retention and student accoutability
What are your experiences with attempting to incrrease student accoutability to positively effect retention?
Antoinette, nicely stated. This type of support will make your institution a better place.
Loren Kroh
I am starting to communicate more with students. I am starting to call students after one absence to make sure everything is alright and to make sure they are coming back for their next class. I have learned that students have lives out side of school. I know many of them battle family, financial and medical issues. I have opened my door more for them to talk to me and to see if I can get to the root of their problem. I have been very successful with this and it shows students that we do care about them and we will work with them through any circumstances as much as we can. We want them to know that their education and their success is important to us.
Antoinette Scalese
Student Services
Beth , any thoughts on how to get their buy-in? What do you do when you encounter a student who doesn't understand their responsibility?
Loren Kroh
What a great starting place for students. Being aware that they have a part in their final success, from the very first would hopefully keep them focus on the end goal. Some student do seem to feel that others are responsible for the end result, getting them to realize their equal role in the beginning could help to keep them on track.
I agree with Ed that the students are in charge of their destiny and retention.
Edward, what do you mean by making the students accountable for their own retention? This implies that at some time in the past they weren't accountable for their actions and decisions.
Loren Kroh
Linda,
That is a great question to ask pre-admissions! I was a part of admissions (and am now a part of education). I never thought to ask them that question. I feel asking them questions like that would hold them more accountable for their education. I can even remind them, "remember when you signed up you stated..." I normally have them write down why they chose this field and their expectations. I will pull the paper out and bring them back to why they came here in the first place to get them back on track. Thanks for sharing.
Jackie Morales
In recent months, making the students accountable for their own retention really has helped to increase the amount of time they actaully attend class
Linda, great questions. What are the most frequently given responses? Do the prospective students recognize their role in their success?
Loren Kroh
One of the questions I ask potential students in pre-admission interviews is, "What do you think are your responsibilities for your own education?"
and What are the instructors responsibilities?"
I am continually surprised by the answers,whether positive or negative.
Michael, I sold my school some time ago to develop online resources [Campus ToolKit] that help students gain self awareness, including identifying shortcomings. The intent is to help them develop a plan to take responsibility for their success. Know thyself is a power foundation for personal growth.
Loren Kroh
