A very importent part , we see the student every day. We set the goales & challenges for them . We use feed back from the student to guide there progres
Although retention is the responsibility of all employees at the school instructors spend the most time with the students and are probably best positioned to notice problems early on. Sometimes listening and giving encouragement is enough to get a student through a difficult time.
Other times it may be neccesary to direct a student to the proper department for help or to make your supervisor aware of a problem through an advisement form or directly contacting them.
Instructors are the front line at UTI. We're the people the students see every day, and I do my best to make their experience a positive one. I have to balance rule enforcement, but still make class fun. Above all I have to do my best to teach the subject, because they are paying for an education, and I have to make sure they get it. Students are a good judge of character, They know when you're trying to help them. A smile goe's along way with a class, and I treat every interaction as an important one for retention.
Doug Ramsey
As an instructor we play a major role in retestion. How interact with the student is important. Are we polite to the studnet, do we challange the student to learn to the highest abilities? Are we noticing changes in behavior that indicates their maybe issues at school or outside of school can affect retension. We as instructor can paly a large part in retension. Willand
My role is that of a mentor, role model and open minded person. Each morning starts in as positive of a menner as posible this aids the student in being positive about his decisions. As the days lesson progresses I will relate the lesson to their chosen career and how it can affect them. By presenting the course material as if I enjoy It (which I do most times) It helps the student stay focused.
Its my responseability to engage each student from the begining of the day to the end, by greeting them at the begining of the day and including them in the discussions in the classromm. As they finish labs I will review the labs with them and include benifits of the lab for their carrer choice. While doing this I will observe my students for signs of heath issues, stress, lack of involvement or being disinterested. If I observe any issues I will attempt to engage the student in a privete discussion using leading questions to try and determine if further action is needed. If need be I will refer the student to the education manager or student services as needed.
As instructors, we are mentors, and role models. It starts by being positive, if studentsa see that their instructor feels good about where they work and that the individual student is recognised as a person. Then the student feels better about the institution, and their positve attitude will bring confidance and success. Making students belive in the desicion that they made keeps them interested and focused towards success.
No question that it's tough to do your job when you don't have the right tools, Wade. Is there a process in place to request the equipment you need? Are the students complaining about the lack of equipment?
Sometimes its difficult to stay positive when
you are lacking the equipment to do the job.
Yes, we have a program that provides day by day events and concerns about each student we have. It is a computer program that our Education Director made and it works very well.
It allows us to contact student services and any one else we need to get involved with.It allows great comunication.
Does your institution have an early alert program where instructors submit notice to support staff about concerns they have?
we are the first person they see when they come into the class. if we show that we are concerned about them it starts the day on the right foot. noticing things out of the ordinary and trying to find out the concerns they my have helps keeping them in class.
How do the students respond to your questions about the day's lesson? Do you find some that try to avoid you because they aren't prepared?
Being engaging in the hallways being positive and asking students how there day is going before I even get to my classroom,. I like to talk to the students about what is going to be discussed in today lesson and how that will effect their income when they graduate from UTI. There is so much that can be accomplished with just a smile.
B Iverson
Well stated, Jason, but easier said than done. It is so easy for an instructor [or anyone else] to ignore the 'overheard comment', particularly if the topic is difficult or complex.
How does your institution encourage staff and faculty to be responsive to students? Is there any consequence if someone ignores an issue?
Instructors play a critical part in student retention at the campus level. We are often the students first level of contact with school officials, and we are often the ones that the students fell the most comfortable with. Students feel a connection with their instructors, we are where the students ultimately want to be, we are their role models, so they feel the most connected with the instructors. Many times a student will complain to, or in front of an instructor, sometimes hoping to be heard by the instructor, so that they can have their issues addressed. For some they are looking for guidance, others are looking for understanding, and still others are just looking to complain and to be heard. Because it is often an informal setting, the students are quicker to come to us. We can often head off problems, before they become out of control. This will help the entire campus, not just the education department. We cannot pass the buck. If we all do our part, then we should keep most of our students, and retention becomes less of an issue. We cannot lower our standards, we must address the real issues and help to solve them for everyones benefit.
