At our institution, when a student is absent the teachers are required to follow up with the students via phone call or email. While this can seem like a daunting task, I have discovered that it really allows me to connect with individual students and often those students who are at risk for attrition. By contacting them regarding their absence it provides them with a one on one outlet to express their stresses, as well as an opportunity for us to speak about methods to solve potential stress causing issues as they relate to class.
Instructors are responsible for finding out why a student was not in class that day. Following up the next day to talk to that student reinforces the idea that the instructor is caring about the education that the student is receiving. Planning with the student as to when the student will make up the kitchen work will make sure the student builds knowledge and skills.
School commitment is met by all departments, faculty, and staff. We are blessed to have a great Student Services Dept. that encourages students (after being referred by an instructor)to remain in school by helping with the students' issues. Problems almost always are personal/social ones that impact school functioning and studying. When student supports are provided, the students usually are able to be retained.
Our school, provides the students with many support avenues, student services, meetings with instructors, tutoring time, etc. we strive for excellence.
We have student of the course awards that are given to the highest ranking student. I belive this helps motivate the student to commit and achive there goal.
I enjoy working with the student counsel, which has a following of around a dozen. The students get involved in fund raisers for the student food bank and the local VA hospital. The commitment and dedication the students have is a pleasure to be around.
Chef's call students when absent each time they are absent, asking why missed and how can help. We are working to continue to improve relationships with individual students and show these students we care about them personnaly as well as academically. We fill out student action reports when a student is in trouble academically and talk and listen to a student about why and how we can help.
We have a program that pairs an at risk student with an Instructor who has individual skills to help that particular student. It may be help with study skills, lab proceedures, or any number of student needs. This is done on a volunteer basis from the Instructors.
We track student attendance and progress throughout the class. When students have not been attending, the Instructor reaches out to those students with a follow up from their advisor. Sometimes we do uncover some pressing health or other issues and working with the advisor, the Instructor and student can set up a plan to work through the issue.
Instructors are given training every quarter about student retention and receive reports after every session to determine how students feel about the course to generate improvements.
The motto for everyone at the institution is “Students First!â€
Phyllis
Our school has adapted student attendance rosters that are to be used by instructors to focus on at-risk students. We use the forms to catch students in the very early stages of each block of classes who might be at risk of withdrawing due to reasons with our control as instructors. It has proven to be a pretty effective tool in reducing early-block attrition.
Our school helps the students to create resumes, portfolios, learn about interviewing, and gives them a suit to wear for their interviews when they graduate. We also have lifetime career placement assistance. All of this helps to boost their confidence in their ability to interview successfully, and they know we are giving them all the tools possible to help gain employment.
Our school does a Thanksgiving dinner as well. Students who can't go home, as well as their parents, are very appreciative.
In addition, whenever we have a class in which no one falls on academic probation, we provide them with food (pizza, grill out, etc.)
We're thinking of doing class contests where whichever class has the best attendance percentage (at the end of each month) is then awarded. I'm currently in the process of trying to figure out just what the reward will be. Although I have found that students do respond really well to free food, I would like to do something a bit different.
The college and the faculty always try to bring in a variety of guest speakers that our students would benefit from listening to. Sometimes they need to hear from other individuals on what it takes to get into their careers. In addition, it allows the students to measure what they hear from the individual and if it adds up with the instructor.
Our campus has instituted a competition team that will go to a regional competition. To be considered for this team the faculty and the students competing must have good grades and great attendance. The commitment that these students demonstrates is awesome they are motivated by the training and this helps with the skills that they are learning in the classroom. Also it increases the relationship between the student and the instructors.
Richard, are the faculty included in the competition team? Do they also have to compete to be named to the team?
We get our students involved with the community at different events. We usually pick a charity of the month and will get students out in the community to help with raising awareness about the charity and it gets them motivated and proud to be apart of a school that does care about them and their community. Most of our students have never been involved with anything like this before and it gives them a sense of accomplishment.
Liz, what's the process to pick the charity of the month? How much input do the students have?
As a career school, the hand-on practises and and making internship hours as mandatory units helps the students to get a taste of the real working environment.
