Student Commitments
Does anyone have thoughts regarding meeting with students and going over commitment statements-setting goals (graduation) with smaller targets (mastering each modality taught) and specific and measurable ways to achieve these targets (attendance, being vulnerable to ask for support, studying 1 hour a day, etc)
Does anyone have staff speak their commitments to each other? And what are your thoughts about doing so?
Great idea. Open discussion among students for goals and objectives should be very helpful for the students.
I agree, instructors can only do so much if there isn't student commitment. Allowing the potential student interaction with the staff and perhaps a student rep from that program will do a lot to give a more realistic picture than that painted by admissions. Bottom line, a better attempt to put the right person in the right program could foster a more committed student.
Now this is an issue I think has to go to admission retention people rather than the instructor- I emphasis how hard the class will be the first hour and almost invite them to drop if they aren't committed. Most stay but a few realize it isn't a show up and pass situation. I offer some suggestions for different study habits but how much can you as an instructor stress the importance of the class. Admin has a vested interest in keeping students. Not that instructors don't but we have to get the information out to ALL the students under a deadline- the admin doesn't have to stop to take care of the issues
I know that if we see that a student is struggling, whether it be grades, attendance, etc., we usually will set up a one on one appointment with them and see what we can do. Also go over some things they could be doing themselves to reach their goals more efficiently with their time here.
Andrea, the online resource, Campus ToolKit, provides templates for students to document their action in many of these areas. Faculty and support staff are also able to see their entries and use that information to provide guidance.
