Student Preparation
I believe we need to help prepare the student more before they start class. Orientation is too late to find out what the schools policies are, to find a job and a place to live. We are working to be more pro-active 6 months out to educate the new student about the life skills needed to be successful as a student. They need to be aware of the schools polices, job opportunities, housing and budget needs. The future student would benifit from a checklist of items to make their transition into school life more positive. This early attention will result in a positive way for future retention.
Nice. The key is to engage all staff in service to students. Create relationship that matter. Then, students will stick.
Dr. B
We see students of all backgrounds. Some have similar circumstances; others have extenuating circumstances and really need this training to provide a future for their family. I think a good admissions rep would be able to recognize the situation and provide or direct the student to the resources available before the orientation, to put the student in the best possible position for successful completion of the program.
I agree that this will all contribute to better retention, but my concern is that the majority of our population does not have 6 months to wait. Many of our students come to school to get the training that they need to become successful in a short amount of time. Waiting 6 months before even starting a program would be difficult. I would cut that time in half to about 3 months. In that 3 months have several meetings and follow up sessions to ensure that the prospective student is ready and that they have several different back up plans in place to ensure their success.
I could not agree more. I have found that the majority of our successful students came to school over prepared for the next year of training. They new how to live on their own. They already had a job and an apartment. So all of those worries were gone and they could concentrate on the education process. I feel that with an at home preparation of some kind along with a good orientation of what school life is like we could increase our retention.
Very good. The idea is to form a relationship so that you can reel them back in. I like what you said.
Dr. B
The student needs to have the ability to learn. Issues such as financial, personal, and school performance discourages and disrupts their ability to learn and cause them to not reserve the right to. Being able to observe problems as they occur and being able to help students through their issues can reel them back in. Most of them are so young and inexperienced that they dont understand their potential when something overwhelms them.
Online tutoring faces many of the same issues that on-site tutoring does. If they can't stay for tutoring, they aren't likely to have the time to do it on-line at any time there would be anyone available. The student needs to be made aware during the admissions process of the possibility they will need this. Too many admissions reps are just interested in getting the student on campus with no thought about their likelihood for success. Apparently (according to our admissions staff) qualifying testing to see whether a student has the ability is not allowed. As a result we get a hodge-podge of different skill levels thrown in together. We deal with some students being bored while others are totally lost. If we could sort incoming students by skill level it would improve everyone's chances for success. Unfortunately this does not seem to be feasible anywhere.
Maybe, you can arrange of an online tutor? Make times more flexible in terms of times and place? Just an idea.
Dr. B
One of the first things on the list, should be how much it costs to live and exist to be able to focus on learning. Too many times I hear that "I cannot stay to be tutored because I have to go to work" or "I had to take a day off to make money to be able to afford to come to school". All of this suggests a failure to make a budget before coming to school.
It would be a lot better for staff and students alike if all their needs were attended to before they start. Make sure they are fully funded so they don't constantly get financial aid reminders and make sure they know exactly what the school offers and what their possible carreer choices will be. We need to give them every piece of information and every available tool or resource available before they begin class so they can make informed decisions on whether or not this is a good choice for them.
Yes. And one way to do this is to link the concepts you teach to how the student will use the material in the workplace. Always link to career objectives.
Dr. B
as an instructor one of the roles is set an example and push your students to push themselves to new hieghts
Good point Tim. A prepared student is more likely to make it in his endevors because he knows what is and is not acceptable. Also to your point living away from home has a whole set of challenges that can sneek up on the student and parents.
Some say it takes 21 days to become habits. Also, they say it takes a min of 7 times, 7 different ways to make the point. So, yes, repeat, repeat and repeat.
Dr. B
Another important point to retention. Help them to see that they can do it. Just need to have balance in all areas of their life.
Dr. B
I agree. It's not about telling the students once and expecting them to remember because they're adults. It about repetition and the students hearing the same information from everybody they come in contact with. Great, great point.
Angie
Amen!!!! You've made an astounding point. Most student's coming into college do not have the life skills to be successful. My job is default prevention, and I preach the importance of financial literacy when student's begin their college career. I'm not just talking about telling them that the must repay their student loans, I'm talking about teaching them to balance and checkbook, and helping them understand that just because they have checks doesn't mean they have money. These same rules apply to retention. We MUST have a pro-active approch if we want our students to be successful.
Angie
You are right. The key is to link finance, academics and admissions so that all stories are the same.
Dr. B
Many times retention is poor because of unrealistic expectations and lack of preparation for the life changes ahead. We could do a lot more by being involved in the process earlier.
