I always give students my personal number and remind them that if they ever need anything to call. I also offer to conduct group or one on one tutoring at the students request. I have seen that this really makes the student feel as though they are valued as a customer. I even get thank you letters from time to time explaining how "taking time" to help out has really made a difference in a certain individuals schooling.
Harold,
What do you do if the teachers are unable to reach the students?
Jeffrey Schillinger
Tracy,
Thanks for this post. Attendance tracking and consistent contact always works.
Jeffrey Schillinger
If a student is absent for two (2) consecutive days, the instructor must call them and report the action in a call log.
We pay close attention to our student attendance. Many faculty and staff give personal cell phone numbers out to students and encourage texting as a means of communication.
Today's college students are much more likely to communicate through texting than any other means, even placing a phone call.
If we don't hear from a student within two hours of class starting, we call them directly to find out if they are ok.
We let them know that they were missed in school today and we hope they reach out to us soon to let us know that everything is fine and that we hope they can return to school soon.
Gina,
Thanks for this post. Social media is changing the way we communicate with our students.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I agree Jeffrey, this is why we also use a software program that connects with outlook for texting. We are using this in Admissions, FA, Career and Student Services and are seeing some positive outcomes. Our challenge is in guiding the student body to inform us of changes on a regular basis and then ensuring that the data entry is happening. My next endeavor is to capitalize on Instagram. Thanks so much for your response:)
Gina,
Just calling or emailing students who ae missing is not as effective as it once was. Texting and social media have been used effectively. It is important to be sure students know when and how the college will reach out to them.
Jeffrey Schillinger
My Director of Education, Student Services Coordinator and the Program Chairs meet daily with the Registrar to discuss students who have been out of attendance for more than 3 days. Additionally, faculty are asked to reach out on the first break to any students who are absent that day. This process has allowed us to intervene more proactively with at risk students. My campus still has a challenge with those who do not communicate with the campus or have changed addresses and phone numbers. We have found that Facebook is helpful in reaching students. I think the first module gave me some good ideas to make our communication strategy more formal and to set expectations with new students that we will be contacting them frequently.
Rosalie,
Thank you for this post. Transportation issues can be tough to solve in areas without good public transportation.
Jeffrey Schillinger
It varies, but usually transportation and student work schedules. Most students are able to work through most of their challenges through various resources and encouragement from staff members.
Rosalie,
Thank you for this post. What are one or two of the toughest challenges to staying in school faced by your students?
Jeffrey Schillinger
Our campus works together as a team to make sure students not only have what they need to succeed, but to show them they are cared for as individuals. Each department makes an effort to get to know the students as they will work with most of them at some point in time. If a student is absent, the instructor will contact the student to show concern for their absence. As an instructor, I get to know most of my students. I also listen to students and allow them to talk if they feel the need to express their concerns.
Jose,
These types of special activities are nice and should be pat of a retention program, but they have less impact than daily excellence.
Jeffrey Schillinger
The instructor, program manager or registrar calls a student who has missed class to see if they are ok. Many of faculty and staff are in the halls during breaks from class to just chat with the students.
We have a small school in Florida and Regularly hole what we call a "Spirit Week". This is an entire week of activities devoted to get the students involved in the school and have fun while doing so. We have noticed that the students who regularly engage in these activities end up completing their program on time, and the ones who don't participate generally speaking end up struggling to finish.
We also have several people on staff dedicated to student retention in which they will speak with their assigned students on a regular basis, and have light conversation with them in the hallways. As a general rule here, Most everyone know almost every student, and we have what we call retention meetings to identify some students who may be at risk and share ideas about how we can help if we can, or how we can mentor a student in the right direction.
Tammy,
We face similar challenges. I am invited to may meetings in which my participation is not really necessary. It may be that meeting organizers are afraid of leaving someone out or huring someone's feelings if they are not invited.
Jeffrey Schillinger
This is true. I think we have too many people in the current meetings. I have noticed that since we started the meeting I have had more contact with the provisional students.
There is a report sent out twice a week with a list of students who either haven't been in class or haven't logged on to their online class.
We as educators take that list and either seek the student out, call them or email them.
Once we have touched base with them we see what is keeping them from class and how we as a team and fix the problem so that they can come back to class as soon as possible.
Tammy,
Intentional, structured teamwork works well. The challenge is to maintain the current enthusiasm for the meetings that can fade over time.
Jeffrey Schillinger
