seriously? Has the institution gotten actionable information from this process?
There seems to be a lot of emphasis on student expectations, Jan. Have you found that they usually have realistic expectations? Do you revisit them at any other points throughout the program to see have they've changed?
Interesting, Susan. How does that work? Who is "they"?
We provide ongoing training to faculty and staff that cover topics dealing with student success and advising. Student are assigned adviors/student success coordinators who communicate with the student throught thier time here. This communication can be done on a daily/weekly/monthly basis depending on the need of the student. This allows the student to create an ongoing relationship with thier advisor and a person to "go to" if they have questions about topics relations to school, work, and home life. We also make resources available to the student, which may include tutoring, career serivices, financial serivces, couseling on or off campus. At the end of each term, students take surveys and critiques so that thier voice can be heard. Once the results are in, the surveys are read and suggestions from the students are implemented in the favor of the student. Is there anyone who has a similar process, like my institution or can someone suggest other ways that I can meet the needs of students at my institution?
We have two surveys each term. The first survey generates feedback about the facilities and equipment available to the students. The second survey is a chance for the students to grade and comment on each of their instructors.
At enrollment the student provide an essay which should provide information about the students expectations of the program they are enrolled - What they want and why they chose our institution. This is to be reviewed by admissions to confirm that the student does not have unrealistic expectations. The student is oriented by our student services team at which time the students expectations are discussed again. At the end of each module are students are surveyed for course content, student services interaction, instructor performance satisfaction. These surveys are reviewed by administration and education.
we hold weekly orientation classes for all incoming students that help them prepare
At the end of every term the students are asked to complete a survey. And quarterly they are asked to complete a student satisfaction survey.
Hire the best instructors and require maxknowledge training.
To work thru problems and find solutions.
They find strengths and weaknesses and build up students and work on weaknesses.
Campus management meets regularly with both the academic staff and the administrative (recruiting) staff to assure we are all on the same page. We teachers are encouraged to provide feedback and concerns from the students via a commonly used tool (CampusVue). There are quarterly staff meetings in which all personnel attend.
