What are the logistics of the meeting between student services, instructors and students? Do the student services people come into the classroom? How long do these sessions last? What are some typical outcomes?
Normally student services and the instructors meet with the students weekly to ensure that their expectations are being met. We also monitor the students and assits those with whatever barriers they may have. The instructors and student services work hand in hand with monitoring the students progress in the class room and to ensure they are ready to move on to the next phase of the course.
Student expectations are part of our approach and training for various areas of staff. In particular, we work on having one admission advisor for a student. That admission advisor handles all aspects of the student's entry, including financial arrangements throughout the student's stay at the college. This has been pretty powerful way of establishing rapport with students and answering their needs promptly and effectively. Our student fill out a customer satisfaction survey each semester for every course they take. Our semesters are 5 weeks long. They also fill out a program satisfaction survey. These results are then made available to the facilitators and to the college as a whole for study and action. We take the answer that students give us and their suggestions very seriously.
with myself I try and ask each student during the course how they feel about the course and if they are understanding the information given , I also ask them if ther is anything I can do to help with the learning prosses.
Do the students use the suggestion box very often? What sort of suggestions do they make? How do handle responding? Do you publish the suggestion and action for everyone to learn the outcome?
If students see that the system works, they are more likely to take it seriously and will appreciate your responsiveness.
We have an active student services division as well as intervention from the admissions dept. The instructors stay tuned in and engage whenever necessary. We also utilize a suggestion box system with the availability of cards in the classroom. Team effort and communication are in use consistantly to make sure that expectations are being met.
At the completion of each three week course, students are asked to fill out a scantron sheet rating the course, instructor and the services provided for them. There is also an area where they can write comments or concerns. When completed the results of the surveys are entered into a database and are followed up on if the student includes their name or student number in the comment section. The results are shared with the instructors so they can use the information howevfer they see fit.
Our students complete a survey at the end of each course. we also ask for comments and suggestions on how we can improve our courses. Our administrators monitor gradebooks and intervene in cases where students are in danger of failing academically or for attendance reasons.
How often do students indicate a concern that requires follow up? What types of issues are typically identified? Who makes the contact?
End course evaluations are givein every tree weeks and all departments are evaluated. These evaluations are then followed up to help resolve any unsatisfactions the students may have.
We not only on a daily basis discuss with our students how their experience is during our course, but at the end of the course we have a evaluation they fill out and then there is follow up on their responses. If there are any concerns that the student may have, they are contacted and the concern is discussed, and hopefully resolved.
Have you made any changes in your course or presentation based on this feedback?
We have intervention programs and work one on one with students. We also have student evaluations where students can express their concerns or speak highly of Instructors and staff.
How candid are your students, Jon? Do you find the quality of their responses falling off in the more advanced phases?
It's encouraging to read your positive assessment of the survey tool and that your students actually provide written comments. Many don't. What is your school doing to encourage this kind of response?
We utilize our student end of phase surveys as a guide on how well we are meeting the students expectations. this gives us good information to help us with retention, kwoning what the students like and dislike.
We use an instructor evaluation that the student fills out after each course, they are also given space to wright there own comments and concerns about the course content, as well as how well the instructor met there expectations. This tool has proved very effective, it not only allows constructive criticism but also can be very rewarding and encouraging for an instructor when the students give positive feed back.
Our Student Coordinator and Assistant Director
will call into their offices to discuss attendance; grades etc, at mid term. This is not
only for new students but for the whole student
body. The Assistant Director works with students who are consistently absent and maintains contact with them throughout the 6 week
term to assure they are attending classes and discuss with them any issues they feel they need
help with. We have a referral process and
contact numbers in the community to help our
students with child care, jobs, etc. All new
students are enrolled in our Professional Development Class to insure bonding, unity,
friendships and success during the first crucial
semester.
The Academic Dean and the Director administer the
questionnaire.
The results are entered in the computer by the Academic Dean and a
print out of the totals shows the areas where
improvement is needed.
Here are some of the questions: The staff at
IBC was helpful in my enrollment; the receptionist greeted me with a smile and promptly
found someone to assist me; The tour of the facility was helpful in my decision to enroll at
IBC; I received a copy of the syllabi in each
of my classes; The Financial Aid Administrator
was helpful and informative;
Admissions and the Director of the School are
responsible for follow-up. Comments directed to
a specific department will address those issues
as need be.
What's included in the first week student questionnaire, Salma? Who administers it and who is responsible for any indicated follow up?
