This was a really great training. I learned things I wish I knew during my first year of teaching. Thankyou

I really have enjoyed reading everyone's ideas and thoughts on this topic. I think we definitely all agree that connection is what improves the student's chances the best. As they say in the therapy field, connection heals. I think it also applies to retention of students. In this day and age we are so disconnected that anything we can do to bring us together with the students and as a community as a whole, will contribute positively to student outcomes and the growth of our schools.

Retention is the single most important aspect of what we do as educators. The students cannot succeed if they are not there. The world will miss out on their ability to contribute to the world as a whole at least in this aspect.

I like to throw out short questions/quizes during hands on workign between students.  I feel that if I casually toss out a few questions and let any or all students respond it helps both those who answer and those just listening to retain subjects we have covered so far.  

As instructors I think that retention should be a very important aspect of our learning environment. If you think about it, having a positive, fruitful, confident, open and fun atmosphere is what we should strive for as instructors. As long as we follow these things then retention in inevitable.  Our students will respect, enjoy and attend our classroom daily to get the positive feed back that is so needed daily.  So, really retention is not so hard to do as long as you are doing your job as an instructor and good person.

Rentention is important as more and more emphasis is being placed on keeping students in school.  It is important as instructors to recognize the early signs of a student in danger of leaving the school.  It is important as instructors for us to play our part and intervening when necessary to change the attitudes of students.  Making sure the student has support while entering this learning journey is important in establishing trust.  I definitely plan on incorporating the tools learned from this course and apply to my role as instructor for a career college. 

As instructors we pour our everything in to our students.  We are more than instructors.  We are motivators, inspirators, faith builders, a listening ear, shoulder.  Its devastating as an instructor to loose a student because ofretentiion, there has been instances where I wanted to call the student and plead with them not to leave.

I encourage the students to stay positive through lifes ups and downs. Which may be difficult but will eventually help them to succeed in life.

Above all, students need to be treated w/ respect. Empowering students to make an informed decision should be the practice for all professionals when working w/ student in Higher Education. Students are to always be encouraged to make their own decisions whether or not we the professional agrees with that decision. We can certainly advise them in what is in their best interest. However the decision needs to be their own and we should not be pressuring them. After all they are adults and will be making critical decisions in the professional experiences. We need to teach stduents independence and… >>>

I find that positive reinforcement goes far with my students!

This class reinforced my ideas of implementing more non-class related activities in order to get the students more involved and incorporate a better sense of community.  I feel that if they just come to class, and aren't involved any other way it's more likely that they will leave.  They need to feel a connection to the school.  Implement activities that are relevant to the industry also remind them why they are here.  It's easy to lose sight of them if you struggling in other areas of your life.  I look forward to taking more of these classes and gathering ideas.

I have enjoyed this class on retention. I think what really got my attention is the attention-retention. I have noticed that my students thrive off of knowing that they are part of the teacher's work life. I always try to find one thing personal I can remember about each student. I try to remember to address each student by name and give each student an opportunity to have some 1:1 communication time with me. I try to find out what their visions are so I can encourage them when times are difficult. This must be working because most of my… >>>

RT102 really makes it clear that there is a strong human factor in student retention.

RT102 was very enlightening for me. My institution stresses the importance of staying in contact with students in order to let them know that they are more than just their student ID number. However, I am learning that it takes more than just staying in contact with students (via phone calls and e-mails) to keep student's engaged. Students need to know that their instructor is available, accessible, and compassionate/considerate. It is a discouraging thing to hear a student say, "My instructor acts like he doesn't care. So I don't care either." Also, students want to be chanllenged. An easy-A may… >>>

Orientation has always been a big deal here.  It's always been an "all hands on deck" mentality here.  However, the first week of class outside of the classroom hasn't really been stressed as much.  I realize how crucial that week is, but I also now understand that it's just as important out of the classroom.  Most of our students are from out of town, and getting everyone together and involved in outside activities is extremely important for them.  After taking RT102, I am on a mission to create something new and fun for the students' first week in order to… >>>

I have been noticing that I have been losing a lot of my students half way through the term.  This usually corresponds with a big project that is due.  Any suggestions on how to help my students over this hurdle?

Students need guidance when they are young or old. School can be scarry, rewarding, overwhelming, and exciting all in a given day. How we address our hurdles in life help mold our character.

One of the biggest problems that I see in retention is poor setting of expectations by the admissions personnel.  I am not trying to place all of the problems of the world or the system on them .. but I have heard from too many students over the years statements such as:

But my admissions rep said that it would be OK for me to be 30 minutes late for class each night.

I was told that you would work with me on my needing to be absent.

I need to get out of class early to because my husband… >>>

I feel like we have to be mentors as well as shoulders to cry on sometimes. I enjoy getting to know my students as well as letting them get to know me.  They need to see that we are human too!  Sometimes they have obstacles that get in the way of life and their gettting to school.  We can sympathize with them because we have been there and done that.  It is very important for them to have all the moral support they can get.  We encourage study partners and exchanging of phone numbers from day one!

A student comes and says "I'm having a problem." We discuss it and solutions. The students selects the solution s/he decides the best, but never takes any steps toward action. Do you have suggestions on how to address this? It usually happens in gen ed classes, not core classes.