Retention
Factors such as personality, culture, ethnicity, finances, employment, commitment and problems outside of school can all effect a students chances of success.
Some students are willing to talk about what is going on and others would rather keep it to themselves. The quiet students are the hard ones to get to talk to you about what is going on. Be positive as a role model and try to have a positive outlook and more students will feel comfortable about talking to you.
So how exactly do you respond to a student? For example, I had a gal tell me she had recently become a single Mom and her work was not supporting her difficult adjustment, thus she couldn't submit her work on time. Do I let her submit late without a point deduction? Do I offer advice? Or should I just sympathize and move on?
Hello Jennifer: You have a difficult but common problem... Often, single moms believe "it's only happening to them", yet for many decades- there have been single moms. If I was in that situation, I would look at the student's previous grades and work in the classroom. If she was on-target- I would offer the student two weeks to catch-up with no deductions. Most of the time, students just need to know that the someone (in this case, the instructor) cares about them. If the student was not keeping up on her previous assignments/grades, I would remind her that, especially during this new timeframe of becoming a parent, that the new mom needs to continue on with her education because of her child.
I think most students will talk to you if they see you as a person. So, many times students see as a figurehead. While this is form of respect, it can also dampen the communications between students and faculty. I always try to let them see me as a person.
Is this "out to get us" attitude prevalent among your students? That suggests a problem and requires some further inquiry.
