Rod Kirkwood

Discussion Comment

We make our orientation all about the students experience. We have candy, ballons, games, music, etc. We talk about how we can work together to help the students achieve their dreams. We even have the student write down the dream, and give us a copy so we can remind them throughout their education what their dream is. This help the students in tought times. Besides talking about all the housekeeping information we introduce the students to their program directors. Most of these students may have not met the PD, so this is a great opportunity to get even more excited… >>>

Rod Kirkwood

Discussion Comment

Customer Service/ Sales

At our campus we insist that every department upholds the highest level of customer service. In addition, we expect the entire campus to be sales people. They need to sell the program that the student is in, as well as sell each other. What I mean by this is that we do not talk down about any departments but work together to find solutions when needed. We know that we will make mistakes, so we find it important when we do, to acknowledge the issue with the students and offer them some type of recovery.

Rod Kirkwood

Discussion Comment

Planning for the Budget

I know at our company the planning process starts as soon as the current year budget is finalized. Each dept is responsible for keeping a notebook of items that were left out of the prior budget, or areas in wchihc we could save. In March we get the entire mgmt team together to brainstorm a wish list for the new budget, and to discuss opportunities for savings. This is then input into the tentative budget to see how this compares to the our companies target for the school. We adjust until June, and then submit the schools "final" budget. This… >>>

Rod Kirkwood

Discussion Comment

Tracking, Tracking, Tracking...

For our upcoming graduates, we know at least 3 months out who they are. Once we have identified who they are we tracking (via excel spreadsheet) when the one-on-one exit interview is scheduled, if the students missed, and then when it is completed. We require (audit and compliance checks) that 100% of our graduates have an exit interview prior to completing their finals. We even have a individuals whose primary job is to make sure that the exit is completed and completed timely.

Rod Kirkwood

Discussion Comment

Gathering Information

Every other month our company goes to great lengths to gather current address information from our students. We require that ALL student complete an address update form that is then submitted to our home office for input (if changes) into our company wide information system (all employees have access). We allow two weeks for submissions of these updates, and the submissions of changes are tracked on a company basis. This has greatly improved our ability to communicate to our students as well as shows the students just how important it is to update the school with address changes.

Rod Kirkwood

Discussion Comment

Meeting the Student

A couple of things we are doing at our campus to impact default rates. We are making sure that the new students meet with the finance processors, and the student loan specialists at the point of enrollment. The student may not remember much of the day, however we make it a point to give the student our business cards, as well as a welcome packet which discusses loan responsiblity. Within the first 45 days of the student starting we make sure our student loan specialist are in the classroom conducting a Financial literacy workshop. This workshop talks about budgeting, as… >>>

Rod Kirkwood

Discussion Comment

Support

I like to give managers and team the support that they need in whatever why i can to motivate. I find that just offering to provide whatever assistance you can is a great motivating tool. Most of the time, they will not take you up on the offer, however when they do it is imperative that you follow through timely.

Rod Kirkwood

Discussion Comment

default rates

What do you think about sharing the schools default rate with students? I know they can and should access this online, but do you think it would help them to understand how they play a role in helping or hurtin future students and their ability to borrow?

Rod Kirkwood

Discussion Comment

Credit

Are there any good resources you can recommend online that walk studnets through correcting their credit issues?

Rod Kirkwood

Discussion Comment

Admissions

Our Admissions dept does not think it is their responsiblity to help inform students about their obligations. Without talking about financial aid elligiblity how can they do a better job of information studnets of their responsiblities to pay back any loans they receive?