Retention is everyones business
Helping our students stay in school, and motivated is every staff member's responsibility. Retention affects finances,employee/student morale, and the overall reputation of the school. Scott Humphrey.
I concur with this staement, each department has to have some responsibility in keeping retention down.
Paul,
Thanks. Students have a lot of alternatives to us, both in education and in other areas that could serve as an alternative to education. Helping students to feel at ease goes a long way toward inspiring students to stay with us.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I think that a great percentage of retention is simply making the student feel at ease. Whether it is in the class, or with their fellow students or before and after class, it is important to give the student attention. It is easy to think back at the instructors that we've had in the past who we have liked. Chances are, they asked questions and were genuinely interested in what we had to say. Being busy and having deadlines make this difficult, and it's easy to brush through their lives without really talking with them.
It seems more and more these days that students are tring harder to come to school and even harder to stay here once they are here. It is our job as instuctors, managers ,and support personell to make that eisier for them. The harder We try the more the students will respond i believe.
This is a very good post, Gladine. I have been in this business a long time and had not previously heard the phrase "... the student has not been retained until the graduation paperwork is signed off on." That is a good way to look at what we do. Thanks for sharing this.
How each and every department treat the students has an impact on retention. Career Services asks the student's about specific interests and special needs. They always try to accomodate the student. We all realize that the student has not been retained until the graduation paperwork is signed off on.
Examples are:
Extersnhip site on a bus line.
Near the student's childcare center
Near a spouse or partners workplace so they can car pool.
Really likes working with children send me Pediatrics
Really dislikes working with children, keep me away from Pediatrics!
A slower/faster paced office
If the student has a bad experience or difficulty, even when they are almost finished, they may withdraw from the program and never return.
Thank you, Scott.
Retention is indeed everyone's concern at good schools. What are some of the specific things the financial aid, entrollment or career services departs do at your school that positively impact retention?
