Ashley, do you deal only with online students? Are the 65 spread out across the curriculum or in a cohort? Do they 'talk' to each other and form a support group?
Loren Kroh
Orientation is where we inform them about our services, during the quarter if the student is not doing well he or she knows other options. Besides the faculty constantly works with them for their success.
I'm in student services and here, we are each available for about 65 students each. Of my 65, I know and speak to each at least once a month. I have been a cheerleader, a problem solver, a shoulder to cry on and even a disciplinarian at times. When they open up, we look objectively into the issue and try to solve the problem. A good example is of my students who lose their internet connection. Since this is an online program, it is imperative for them to have at least that. Many times, i have had my students call and tell me they don't have the internet and I google free wifi in their area. We find it that way very often.
Jaime, that sounds good, but how do you connect students to these services?
Loren Kroh
Ashley, how do you respond when they do open up? What sort of support services are available to them?
Loren Kroh
The Center for Academic Excellence is always open for anyone who needs any kind of help in order to improve their grades.
We call and email students who are absent, we have an office for directing them to resources if they are in trouble, we have free tutoring in the library. I meet with my students bi-weekly to discuss their progress, showing them I care.
Mr.Kroh,
When I called the student, he or she feels very important and thanks me for caring, and that makes the student more responsible and they do their best to attend the class, and work hard.
It has very positive effect on the students.
We make calls to students who are out of class for more than 3 days. Since it is an online program, it happens often. Instead of calling and saying "Why weren't you in class?", we say things like "Kathy, I see you haven't been in class for a while. Are you ok?" It seems to open the door for issues to come out before they are insurmountable in a way that is comfortable to the student.
We utilize newsletters asking for success stories from our students and publish these for other students to see. We get a great response and students are able to see that other students came to us for help, and we helped them. It demonstrates through example how we operate in that manner.
I also like to tell my students when I have other students in their situation. I anonymously share their successes and their failures. the student I'm talking to then feels like they have someone to relate to and they can "act out" the way they'll feel if they make similar decisions.
abdalla, what results have you achieved with these calls?
Loren Kroh
If a student is absent, then the instructor must call and e-mail the student within 24 hours.
Thanks, Stacy. Nice to hear how the system works for you. Arguably, student load is the same regardless of the size of the institution, so making this work is more a matter of culture and commitment than school size.
Loren Kroh
I am at a small University. I don't know how well it will go over at a large University. When teaching adults all kinds of things come up for the students such as having to work late, a sick child, etc. I do notice that if they are absent again they will email/phone me that they will not be in class and the reason why. I do believe it improves the communication between the professor and the student. I also believe that the student feels that they are important and not just a number or a warm body sitting in class.
Stacy, that's certainly an example of real time intervention. Has it improved attendance? Would you recommend this practice for others?
Loren Kroh
If a student is absent we call them at the break. I usually ask them if they will be attending the second half of class. Most of the students really appreciate the call and feel that the university/professor cares about them.
Nicholas, what's the curriculum that involves retail goals and guest compliments? Do you think LEAP could be used for any curriculm?
Loren Kroh
Gelena, what sort of feedback have you gotten by stopping by classes? Have the students been forthcoming or guarded in their reaction? How do you choose the classroom to be visited?
Loren Kroh
David, how are these interactions coordinated? What sort of training do the ambassadors get? Do you keep notes regarding their activities?
Loren Kroh
Trina, do you have to offer any type of enticements to get employers to participate in these events? Do they come even if they don't have any immediate openings?
Loren Kroh
