...mmm ... (1)I believe that thinking about how to reach out to each an every student in my future classes will become a priority. (2) Become a bit more assertive with my managers on the things that I need to do retention activites more effectively. (3)Find out more about what resources are available for struggling students.
I will first review the roster of the current classes and identify the students at risk.
Second, I will reach out to these students.
Third, work with these students on an action plan and monitor their progress.
Tarik
Ambitious recommendations. Good luck in getting them implemented.
Our institution already uses end of term surveys for the students as well as the faculty. They also generate an electronic newsletter, have an Open Door policy, have clubs & organizations, tutoring, and perform exit interviews.
However, there are other areas that are either non-existent or could use improvement. I will suggest the following improvements to the VPs & Deans.
1.Recommend that we implement GradMax so the students can communicate their needs in a non-confrontational, non-judgmental and confidential manner as well as monitor their stress levels.
2. Recommend that the institution re-evaluate their polocies & procedures so that they are both clear & effective in regards to student retention.
3. Recommend that the orientation process & procedures be re-evaluated to ensure its effectiveness in regards to student retention.
4. Recommend that the institution create an organizational chart with photos, names, areas of responsibility, contact phone numbers, and email addresses to distribute to all students.
7. Recommend that we implement mentoring programs using Alumni, Senior students, Program Chairs, Education Supervisors, Lead Faculty, Full-Time Faculty, and Adjunct Faculty members.
I am currently working on an inservice training for staff and faculty. I thnk the most important steps to improving our institutions retentino would be to train staff and faculty on the following:
1. Starting with admissions - making sure that admissions staff provide a realistic view of expections for the program.
2. Train staff and faculty on identifying students who are at risk of withdrawing.
3. Train the staff and faculty on the 8 stage process of working through issues with students.
Although there are many aspects of a retention program that need to be put in place and followed, I believe that the above mentioned steps are vital to its success.
1.Identify the at risk students
2.Be aware of the students state of mind and attitude toward class, school and life.
3.Help the student feel comfortable in the class and that we as a school want the best for them.
1. call the student when absent to find out why
2. talk to the students to find out if they may want to carpool and be team players
3. Invovle the students more in class so they don't want to miss out.
Engaging every single student in class is what distinguishes career education from the rest of higher ed.
Your survey questions require students to be thoughtful and introspective. Have you been successful in getting them to do that? If so, how? Most of us have been frustrated by their proactive participation.
You seem to have a different application of secret shoppers. I'm most familiar with the concept in the admissions process. You seem to be suggesting that you have "shoppers" actually assume the role of enrolled students. Is that correct and how do you pull it off?
1. We're having a Holiday Pizza Party to show our appreciation of the students just before winter break.
2. We will have a student representative meeting with faculty and student services staff to discuss how the facility or coursework can be improved.
3. We will start having seminars available on Saturdays for students who work during the week, this will create a new opportunity for students to increase their seminar hours and attend seminars they would not usually be able to.
Adam, You have some excellent ideas. Your questions to students helps identify the issues and show that we are truely concerned. I suggest you copyright "Random Acts of Interest" or write a book. Fabulous idea ... I love it!
We have used staff members as secret shoppers checking on staff at all departments to ensure that staff are providing the high level of service we expect from students. Each department is assigned to shop a specific quarter to prevent bias and yes they shop their own department that quarter also.
I like your idea of "shopping" the students also. It should help identify issues early on so proactive measures can be taken.
I am serious about the book. "Random Acts of Interest"... So needed in today's fast paced environment.
The three steps I will take in the next 30 days to improve retention at my institution are:
1. Encourage all full-time and adjunct faculty members to complete this module in the next 2- 3 weeks.
2. Develop and facilitate an application training module on student retention to include in the next Faculty In-service.
3. Review content of New Faculty Orientation to ensure that the schools committment to student sucess and policies/proceedures are adequately covered.
What I have seen work in helping with improving retention are:
1. Connecting with students. Create an "interest" in every student. Let them know that you care about how they do in school.
2. Teach to every student. Train instructors to engage every single student in class. Make them part of the "team" or "class", that their participation is important to the team.
3. Implement strategies on how the school can better assist students with whatever "stressors" students may be facing. Provide certain services or direct them to someone or a place who can. Establish a "Support Group" whether they are faculties or staffs or students, who can share their experiences on how they managed similar incidents while they were in school and what helped them overcome their challenges.
As noted below:
1. Survey our students to identify what issues and concerns we have not identified and acted on currently, using the following methodology:
A. What can / should we START doing to help you become more successful?
B. What can / should we STOP doing to enable you to be happier in school?
C. What can / should we KEEP doing to continue supporting your success?
2. " Random acts of interest "... Stop, Look, and PAY ATTENTION !!!
3. Secret Shoppers... Have our various staff interact with " students " that can then give us unbiased and objective feedback about our processes and culture...
1. Have the Campus President spend significant time in each department (management by walking around)
2. Provide Campus Presidents retention numbers each month for each instructor
3. Have Campus Presidents speak with and find ways to support each instructors retention to fulfill the mission of the school (to train and find appropriate jobs)
1. I will schedule a meeting with both the Lead instustor and the student services and review some of the methods that was taught in this section. High retention helps sell the school and many methods reviewed in this course will help improve the quality of life for students and staff! Meeting scheduled for Thursday
2. I will research and obtain phone numbers for resourses in our area to help provide the tools necessary to provide assistance for our students and staff.
3. I will continue to look for the good in people and actual say the words out loud.
1. Continue to work with faculty individually and as a group to make them aware of the direct impact they have upon retention.
2. Develop a document that is full of first week classroom activities so that instructors will have choices to engage students on a personal level as well as academic level.
3. As organizations and recognition are important to students, we need to work to find a simple way to make all students aware of what we offer and how they "work". Will see that organizational meetings and efforts are posted on the student portal.
The steps I will take to help improve retention are:
1. Have a sinmar for faculty on retention.
2. Improve communication to students by implementing pbworks.com so all student will have access to their class information. This will not be mandatory but it is a way for them to get the information they have missed if they are absent.
3.Meet with students that are having attendance issues to see what we can do to help them be successful.
1. Discuss with my staff the idea of self-efficacy and how we can encourage it in our students and staff.
2. Discuss different ways for our students to form a sense of community with each other and the faculty.
3. Explore the channels of communication between students and faculty and see where and how we might improve them.
1. taking the information from this course and developing a in-service.
2. making a new go to list for the students with pictures.
3. in-service with instructors to give them help on student issues, and best ways to deal with them.
