John--
You bring up a good point about educating students regarding perception and reality. We can't always do that, but reinforcing the 'real' value of education, despite the 'costs' is an important one.
Susan
It goes two ways, one is, retention = perceived value / cost and the other would be retention = reality value / cost. As educators we would have to take the perceived values that the student would have been made in reality values. Issues with bills, housing, spending money, jobs and car repairs are all reality values that students have. As educators we should be able to give the students the majority of the tools to overcome these reality values. I try to give my students different alternatives on how to resolve some of the reality that they face on everyday basis. I have found that most students want something that they can use now not later. If you give the student something that they will be able to use in the now this would = retention.
Food, housing, car expenses, insurance etc. are always a concern with the students that we have in our program, which is at the end of their education at UTI, and now they start realizing the new costs; tools and tool boxes, moving expenses, new housing and tuition payments. At this point they feel fairly burdoned by expenses. We try to encourge them that the end of their journey in education is over but it has provided them a path to a carreer that will give them the ability to not only repay past debts but to save and invest in the future. We also give them ideas on how to save money and wise choices on tool purchases, where to buy and what to buy. A recommended tool list is reviewed and a little coaching is given on what they will be using when starting out. Also discussed is the most valueable tool they have, and that is the knowledge they have gained from their education.
Most of my students costs center around rent,phone bills,food. I try to get them to understand the value of attending classes and labs.
Chris--
Study groups can be an excellent way to keep students in school. Groups will help each other stay focused and get through. Excellent suggestion
Susan
Adam--
So true! It gets very tiring and completely unmotivating after a time. Keeping them focused on the ultimate goal is important.
Susan
Food cost,travel cost,time managmenet.
I tell students to buy food at places like Costco's and bring lunches from home instead of buying from fast food places. Get in touch with other students for car pooling to save on gas. Make up study groups with your classmates, and save the partying for the weekends.
Time, or lack of time, is the common one. Have to go to work to pay the bills, & then go to school. After doing this a while with very little social can cause a student to burn out. What I tell them is that they have to look at the big picture. A little hardship now for a bigger payout later is going to be worth that price they pay know.
I think that cost time and value also play into this equation.
The 3 most common things I here are its tough to ge or find a job,most of them are from out of town and dont know there way around.Second is how to manage there new career ,time for work study and the daily needs (cooking laundry ect...)Third is they stress out over the small things ,like getting a low grade on a test.They think it will damage or lower there career expectations.
Fuel costs,auto repairs,housing costs. I do tell them to shop around for parts,susgest car pooling,or share there apartment tell help reduce cost,and try to give them as much information too help them in the field
Steve,
Among the most common costs that adult students have are:Time away from their family, opportunity to make money by working over-time, give-up things they like to do,for example: watch TV.
It is important to mention that adult students perceive career colleges as the ticket to a midle class job and as the changing key to their current reality.
Victor Calderon
Salvatore--
I like how you keep your students focused on the end goal...and your comment about buying 'cool toys' made me laugh!
Susan
David--
That is great! Acknowledging what they are going through and edifying them for even taking the chance to do that is wonderful. No doubt this helps immensely.
Susan
Bill--
Keeping them to think positively and keeping their eye on the end goal...definitely retention strategies--and excellent on-the-job skills.
Susan
I like most of the others hear that transportation, housing and food are the biggest monetary cost. I find that the biggest cost factor that most of them have a hard time overcoming is the being away from home for the first time and learning to budget there time correctly without that motherly influence reminding them at all time. This poor judgement of time management costs them to make many mistakes that cost them in other area's.
Like most everyone else I here about time, and work and school schedule. This takes away from family and social life. I try to help them see that what seem like it will last forever and they will spend the rest of there life in school, in the grand scheme of things is a short time and when its over they will be in a better place to help the people they care about and give themselves and there family a better life. That there is an end in sight and when it’s done they will be able to get a job doing something they love doing and get paid to do it and buy cool toys.
Trying to find the balance between a full time job, full time school, and sleep and fit some social life can be challenging for anyone. You add to that the fact that most of our students have left home for the first time. They are away from family, friends – their entire support group. By the time they reach Ford fact most have been able to work it out. When I am dealing with students shortly after arriving in school they are struggling to find that balance. I first start out by expressing my respect and appreciation for what they are dealing with. I encourage them to exchange phone numbers with fellow students in case they need transportation or whatever. I encourage them to utilize the campus support systems-counselor, student pantry. There have been countless times when just giving a listening caring ear can make all the difference. I had a recent example where a student had an intolerable living situation. By sharing with students, he had 2 offers for alternative housing.
Most of them are concerned with food, gas, utilities, rent costs, and general spending money, especially if they came from out of state and do not work yet.I try to get them to "see" the future where they will have a job and repay these costs.
housing, bills, food, transportation.
one of my favorite things to tell them is that education brings back the investment in a number of ways, jobs / money / more education, its kind of like o rolling ball , if you start the ball down a angle it goes alot farther than on a flat surface or a up hill climb. think positive!!!!!!!!!!always give them a little more of what they expected, and you will do fine.
