Hi, Tammy!
I like the idea of the student newsletter; especially when it includes stories to help support student success. You are absolutely correct that encouraging them is critical given they may not be getting that kind of support outside of the institution. It is very difficult for adult students to return to school.
Do you do anything specific during your orientation to address potential student fears?
We publish a student newsletter quarterly. The students look forward to seeing the faces of classmates or even themselves involved in campus activities. We have upcoming events listed, the names of the students of the quarter, pictures of Student Appreciation Day, Awards Day ect.
After the newsletter is ready to distribute I hang flyers around campus letting them know that it is "hot off the presses" and list the many places that they can pick up a copy. I have students come by often to ask when the next addition is coming out.
I also think it helps if a student doesn't seem to be getting the support from family or friends outside of school to see the many activities that go on and to learn more about what the student is involved in hopefully making those that have influence over the student more excited about what he or she is trying to accomplish.
We are bringing in the employees from each department into Orientation so that the new students can see the faces of our support staff instead of just giving them a list of names and e-mail addresses. This seems to help when the students see us around campus they often stop us to ask about their finances, the job board, to talk about a friend interested in coming to school etc. I think it helps them to meet these people on the first day so that the bond begins to form and their sense of belonging grows each time they see one of the familiar faces of the staff they have met through Orientation.
Joanne--
This is excellent! Certainly a way to get people over the 'tutoring' hump by providing a wonderful incentive. Many times students are hesitant to ask for help even though they know they need it...hard to admit! Your model makes it a reward.
Susan
Joanne--
Awesome! That is certainly a great way to get student in to tutoring and take away the stigma associated with it! Kudos!
Susan
Dear Susan:
Yes we do, we call it our certification club and along with tutoring we help our student prep for certifications in Microsoft Word 2000 and Excel 2000. And if they pass the SAM practice exam three times with a 90% or above, we pay for the certifications.
Joanne
Dear Susan:
Yes we do, we call it our certification club and along with tutoring we help our student prep for certifications in Microsoft Word 2000 and Excel 2000. And if they pass the SAM practice exam three times with a 90% or above, we pay for the certifications.
Joanne
Joanne--
Tell me more about the 'club' part...do you do some things that make it feel less like 'tutoring' and more like a 'club'?
Susan
Hi Joanne,
The department managers contact the students. I ask the department managers to select a broad sample of students from each end of the academic and social spectrum. Having a broad sample yields an accurate picture of student satisfaction. Over the course of the academic year, I try to include as many students from as many programs as possible. Therefore, the criteria are very loose -the department manager must choose a wide range of participants.
Matt
Dear Matthew
This seems like a great idea. Who is responsible for contracting the students for this luncheon and is there a criterion the students have to meet in order to be awarded the benefit of lunch with the director?
Joanne
Dear Susan:
At present we reinforce the availability of our seven days a week tutoring club. Student can participate in this club Monday-Saturday. There is a teacher available from 10:00am to 1:00pm for students who can not come during the week. It work out very well because it quite on Saturdays and the student can get more attention from the instructor.
Joanne
Tony--
Welcome! I'm sure you will find your classmates' comments helpful...they certainly are doing some excellent things!
Coming from 'traditional' higher education will be a little different for you, but will also provide you with some good practices that you can tweak and implement in your current position. Even though you feel you are basically starting from scratch, the good news is that you will be able to implement some high-impact things fairly quickly!
Susan
I have read all of the comments include those of Matthew. Amazing stuff!
I am currently in the process of creating Student Services here as it hasn't existed in any real capacity in the past.
My background is from a traditional higher ed. perspective and this is really helping me include more of the technical/proprietary institutions' needs.
I really am glad to hear that others are using newsletters to diseminate the peer education/advising/tutoring information. I am hoping to create a similar communication tool here.
We also only have a one day (a few hours) orientation that is severely lacking. I hoping this will assist me with the significant challenges ahead.
Thank you so much and I look forward to more learning...
tony
All current participants---
If you haven't read Matthew's comments concerning regular meetings with students I would encourage you to do so. These are excellent ways to help students feel connected and to improve services. It is also something that is great for accrediting self-studies!
Susan,
A director certainly opens himself or herself to a barrage of complaints, but I feel that conducting these meetings with regularity minimizes this phenomenon over time. As you rightly point out, follow-through is the key. After the school has acted on a suggestion/complaint, etc, word usually travels fast that the students' input was acted on. Legitimizing the students' opinions, thoughts, and feelings up front creates an institution-wide belief that the school listens to students and actively attempts to address their concerns.
Matthew--
This is a wonderful program and I hope that you continue it. Many school directors are anxious about holding such events in fear they will get 'ganged up on'. I applaud you!
I'm assuming, also, that things they suggest that are doable are then implemented. Do you have some way of communicating to the rest of the students that you have heard and acted on these? It's great PR follow through.
Susan
Hi Susan,
To select students for the luncheon, I ask each Department Manager to choose an academically excellent student, as well as a student who is either having difficulty adjusting academically or outside the classroom. For the luncheon to be a useful tool in determining students' expectations and experiences, I think a broad sample yields the most accurate picture. I ask the students general questions about their experience at our school, I ask about any problems they are experiencing inside or outside of school, and I ask them in what areas they think the school could do a better job. Many times, students who may have different academic records and social backgrounds find common ground in their concerns and experiences with the school and at home. This experience has a "normalizing" effect on the students and reduces the problems to a scale that are no longer overwhelming, but manageable.
During orientation I stress my availability to the students. I mention this several times to emphasize the point. I talk about the luncheon. I tell them specifically that I care about their opinions and thoughts and that I will make time available to them -if I'm not available at that particular moment- to listen to what they have to say. I feel it is important to validate their ideas from the begining. This facilitates greater communication overall, but also contributes to student satisfaction, even when a complaint, criticism or concern, is not decided in the studet's favor.
Hello, Matthew!
These are wonderful opportunities to find out what students are really experiencing and often provide great ideas for improvements.
What method do you use for selecting the student participants?
Do you have specific tactics you use during orientation to help them feel more comfortable?
Susan
As a matter of policy, the Executive Director at each of our campuses takes part monthly luncheon with a selected group of students to discuss their questions and concerns. During orientation, I explain to new students that the luncheon provides them with a forum to speak openly about their opinions of the school, instructors, and their own academic challenges.
Excellent! The public recognition at graduation is an especially nice touch.
