Get Your Students Hired
Our school has recently started a meeting "briefing with all divisions of the campus. Our academics, admissions, campus counselor, student success coordinator, registrar and Dean meet weekly to discuss what's happening with our students. We are all reaching out to the students and it looks like it will help with our retention.
Betty,
Thanks for this post. This is a common approach. Do you ever have students become upset becaise your team "over-contacts?"
Jeffrey Schillinger
with a school of approximately 1400 students we tend to focus on the students that are more shy,introverted,missing time...etc. We get get some of our stronger and more outgoing students to also help with calls when students are absent or going through some difficult situations outside of school.
Our school keeps communication open and we keep one another up to date on information regarding students and their progress and struggles. We share in the responsibility of contacting the student and follow up with positive reinforcement and congratulations as they get closer to their goals. If a student is struggling it affects the whole campus because the success of a campus is dependent upon the success of it's students.
Cathleen,
Following up with assignments is a good idea. We have asked our teachers to add a "what to do if you missed class today" package for students who miss. We also recommend students who struggle to work through the same tasks.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Christina,
These are tried and true strategies. Thanks for sharing this.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Instructors call the student who has missed two days, especially if they are consecutive. We also send an email.If a student missed the first day of class, I will call them. We follow up with their assignments, checking on their progress especially if they are working on a project. I offer support and assistance to them whenever they need it.
I have only worked with this company and this school for a few months, however I have noticed several activities done to increase student motivation and retention. First, if a student is having difficulty in class or is missing often then the employee will email every personnel throughout the school to let us know what is going on and how we can help. If the student has had a family tragedy, or needs a ride, the employees work together to find the best possible solution. If there is no solution then we make sure to all sign cards and let the student know we care. It is vital to the success of our students to know the staff cares and is not just here to complete his or her job for a paycheck.
Fatina,
We have similar approaches in our schools. One challenge we have is that students get upset when they get too many calls or emails about the same thing. Does this happen in your school?
Jeffrey Schillinger
We have started a Student Ambassador program so that students can see that we are listening to their concerns by being able to speak with the peers. Academic Advisors are meeting with students on a weekly basis as well as calling students that are absent from class right after attendance have been taken within the class. The goal is to reach out to the students before they get comfortable in not being in class. Each student receives emails from their instructor, Academic Advisor, Registrar and Campus Director when they are absent.
Keisha,
Do you allow students who miss school to make up the hours?
Jeffrey Schillinger
As the Registrar I track the students on a daily basis. Our students have to have a 90% overall attendance to graduate from our program and it is every one's responsibility to make sure the students are meeting that. Daily I pull a report to see what students have been absent and for how long. Weekly I post in the classroom the students attendance by their student numbers so they are aware of where they are at. We also check 15 minutes into each class to see who is missing. Any students that are missing are either called by the TA or and education staff member. The instructors also follow up with the missing students by phone or in the next class session they see them to discuss why they missed and to set up a make up or office ours to go over the information they missed in class. We also assess the student twice a quarter so they can see what their grades and attendance are at.
Jeff,
This is a great summary of what all career college teacher should do for their students. Thanks!
Jeffrey Schillinger
Each instructor calls students who are absent from their class on a daily basis. Program Directors meet regularly with their students to monitor their academic progress. Attention, however, I feel is just as an important in each individual classroom, as it is as school-wide initiative. The cliche, "students don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care," best sums up the concept of "attention=retention" for me. I greet each student as they enter the classroom and talk with students before and after class and during the break. I try to learn things, such as where they work and if they have a family, to better understand their challenges. I often spend time in the student lounge talking with students. It often helps students if they see you in another realm different than that of the classroom (of course still maintaing a professional student-instructor relationship).
Our college also has a staff member that contacts us as adjunct instructors to make sure we are checking regularly on our students progress and attendance. This holds us and the students accountable for their education.
Tim,
This is a good example of how the best career colleges 'pay attention" to students. Thanks for sharing this.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Wendy,
Your role is a key factor in student success. You can build a relationship based on the person and not linked to a subject ot a student - teacher relationship.
Jeffrey Schillinger
If students are going to succeed in school, they need to stay on course academically, financially and in terms of attendance. All three of these apsects are improved when we pay attention to students. Missed classes result in more than simple reminder calls. Teachers and administrators make a point to follow up with questions designed to get students to open up. Private meetings about FA benchmarks and student payment plans are carried out in ways that let the students know we want them to succeed. Teachers are open and willing to tutor students when they need help or they are showing some extra interest in the subject. Each area presents opportunities to get to know students better and foster a sense of belonging.
Our education team and student services work hard as a group to call and meet with all students every week. As the student services coordinator, I visit classes throughout the day to see who is there, who is absent and chat with the students - really getting to know them.
Tamara,
Thank you for this post. How does your institution define "high risk?"
Jeffrey Schillinger