My 3 goals for improving retention for the next 30 days will be:
1) Ramdonly pick one student a day and ask them how they like class, what grade they received on their last test, and ask them if there is any additional support they need.
2) Set up student appriciation day in each location
3) Speak with Director of Education regarding seminars for students to enhance their education.
Great list, Brian. Good luck.
1. Hold and instructor "pep rally." We have to continuously work to energize our instructors to understand the great things they are doing for their students. We hope that the energy that we can produce here will help them reproduce energy in their classrooms.
2. Help DOEs to not dwell on things they cannot change. From time to time, we have a student who drops for a reason that we could not prevent (moving, death in the family, etc.) Too often we dwell on this student and lose focus on the students who we can help.
3. Develop better follow-up strategies. Helping a student today is fine -- but following up and making sure that the problem does not recurr is the real measure of great retention. We can program our database to e-mail us with various reminders. We should be able to set up a reminder system to follow up with students after we have resolved a problem.
First of all, I plan on meeting with my supervisor to discuss some ideas I've picked up form this course. We have implemented a Satisfactory Academic Progress to hold the students accountable, but I think we might try to implement something along the line of Satisfactory Training/Education Experience. It will be interesting to come up with a way to 'take the pulse' during the training, not just at the end with the exit interview and the Student Servey, (the what did we do right/wrong survey). I'm looking forward to a few challenges. Retention is a very important issue, I'm ready to meet it!
A strong list, Suzanne. I hope you will get the cooperation you need.
1. Make sure the retention policy is in writing
2. Ask the director to make sure all staff and faculty have a copy of the retention policy
3. Help develop intervention methods to be distributed to all staff and faculty.
Jo, what specific actions to plan to take in the next 30 days to let students know your institution cares about them?
How might you use these tools, Diana?
The students need to know we care. Unfortunately they believe we will look the other way if they are in our good graces. They need to have solutions to their problems, not excuses. We cant solve all their problems but we can let them know there is a place to start.
The Survey and Vertical probe is an area we intend to explore further.
Action items 2 and 3 certainly are doable, Edlynn. I urge you to check Federal regulations before implementing monthly retention bonuses.
1. I think a monthly retention bonus would be a good incentive for instructors who are able to retain the most students.
2. Recognize students who have perfect attendance by giving them a pin.
3. Enforce an attendance policy but be consistent.
I am an Administrative Assistant, I answer the phones when the students call out.
1.)I try to be on a first name basis.
2.)I encourage the students to call the Dean of Students when they have an issue that needs to be addressed.
3.)If there is a student who has a complaint I immediatly inform the director so he/she can intervene.
I would implement the following:
1. Create a buddy system for new students. Current Honor Students would be recruited to act as buddies to new students and help them acclimate to the school and assist them with any questions.
2. Set up a plan where the Director of Education meets informally with each new student during the first or second week of enrollment to see how they are adjusting and identify any problems at the earliest stages.
3. Give each new student a wallet-sized card containing the names and contact information of key staff members along with other vital school information (emergency #, etc.) This convenient card could be kept in the student's wallet and be readily accessible if needed.
Dennis, your action list is a great example of effective things that can be implemented without a lot of debate and money. The guided tour of Career Services can be particularly forceful with entering students. The idea of self-help programs is a clear demonstration that the school is concerned about the whole student.
Please let me know how these initiatives work out.
1. Make arrangements for each of my classes to take guided tours of our Career Services Office. Ask the Director of Career Services to give each group a brief overview of current job openings, examples of recent graduates placed, and a “top ten list†of things employers look for.
2. Modify my grade book spreadsheet to produce “Perfect Attendance†lists for each class. Post these conspicuously on a bulletin board in the classroom, and update the lists at least weekly.
3. Push to establish several free student self-help programs, including aerobics, a lunchtime walking group, and a “stop smoking†support group. Target new students, but promote these programs among the entire student population as well.
l. I will check with students that have been
absent.
2. Try to create an environment where all
students will succeed.
3. Check and discuss with students that seemed
to be stressed over subject material.
In my experience, Teri, faculty are most resistant to retention when they feel that they are shouldering a disproportionate share of the load. They are more responsive when they see that all the departments within the school are responsible for retention. Many are unwilling or unable to address non-classroom issues, but will refer students to others who are better prepared to help. General understanding and buy-in of the overall institutional vision of student success – and the vision of institutional success – are critical.
Do you have regularly scheduled training for faculty and/or staff, Teri? How about all campus meetings? If so, you can carve out some time from each of these sessions to present the material. Some institutions regularly schedule “in service†days during term breaks for exactly this sort of initiative.
As an academic advisor, there are a few key things I want to try:
1. Improve communications with faculty and financial aid folks, so I can intervene as early as possible to help students who may be at risk.
2. Try to communicate with students who are doing well in their courses (to say Hello and see how they are doing), rather than dealing solely with the students who are exhibiting problems.
3. Although this is not an issue I have much control over, I would like to address the issue of expectations with my supervisor, who will be able to discuss this with admissions folks.
This is only a start....
Teri
