Get Your Students Hired
Leonard,
Simple, relationship-building efforts pay off in the long run.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Hi Jeff,
We do mid-term grade reports to identify who is behind in course work. Students who are not passing the class at mid-term meet with their instructor and/or academic assistants to get the help that they need.
Additionally, program directors meet with instructors weekly to discuss students who are not attending or turning in work and strategies to help the student based on his/her individual situation.
Chrissy,
Thank you for this post. What are some strategies your college employs to identify and turn-around students during the term before they fail a course?
Jeffrey Schillinger
What does your school do to unequivocally demonstrate you are paying attention to your students?
I found that a plan is always needed: daily, Weekly, and Monthly retention meetings. When retention is down in a classroom everyone gets involved. But from an instructor’s point of view, instructors are to provide a plan of action. The plan usually will implement some type of attention. I worked at one school were a simple action made a big difference; I would go around to the new students and spend 5 minutes or less just saying hi, and getting to know a little about them. I did this for the first 31 days. The cohort of students I tested this on had a overall higher retention than the other classes. This is now a standard practice for all administrators to do.
Instructors call and email students when they are absent from class.
Program directors and Director of education meet with students who failed their previous course to find out what resources they may need to help them with any hurdles they are facing.
The college also has a "Student of the Month" award to recognize students who demonstrate excellent work in the class and the willingness to improve themselves, their peers and the community around them.
Elsie,
There is a degree of risk when those who are not licensed counselors try to provide counseling. We encourage our faculty to "advise" students and to refer students to professional counseling services available locally or with whom we have contracted to serve our students.
Jeffrey Schillinger
The school assures that instructors follow up on every student who misses school via phone call, e mail, or text. Each instructor takes the role of a teacher-counselor, not only to help students with academic challenges but also challenges from their home environment. The school and instructors believe that spending time with the student who might be having personal difficulties may seem to have no bearing to any academic objectives but can be the only thing that will lead to curricular gains on the student’s part.
Grace,
What are some of the ways that students earned the rewards?
Jeffrey Schillinger
Maria,
What are some of the techniques you use to determine the "personality" of each student?
Jeffrey Schillinger
Our school makes sure that we have the correct instructor to student ratio (1:5). In that way we can give the best possible attention for each student. Also, we have forums and individual discussions so that we have the best knowledge about our students not just how the way their education is going but also about their experiences and current situations. We also give awards every term, such as pins that they can add on their badges to recognize their success.
Paying close attention to individual personality and a little background of students will lead me how to handle each and everyone of them and able to help them.
Rebecca,
Events like this are really important, but not likely to be the thing that keeps a stdent who is struggling in school. What are some of the special ways you "pay attention" on a daily basis?
Jeffrey Schillinger
My campus hosts a student luncheon monthly for the students and student services often comes around with "goodies".
Emeline,
Than you for sharing. What are some of the best ways for students to address these challenges?
Jeffrey Schillinger
The most common non academic issues I have discuss with my students are mostly time management between school,work and family responsibilities.
Emeline,
Thank you for this post. What are the most common non-academic issues you discuss with your students?
Jeffrey Schillinger
Florita,
What are some of the most common non-academic issues your students bring to you?
Jeffrey Schillinger
Our school does one to one discussion with the students paying close attention to details.
I agree, and also giving advice to any topic the student feels comfortable to discuss with the instructor, and following up to seeing how they are doing
James,
Thanks for this post. You might want to package those experiences you share in the form of a role playing activity. Present the situation and have students "act" out the way they think it should be handled.
Jeffrey Schillinger