We too are always looking for new ideas for student activities to better our retention rate.
we presently have quarterly picnics,and award ceremonies. We are planning on adding to this list with awards by indivual programs for dress code, tutoring, outstanding achievments (nominated by Instructors).
We currently do the following student involvement activities: Tutoring, mentoring, student council, student appreciation weeks, holiday contests, student recreation trips, student field trips, student contests and school open houses on some weekends with car shows. We are always looking for additional ides.
What percentage of your student body participates in community activities?
That is a fantastic idea. Any community involvement is a good thing for the students, the school and the community. We have had blood drives, food drives, etc.
We adopted a road and have periodic clean-a-thons to help create bonding among students, and, of course, to help beautify our neighborhood.
Adding a student blog section to your website will help too.
Additionally, adding a chat section to your LMS (Learning Management System) which allows students to communicate online will help build a sense of unity.
These are really great suggestions, it is very important that the students feel validated for their accomplishments. Getting recognition from the Director of Education and the Campus Director I'm sure is very meaningful to them.
School involvement activities found in the course that could be implemented in our school pertained to graduation. Inviting current to students to attend graduation ceremonies for senior students, as well as, involving students in planning their own graduation ceremonies would be helpful toward increasing student retention.
We have a verity of student activities including a student council, organized student participation at organized industry events and trade shows. We have a student / Staff pool tournament twice a year. I feel that some opportunity lies in some events like Saturday technical challenges, organized volunteer work such as adopt-a-road and other such community activities.
We are looking at implementing a similar approach where we have a student advisory board that meets with the dean and the president on a quarterly basis. We also implemented town hall meetings by program with students and their department chairs but most of these issues are curriculum or teaching related.
The advisory would help us solve more school wide related issues and opportunities. We are in need of a student voice when brainstorming solutions and would utilize the student advisory for their input.
Create a number of activities for the students, such as best attendance, student of the month, best monthly academic achievement, best improvement.
Have students pot lucks for their birthdays, anniversary, ets.
Celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving , New Years and other holidays with the students, staff and faculty. Let the students feel at home and show them that we recognize their achievements.
I think every school is trying to work in this area of need. Some ideas that might be good to work on are:
A good sound orienation introducing student services department and what we do
Conduct a meeting the first week of classes to see how it's going
Study skills/note taking seminar for beginning students
Motivational speakers about sticking with it
Oordinate with pacement officer a workshop on interviewing and presentation techniques
Workshop on job searches and resume writing
Student Appreciations with refreshments
Meet with all first phase classes at the end of the phase to give motivation and track the rest of the phase for them!
Kevin Asberry
It sounds like you have a comprehensive plan to involve students. Any student success is time for a celebration. Thanks for your comments
Scott.
We will immediately implement inviting our current students to graduation! That is such a simple, effective way to motivate students. However, I had just never thought of it. We will also provide a post-graduation reception for all graduates, current students, and their families. Further, I will be ordering a bulletin board TODAY to display photos we have from past graduations and will update this board with future graduation photos. These are three great ideas I learned from this module.
We are already in the process of developing a PowerPoint presentation to show at graduation with photos of all graduates "in action" during their training. This presentation will also display the graduates hometown, place of employment or continuing ed., and any special honors they received during their training. Motivational music will play during the presentation.
We currently have a campus organization called "Student-Helping-Students." The purpose of this group is to coordinate and provide support for students while planning activities to facilitate student involvement. They have their own t-shirts, hold fundraisers, assist with blood drives and other community events, and even have a fund to loan gas money to students who are having trouble "making ends meet." Every month, they hold a free session to assist the public with basic computer skills. This course is taught by the students themselves and they greatly look forward to it. The organization has been instrumental in effecting positive change in student retention.
We also hold a Spirit Week with prizes and a stress-relief picnic or party (depending on weather) at the mid-term point of each semester. During finals week, we have donuts and cookies and coffee available in the front lobby.
Every semester, Dean's List certificates are provided to studnets who meet the criteria. The list is posted in the hallways and submitted to local newspapers. We recently began selecting a Student-of-the-Month. Faculty nominate students based on attendance, attitude, academic improvement and cooperation with fellow students.
There are a multitude of ways to connect students to your school, but the most important factor is that they feel thay they fit in and have a place in the campus community.
Here are just a few of our tried and true student activities:
1. Food drives & blood drives; 2. Booths at health fairs (blood pressure screening, blood testing, etc.); 3. Participation in graduation planning; 4. Adopt a Grandparent (local nursing facilities and assisted living facilities); 5. Awards for academic achievement; and 6. Student Appreciation Day.
We are always looking for new ways to make the student feel motivated and encouraged with their education and "their school."
The most important activity that can be taken for our students would be constant exposure to successful professionals in the field. This would not only allow them to see how other people work besides their instructors but also give them reminders about how professionals work in the field itself.
These are some of the activities that we do at our school.
Monthly Student Rep meetings (A chosen student from each class to represent the class) attends a meeting with the Director, Student Services, Career Development, Head Instructor and Head Supervisor
Local chapter of professional organizations
Field trips to employer locations
Graduation Event for each graduating class with class pictures taken as a group.
Andrew
Both of your suggestions sound wonderful. Any activity that builds students' confidence and interaction with the faculty is worth the effort.
Thanks for your comments.
I am not going to bite off more than I can chew, so I'm only going to give a couple of ways in which school involvement activities will be implemented to support retention:
1) We are planning on having themed events quarterly with the change of seasons and the entire student body will be invited to participate. After reading some of this material, I will now ask for student volunteers to work the game booths. I believe their involvement can help with retention efforts.
2) I plan to have the Director of Education on our campus call each new student at the end of the 2nd week of classes to see how things are going. This is a proactive way of identifying potential drop risks. I also believe the campus director should congratulate students on passing their 1st term classes by sending a letter to the home. We will institute both of these activities immediately to help support the retention effort.
Your campus does some very proactive activities. This is particularly important when
you enroll ability-to-benefit (ATB) students, but it helps all students. Showing you care can make a difference. Thank you for sharing, Joshua.
