Our campus has a Student Success Instructor that follows up with students that may have some form of academic advisement in order to improve on the students success.
We follow up with students. Both Active and Inactive. We keep track of those students that have been absent. More than one person calls a student when they are out for more than one day. When the student returns, we ask if they are "okay" if they need anything, if we can help with whatever kept them out of school. We are not just giving lip service. We actually help overcome obstacles that only adults can have. Some students are shocked by this, because no one has ever kept track of or cared about them before.
Some people think it sounds corny but caring really does work.
We are always visible to your students (open door policy). We greet them the first week of each quarter to make them feel welcome and to ensure they know where to go. We hold events on campus and student appreciation events every quarter. In my department we have a policy to ensure that we are accountable for our actions: pay attention to the student in front of you, answer all voicemails and emails within 24 hours, and advise them properly to ensure they are getting the best student service possible. I think our students know that we care.
I have noticed that students sometimes ask the same question to several instructors as a "survey". Some of them are trying to gauge our knowledge, some are gauging our willingness to help.
We have a meet and greet of 5 min. before start of class. Also monitoring grades,labs, and attendance and issueing advisory forms if necessary.
Hi Jeffrey,
The university encourages retention by working collaboratively with instructors. During the last session we began a new program to reach out to students immediately who miss an assignment. The students respond to this attention and the overall success of this new program has been favorable.
Randi
We call students who miss class. Feedback is as quick as possible for assignments. And we try to maintain small class sizes.
Thanks for sharing this, Dave.
Our school also promotes retention. The first day of class, we have three week classes, I encourage the students to get their lab partners phone numbers so they can contact each other. At the beginning of class I check to see if any one is missing and if someone is I let one of their lab partner step outside in the hall way and give them a call. Also I look for signs such as chin down and ask is every thing ok or are you just tiered.
Thanks, Kim.
The consistent contact before small issues become big problems is a common, but important practice at successful career colleges. The key is that the contact has to be framed with a "How can I help you?" attitude.
Thank you, Edward. What you have written is a good summary of the attitudes that makes career colleges successful.
These are all good systems. Rewards are great and seem to really push people to do more and do better. Well done.
Our school has several things in place. For example after the first assignment is due - we are to send an email out to those who did not turn the work in and copy a department that monitors that we are reaching out to the students in order to retain them. Also, then after week 2 we are to reach out by calling the student. Again in order to reach out to assure their success. The students do well with this as they know that we care.
Working in a proprietary school with a cliental of diversified students from all backgrounds, it is necessary to make them feel at home. As a program director, my door is always open, I am out of my office when classes begin and end, greeting students and asking how things are going, either at school or at home and congratulating them on concluding a great day. Once class begins, I stick my head in every class on a daily basis so that they know who I am and that I am there for them. The instructors are the backbone for student retention as far as I am concerned. They have the student 5 hrs a day for 4 days a week for 4 weeks in each modular. The instructors are consistently in control of the student day to day expectations, knowledge, activities, attendance, exams, extra tutoring and especially their professional demeanor in and out of class. They get to know the students pretty well in their nine month programs and form a family bond that exceed all others when it is time to nurture and motivate the student to succeed. It can at times be overwhelming but to watch them walk at graduation and knowing that you had a big part of their success is heartwarming. Collectively, when all of the instructors are performing their best at this accelerated pace along with the students, they are providing the best example of what mentoring means which holds both parties accountable.
Martha,
Thank you for this post. These are tried and true techniques used in many career colleges. The best staff and faculty do these things with the intent of making them about student recognition and student success.
It is worth talking about the "why" once in a while to keep folks from slipping into the "going through the motions" attitutes when doing these things.
Thank you, Martha.
What do you discuss during your retention meetings that makes a difference for your students?
We hold informative orienation sessions and have staff on hand throughout the first week to greet students and answer questions. Our Campus President also takes the time to meet and students. We have club meetings and conduct a ceremony for students with perfect attendance and those on the Dean's list. Faculty members follow up with absent students and make sure the assignments are accessible.
Frances, does your campus have an Ambassador's club?
Anna, we also have a mentoring program and a referral program so at risk students can be referred to the Learning Center if extra tutoring is needed.
We treat students with respect. Our President will even spend some time out in the lobby to meet students and learn their names. Faculty will call and email students who are absent. We hold retention meetings on a weekly basis. We have student clubs and hold a reception for students on the Dean's List.
