Every student in attendance that day is escorted by their instructor. The students are very grateful after these events. Most of them say they feel their hard work is being celebrated.
We also take pictures and post about it on our Social network in which we are followed by most of our students. The ones who miss it will see the pictures online and hear about it in class from peers and instructors. We use it as a tool for better attendance. They wont want to miss the next one, which will make them want to be in school.
Beyond varied student appreciation events one goal for our staff is to build positive relationships with students so at our weekly staff meeting we report how we've done that outside of our job function.
Kristie, what are the qualifications for the T/A¿ Is this a student¿
¨Cheery emails¨ when they are out for more that five consecutive days¿
Diana, how well attended are these events¿ Is there any follow up action with students who don´t participate¿
We call any student that does not show up for orientatiion. The fist day of class any student that is absent gets a call from our registrar. The first day a student is absent the teacher sends them an email. If they are absent two days in a row the Student Asvisor calls them.
Once attendance is taken, the T/A goes and calls all students that are not present. We have a pretty good relationship with our students, so most call/text if they will be late or not coming in.
My school demonstrates commitment to the students in many ways. Like others, the instructors call the students if they are absent, student services follows up with cheery emails when students are out for more than five consecutive days. We also show our commitment to the student's education by offering free student tutoring (peer to peer)and instructor tutoring if the student fails a test.
We have an extensive student orientation at the beginning of the program. We also have small events with ice cream/ treats or inspirational speeches and gifts for the students. Anything to create school spirit with all of the staff and faculty.
Julie, please share some examples of staff action that show commitment. How can others be encouraged to do the same things?
Loren Kroh
How effective is this practice, Toni? Are the students identifying barriers or providing excuses?
Loren Kroh
Isaac, have you tracked the impact of implementing this system? Have you seen improved attendance and completion?
Loren Kroh
How well does this system work, Tierra? Has it improved attendance rates or simply trained students to call?
Loren Kroh
At our school we try to get the students involved while they are on a break between classes. Summer break is coming up and we introduce ourselves to our future class and challenge them to cook one of our recipes, or try something new over the break. Then when they arrive back we have something to discuss and look forward to.
Hello Loren,
Yes, I teach an online course. And, online chats are a regular feature of our courses. I do not offer online chats for students in traditional classes though.
Thanks,
Michael Luzius
When students can't make it on time to one of my 4 hour long, night classes, at the beginning of each term I give them the following guidance:
1. Please e-mail me or call the school office to let me know you are OK and that you will try to make it to class.
2. I let them know that it is still OK to come to class 1 hour or 2 hours late because you will still benefit from the remainder of class attendance.
3. I give assessments at the beginning, middle and end of class to make them aware of how important it is to attend class.
4. If lateness becomes cronic for them, then I will have to meet with them privately to discuss how to improve the lateness issues.
5. When a student absolutely cannot make it to class and has e-mailed me or called our school office to leave a message, I follow-up with them within 24 hours with an e-mail class update and phone call follow-up before the next class to see if they are OK with the e-mail follow-up.
6. On all e-mails from my students with questions about homework or other concerns, I demonstrate school commitment by trying to follow-up with them within a 24 hour time period of their initial e-mail.
All these efforts I feel model school commitment to them and hope they exemplify it someday in their chosen career fields after they graduate.
School commitment at our campus starts with the staff. If the staff shows through our actions that we are committed to our students and the school, it spreads to our students.
We demonstrate school commitment by following school policies and sticking with them. Sometimes students are late to class but when it is a constant interruption the instructor would bring it to my attention and I would talk to the student personally. I would inform this student that it is not fair to the rest of the class that are always on time while he/she is constantly late and then the instructor would have to stop what their doing to get that student caught up. I will also warn the student if they keep it up and keep missing class they will be placed on Attendance Probation and further absences may result to a withdraw from the Program. I do this to show them that the school cares. I would ask the student why they are late and try to work on an alternative solution. I inform the student that he or she is here for a reason. You are here to educate yourself in the field you have chosen as your future career. We have an open door policy from the time the enter for orientation to their very last day of graduation. We encourage students to talk with us. I go in to class rooms and ask everyone how they are doing and make sure everything is going alright! I post up job postings in the field they are going to school for to show that there is a high demand out there!
Antoinette Scalese
Student Services
We call our students every time they miss class. It let's the students know we are aware of their abscence and gives us an early oportunity to find out about possible barriers to success.
I like biweekly meetings. It gives the faculty and staff updates on students attendance and whether or not students are in trouble. It gives the chance to let the Faculty know more about the students that are in trouble and maybe to open their doors more to talk with them. It keeps the faculty and staff all up to date!
