Great program! Who plans it? Are the students involved in that process? Sounds like it could be a good "senior" project.
Is there a way that you can learn from the experiences of others who have more fully developed programs? Can you visit other campuses to view firsthand how their retention program works?
Sounds like a good program that builds connections with students in a proactive way. How many students does a student success manager work with? Do they follow them from enrollment to graduation?
Our instructors call students each time they are not in class to express their concern. This lets students know that we really do care that they are there and have noticed when they are not!
We also have a variety of clubs, master workshops, volunteer opportunities, and and excellent staff in our student services and student success departments.
We have a student honor society. Quite honestly I am not sure what other types of programs are in place that demonstrate the school commitment. I would like to hear recommendations on what types of programs could be implemented.
What are some of the most effective practices, Albert?
You are so fortunate. We are starting something similar here to prevent retention problems that are beginning to manifest.
We closely manage each students education throughout their time at school. Initially this began with our finance dept (long story), but students who were being managed and mentored from start to finish had far great retention so we applied it to all our students.
Instead of advisors, we call our student services people 'student success managers', and they monitor student attendance and success throughout the program. They actively approach all students at least once per term to discuss how they are doing and how we can help. It looks like a traditional adivsing service, but is far more proactive. We never have students see us, we see them.
This personal attention makes a big difference with overall satisfaction.
We have the "blinker" system that requires faculty to identify students with challenges to their success manager, student services, and faculty advisor. By do doing, a multi-team approach to early intervention attempts to prevent attrition. I am not sure how this is working as yet, beign that it is a new program.
- Dr. Heckman
Our school continues to provide our students support and guidance throughout the educational experience.
we have several: First is a system we call "blinker" (when a student gets side tracked and has to make a turn on their academic road) wherein the instructors identify potential at-risk students. After this there are several departments at work...finicial aid...student services...and the dean(s) of students all communicating ideas/resources to assist students.
The begining of each term we have a student success event weher we bring all the students together and acknowledge our students. The event is hosted by senior students and includes music and a toast (non-alcoholic). Students are recognized for perfect attendance. Also, student from each class is recognized for being a role model to other students. The students themselves vote for the person to be recognized. The student then has to give a speach to the incoming students and parce out a little advice on how to succeed.
The one practice that although may not be unique to our school but I have yet to be seen at other academic institutions is the level of intervention when a student is absent from class.
On a the first day a student is out of class, usually when they are late, I will make a call to the student or have one of the cohort make a call. By doing so we let the student know that they are missed. Many times the student is shocked that we even noticed. Over a length of absenses the intervention increases; calls to emergency contact numbers, letters, emails.
This simple gesture, many times can be the linch pin to keeping a student in school. Showing that you care and that they are missed is a huge motivator for a student. Our students have complicated lives, some with a number of barriers that they must surmont to stay in school. Just having the feeling that we are there for them can make the difference between withdrawal or completion the program.
Who prepares the Blinker and how do they get the data? Does the report also include actions taken and the result?
Our school has recently implemented what is called "the Blinker". It is a daily report on students that are excessively absent or late, have issues with financial aid, or are having issues with housing. It lets the appropriate people (Dean of students, compliance, etc.) know which students might be in danger of dropping.
Have you studied the experience of other schools that have student councils? Do you settled on a framework and by-laws? How will representatives be chosen?
One practice we utilize to demonstrate commitment to our students is our advising program. Each faculty member works with "their" students to guide and advise them on a number of student issues.
We are in the process of implementing a student council which will hopefully give the students a bit more say in a variety of administrative decisions. We are a school is 6 years old and we hope by having a council that with assorted planned activities and a solid "sounding board," this will lead to better retention. Retention is the mantra for our school for 2010!
Nice touch, Isaac. How often do you do this? Do you connect with a student more than once per academic period? If you get their voice mail, do you try again at another time or simply leave a message?
We continue to offer free tutoring to all students and make extra available during finals
