We are starting a new program to contact students that are not in class the first day of a class, we also ask students at the start of a class to give us a number or email address they can be reached at so if they are late or not in class a staff member will contact them. This has helped in keeping students in attendance and demonstrates our commitment to their success.
We have a set of courses that non-students can take, each class is 3 hours on the weekends. The students at the school have the opportunity to volunteer to help with the courses and participate with the set up, break down and even help with suggestions to those taking the courses.
We also have an advisor program that is set up to help get students involved in extracurricular activities both career and non career related activities. Advisors also help guide their students with their academics and for their externships, keeping their futures in mind as a form of motivation.
We have a student/advisor system in place at our school. At the beginning of each students' time at school, they are assigned a specific instructor to be their advisor. That instructor will monitor that student's progress throughout their time at school, and be a source of advice or guidance for that student at any time. Students feel more confident knowing that someone is there for them in any situation.
during our orrentation every department will speak, and at this time we tell the students what we are able to do and how we will help them though out the program. we also go to each new class on the first day and give them a goals shete for the student to fill out. The Education team will follow-up with each student after about 12 weeks in school to see how everything is going and if any help is needed. the studnets are also informed about tutoring that is free to the studnets. we also have a student services dept. that will pull studnets in need of help. because some studnets just wont ask for the help.
At the beginning of each term, the deans and heads of various departments go into new students' classes to introduce themselves and describe what they do to help students be successful. I go in and explain policies and procedures and outline the ways and the people that are available to them to help them be successful at school.
At our school we have a commitment by instructors, that when students miss more then one class two things happen: 1)they put out an email to the rest of the instructors and deans, so that if anyone knows what is going on we can let everyone know and 2)the instuctor is either to call or email the student to find out what is going on and if there is anything he/she can do to help the situation. This way we stay on top of what is going on with our students and if they need anything they know that we are there for them.
We have a housing department to help students find places to live. We have a local employment department to find part time work for the students as they attend school.
Our school demonstrates committment through so many practices, but some of my favorite are the retention committee (committee to make students happy, wow!), calling students who miss class to see if they are ok and need assistance, student food pantry for students who do not have food, and a free tutoring program.
our school recognizes students for performance in the course by giving awards
The Campus is working on a plan that has all education managers the Eddirector and even the campus president meeting with two students a day. during these meetings we ask how life at the campus is and what kind of needs that they may have. By doing this you see how the students feel and most of the time the student will thank you for asking and or need help with something. most of the time you just need to walk down the halls with your head up make eye contact and say hello and the students will then come to you to talk.
I believe between the instructors student sucess coordinatorand councilors most students have avenues in which to deal with stress I have an open door policy where a student can come in and discuss most anything.
We have the ability to stay late to help students falling behind, we also have other instructors who have been designated as coaches to help those in need
We have an award that is give every course cycle.
It is called Student of the Course (SOC).
It is given to the student with the highest lab score, academic score and finally their professionalism score.
We have Student Success Instructors that intervene if a student is at risk. They help with personal as well as academic problems. This is one way to increase retention.
Is there a central data base where grades, attendance and comments are stored? Who has access to this information for a student? Are there issues about rights to privacy? Is there a warning trigger where the system will notify someone if a threshold is passed?
At our institution, from day one student's are watched for the warning signs. Grades, attendance and comments are entered on a daily bases for easy access by all departments involved. Student's are counseled long before the point of no return. This is especially critical, in my oppinion, when dealing with such an accelerated curriculum as most career schools do.
One of the ways our school demonstrates School Commitment is an awareness program that has posters hung throughout the campus that states what the expectations are of the instructor for the student and the expectations of the student for the instructor. While many of the expectations are similar( Respect, Professionalism, Positive Attitude) others are specific to the position. Instructors want the students to have self pride, self respect, and a willingness to participate in class. Students on the other hand want an instructor to always be prepared for class, keep the class interesting, and have courtesy toward the student. While this sounds pretty basic, the underlying theme is the student will have a promise by the instructor to to assist him or her in their educational pusuit to accomplish their goal(dream) for success. This is a commitment by the education department on behalf of the school.
One practice that comes to mind at my school is an open door policy. This is held by the instructor on up to the school director. From orientation (before they attend their first class) throughout their time they are in class, and even if they "drop out" or discontinue their courses. This does work as I have students "drop By " from 6 classes back who still feel they can talk to me.
At our school we have a tutoring program that meets accomodation needs of students, provides one-on-one explanation to lectures they did not understand, and it also has an online program that allows them to review the course privately at their own pace from start to finish.
