I agree when a student fails the course I am often wondering what could I have done differently to help this student.  If I have done everything I can then while I am bothered I know I did the best that I could for the student.  In the past I have encountered students who tell me how I have helped them pass and I take that information and apply it to my new students coming in.  Everyone is different so you must adjust accordingly.

I take it personally too when students are not preforming well in my course, but I think it is important also to maintain a little bit of professional distance from these feelings in so far as, as this course has suggested, an institution cannot address all the different factors which put stress on a student and prevent attrition.  Sometimes I do not have the resources needed to help a student stay and school and succeed, be it time or physical resources.  There is a limit to what can be done, what one can committ to an individual student, and it is just as important to keep this in mind as it is to maintain a sense that we are doing all we can to help or students master the subject, feel positive and be successful.

Interesting that many teachers today seem to have a very similar opinion on student success:  they personally feel bad, and responsible, when a student does not do well in a class.  Sometimes it's the lack of effort on the part of a student, but many instructors I've spoken with still feel terrible when a student doesn't do as well as the others in the class.  

I also feel badly when a student of mine fails. I not only feel like I let the student down but I feel as if I let myself down. Even though I know I go out of my way, above and beyond to do whatever I can to help the student succeed, I still take it personally. This is one of my own faults, (self-esteem), something I know I need to work on. I need to let students be responsible for their own failures as well as their own successes.

I try to observe the students on a daily basis to watch to see if they are engaged, distracted or just taking up space.  I've found that sometimes just by inquiring of the student is alright is enough to make the student realize that I am taking apersonal interest in their education and well being.  When I loose a student, my first reaction it to look within to see if there was something I missed or could have done differently.  Ultimately, the student has the brunt of responsibility in his succes or failure, but observation and intervention early when a student is having problems can make a difference on whether the student sticks it out or throws in the towel.  I do have to make sure that I direct the student to those staff members who are qualified to counsel the student rather than become involved in his/her personal issues.