Retention is important but.....
I understand that retention is important and that professors are the ones in contact with students but it is also important to remember that students have different type of issues, learn in different ways, instructors are different (adjunct vs full time), class sizes are different (regular classroon vs auditorium), student services are different (tutoring vs advisors) etc etc.
Sometimes the professor cannot identify the student with issues (i.e classroom size) and many times the professor refers the student but the student get lost in the system . What to do?In my opinion that is the 1 million dollars question.
I also agree with Marianne and Russell:
Students really want an/the education to seek a career. However, once they see how much work a person/student has to put in, they rebel. I often experience through student discussions, he or she feels as their current job place/work is more important to support their lives/rent/mortgage as to academic work as they claim it to be secondary to their mind set.
I agree Russell. It seems that the students today want everything nicely wrapped and handed to them, or they want someone to hold their hands. (figuratively speaking)
Your comment seems to imply that this increase in students with personal issues is a departure from the past. Any thoughts on why that's the case, Tammy?
I have to say that in the last eight months I have had more students enrolled in my program who come in with personal issues from day one. When you have several of them in one class at the same time it is very taxing on the instructor and the rest of the class. I now understand that I will not be able to help everyone of these students with their personal issues.
We are dealing with a different mindset of student today. Not the same as it was years ago when we were in school. There seems to be less commitment, honesty is a problem, tenacity is lacking, respect is all but gone, and professors are being verbally abused and threatened. It is pervasive in all higher education. The important idea is to know your topic, maintain classroom discipline, don't accept inappropriate behavior, and target behavior that is not acceptable early on. Lastly, don;t ever speakbadly about other professors because all students feed on this.
My sentiments exactly Ann Marie!If a student knows that you care and are making all efforts to assist them they will redouble their efforts to be successful.
I agree, I remember that the teachers that had the most impact on me were the ones that seemed to care and praise my efforts
I tend to agree with all the comments above one thing i notice is that lately students come up with every excuse in the book as to why they can not do something , but when given examples or reasons why they can, they tend to shy away from those.I see that alot of students seem to want the education but dont want to put in the work . The mind set of the new student isn't what it used to be.
A teacher has a direct impact on their students and we should be available and informed to lead them to success.
Different people obviously have different problems and different agendas for attending....some really want to learn, some just want to scam financial aid and everything in between...my experience is that a certain high percentage will succeed as that is the way they have developed in life....others can succeed because they have the basics but need the extra push, help, instruction, attention...then there is a group that will talk about success all day long but have no concept that it takes work, listening, respect, etc. to attain it....after you find the latter few aren't really interesting in their success, emphasis should then go to those who WANT it but may or may not know how....
Retention is important and I go as far as the student lets me insofar as being part of his/her success.
As an Instructor (part-time) my students success rest on my success in regards to giving them the information nessacery to help them gain the knowledge needed to pass boards. I have found that once your students know you care about their success they will make an effort to stay in school with the understanding that you are helping them behind the scenes to resolve the underlined issue.
Reynaldo, I think that those who have been posting in these Forums point to communication, particularly active listening, as basic to retention efforts. I would suggest that follow up after initial connection with a student is crucial. As you have pointed out, there are a lot of variables that may work against identifying students who need help, but that's why it's important to have everyone working (thinking?) together to develop systems to address the challenges.
