Qadar,
Meeting the instructor is probably a highlight.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Our admission reps use PowerPoint presentation to present the program instead of check list. They ask the prospective student, verbally, some of the questions from the check list in Module one. They also give the student a tour around the campus including the health care lab. We have a big lab that looks like a hospital. Sometimes the prospective students ask questions about the program that the admission reps cannot answer. So they bring them to us, the faculty. It is also a chance to meet their instructor. The PowerPoint presentation has been very effective.
George,
What happens with the checklist and questions afterwards? This probably helps the school and students decide if your program is a good fit or identifies weaknesses that they would need to address when they attend.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
the admissions department allows potential applicants to enter classrooms during classes so that they can get a feel of the school. our DON and ADON use checklist and interview questions to assess each applicant.
Cherie,
Yes, it should be a standard for all programs.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
We use a check list for some programs and not for others, I can see where we would benefit greatly by implementing check lists for our other programs.
Kevin,
Sorry to hear about the teach out. Why?
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
My college is in teach-out so we do not have admissions any longer but when we did, we did an OK job with educating the potential student about jobs and training programs but certainly could have done better.
Chana,
Yet, you probably have many people that worked at other schools. AND you all were a student once. Plus this course provides some guidance. There should be nothing to keep you from waiting for graduates to refine the admissions process.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Chana,
Yes, after all these years many students still equate online classes with easy as opposed to convenient. A vast difference exists.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Catherine,
Does your online orientation have a discussion forum? I think that would be a "common area" for students, faculty, and staff to discuss orientation related topics.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I would also like to implement a checklist in to our admission process. However, it will take some time to determine what to include in the checklist since we are a new college and have not had any graduating students yet.
I think we could improve our admission process. We are an online school, so tracking whether students visit our classrooms is not possible. However, we could include a sample class with assignments for our students to watch during the admission process. This would give them a better idea of the workload. Until now, we have told students what the time commitment was; however, actually watching a class and seeing assignments will give students a better idea of the workload. Since many of our students drop out because they cannot handle the workload, I think this would increase retention.
I agree that would work for a "brick and mortar" institution. With our online institution, we need to connect with students through an orientation video and through email messages. We realize that the important thing is to make the students aware of the services available.
Catherine,
Better yet, Include the resource center in a tour and have them talk to students as early and as often as possible.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Ron,
That is a rare comment here. What do you see as the delays in getting the students in quicker? Have you shared this sentiment with others at your campus?
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Early contact with the student resources center would be one way to improve our current admissions process. Students have questions about how our programs will prepare them for the workplace. I think that we could include a short video orientation to our resources center. Here student learn to prepare a resume and put together a portfolio for future employers. If they know how these programs work from the first day, they will be more motivated to finish the programs. We are a new school. Once we have more graduates from the program, then we could include feedback from graduates and their employers.
I think admissions does a wonderful job here at UTI. They have a well thought out program. I think they could benifit from looking at how to streamline the process and get the students here quicker
Audrey,
What changed in the last two years to make such a difference with the Admissions team?
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I believe our admissions team has improved immensely over the last two years. In the past they did not ask the proper questions, therefore students were enrolled in programs that did not fit their goals. It is true that retention starts when they enroll, students must be set up for success from the beginning. The education process is a circle, everyone must be on the same page in order for the student to succeed.
