We discuss obstacles and fears to educational success and provide avenues for assistance for the student. We introduce different services and personnel that can work with the students along their educational path.
We Have the students meet with the president and all staff who are there to partner with them to get to graduation
The video of your graduates is an especially great idea. Students love to 'see' themselves, successfully completing the program. It gives them an opportunity to feel they can succeed. Great idea!
Throughout orientation, we reinforce the student's decision to change his or her life through education and that everyone on the campus is there to help them be successful. They view a video in which graduates talk about their experiences at the college. In addition to managers being present, our student services coordinator talks about how she can assist students with life issues that may arise and she often has one or more student ambassadors there to talk about their role on campus.
Terry--
That's great, and so true! And 9 times out of 10 others have the same question, but framing it as a way for them to get the most out of their tuition investment is excellent.
In my orientation I try to address students fear of asking questions by letting them know it is not embarracing to ask questions. It's cool to ask because that shows that your there to learn. If you are spending alot of money for a trade school and you leave not understanding something because you didn't ask, then that is a waste of time and money.
An activity I plan on introducing at my college is something we did at my own college orientation 10 years ago.
We broke up into small groups and were asked to share with each other our biggest fear. Not only did it give us the chance to vocalize our fears, it helped us bond with other students. This emotional connection with other students really helped in the first weeks of school.
Welcome Mynelle!
This is an excellent structure, allowing new students to get acquainted with the faculty, staff and campus prior to everyone being on campus. It certainly makes them 'stick out' less the first day and no doubt takes away a great deal of anxiety.
Susan
To address the "first day" fears of students, a special convocation is scheduled on the Thursday and Friday before the first week of the term. At this convocation the students will be able to meet their instructors and receive information on their classes. In addition, the students have the opportunity to meet the support staff, receive informtion on tutoring and walk through the campus to find where their classes are, instead of doing this on the first day of classes. A morning and evening convocation is scheduled so that we meet the needs of the working student. We are a small university in Indiana.
Hello Dr. Stover! Welcome to our forum
These sound like excellent opportunities to overcome the fear of failure so many students have when returning to school. Even if they did well before, taking that time off seems to do them in at times.
I especially like the mentoring idea. Do you have a particular way these students are identified and/or trained? Do you have a recognition program in place for them?
Susan
Having realized that many of our students have not attended school for quite some time and have "forgotten" how to study, we supply each of them with "A Guide to Effective Studying Techniques." It has helped them overcome the fears related to homework and testing. We are also attempting to ease the fear of not knowing anyone by either pairing or grouping the new students together depending on the number of starts at any given time. Volunteers are sought from current students to act as mentors to the new students.
Monica--
Welcome! This is an excellent practice. Be sure as your school grows that you keep that same 'family' feeling among the employees and students. It makes all the difference.
Susan
We do the same thing at the school I work at. Because it's relatively small and the staff is not too many people, this shows the students that we are a tight-knit group. This makes the students feel comfortable saying hello and approaching us in the halls or in our offices when they have an issue they need to discuss with someone.
James--
Great idea! I have seen many walls of 'fame'...but never heard of it being done by department. That's an excellent improvement on the idea!
Susan
We have "Halls of Fame" throughout the college with pictures of and information on graduates who have gone on to succeed after graduation. Included are the student's major and a statement from the student about what the college has meant to them.
Each department has its Hall of Fame in the area where their classes meet. That is, medical students are reinforced/encouraged by medical graduates, networking students by networking graduates, and so on.
James--
First, welcome and glad you were able to reconnect to the class!
What types of activities, etc. do you do with your students to reinforce the wise decision and that they can succeed? Do you have some senior students give testimonials or play a tape or ????
Susan
During the entire orientation process we reenforce the idea that the students have made a wise decision. In addition we reiterate our open-door policy and the students repeatedly hear that the ENTIRE staff and faculty are here to help them to succeed. We cannot/will not do it for them, but we are all here to help them to succeed.
Personal stories are always an excellent idea. It lets students know that they are not alone in how they are feeling--that they can succeed and 'survive'. Your being able to address this from your perspective is great. Having current students and graduates also can help with this. The key is to have them connect with SOMEONE as quickly as possible (other students, faculty, staff).
Susan
In addition to having someone from each department speak at Orientation we also have lists of community resources including daycares offering discounts to our students printed and passed out. Our campus president and academic dean discuss the need to have babysitters to back up the first babysitters and babysitters to back up the second in addition to back up transportation.
I always like to begin my short introduction by letting them know that I am much like they are, a little excited and a little nervous. I let them know that I am excited they have chosen the same institution as I did to pursue their degree and a little nervous to be speaking in front of such a group. I want them to know we are all just human and also know that I am a graduate from the school they are beginning. I let them know that as a graduate and an employee of 6 years that I don't know all the answers but if they stop by my office I have been around long enough to know that together we can find a solution.
I let them know about my first few days at this school were a little intimidating and scary however, I looked around the classroom and found a friendly face, though a stranger at that point I introduced myself. It was very hard for me being such a shy person but 9 years have passed and we are still great friends. Neither of us knew anything about our chosen field but together we studied and pushed eachother to succeed. I just want our new students to know it is okay to be nervous and a little anxious but getting to know your fellow classmates can help you achieve your goals and make you feel more at home.
Tammy--
Excellent...especially giving all the contact info including email addresses. The more opportunity you can give students to form those bonds with ANYONE at the institution, the better. Good for you!
Susan
