Ready to Quit Students
What additional intervention steps are recommended for students that repeat or continue the dropout cycle with new circumstances, events, or a new crisis?
Our institution only allows a student who drops out to only have one other chance to return.
To eliminate the student consistently feeling the need to drop with each new crisis is that we have the instructors watch and be very aware of attendance/grades/attitude. Should any of these things begin to slide we immediately call for an intervention with out retention coordinator. Nine times out of ten the student remains in school and knows they can come to us with situations that may arise. Obviously we can't solve all issues but there may be some things that can be done.
Hello Lisa,
The policy that your institution has adopted is good so far as allowing students who have dropped to have only one more chance to return. You must let students know that your institution does not have revolving doors, and also it teaches them that you should not want to quit every time a situation arises. The situation needs to be worked through. At my institution, we always watch for "red flags" a change in attitude, attendance, behavior, grades, etc., these are all potential signs that a student my drop out. I along with my entire team monitor retention daily because it is a constant battle. Nothing bothers me more than for a student to drop out of school. From time to time, you may have a student to fall off the face of the earth without having any red flags. My entire team begins to call, email, write letters, etc., and we do whatever needs to be done to track the student down. My overall retention rate for 2007 is 93%. If you can save one student, it makes a difference. We would love to retain all students but that is definitely a challenge.
Patricia
What has worked best for myself is personal coaching and counseling. I show them I'm truly interested in their success( I really am, which makes it easy for me). I've only had 1 student quit out of my class in 3 1/2 years, out of 600 students I've taught. Being genuine is key.
Hi Joseph,
Retention is a constant battle! I do all sorts of personal coaching and counseling, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Nothing frustrates me more than to see a student quit. I try everything under the sun to not have studens quit, but I win some, and I lose some. My favorite motto is, "A student doesn't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." You are right being geniune is key.
Patricia
I think students in certain programs should be advised to sole search to the extent to decide if they really want to continue with the program and if the career path they have chosen is the right one for them. In addition, some time spent in an actual setting of this career choice may be necessary for them to make this decision.
I like to look for those "red flags" in their admissions process. Our program is exciting and fulfilling but very challenging. I want the prospective student to be fully aware of the challenges this program will present. I put together a very detailed orientation for the students before they start the program and give them the opportunity to ask questions of current students and graduates before they make their decision. Realizing too that we will still enroll students that may at times feel everything is over their heads, we look to one on one counseling and tutoring to try to turn things around.
Hi Joni,
Ready to quit students are always a challenge. I am the retention coordinator at my institution, and I have to always look for "red flags" once students have started school. I am real good at detecting "red flags". I tend to have other instructors as well other students talk to ready to quit students whenever I can not reach the student. We have a solid counseling and tutoring program in place as well that have saved many students.
Patricia
Hello Tammy,
At my institution whenever a committee decides that a student is not right for a particular program, normally based on academics/abilities. The committee makes recommendations for the student to switch to a different program, but the ultimate decision is left up to the student.
Patricia
There are times when life's demands are too great for students to be able to manage all that is being required of them. I suggest that students assess their situations from a realistic standpoint to see if the timing is right for them to attend college. Once they make their assessment, I sit down with them to discuss what they decided and then I accept that. I believe that as faculty we are to encourage our students when they are feeling overwhelmed or discouraged. Pushing a student to continue when their time would be better spent reorganizing their lives so they will be more successful in the future seems to be our responsibility as well. We are to help them to be successful and sometimes that means supporting their decisions.
Hello Tiffany,
I understand exactly what you are saying. At times when students feel as though they must quit school, sometimes we as educators/retention coordinators must support their decisions. I had a young lady with a serious medical issue last grading period, and she wanted to continue, but according to doctor's orders she had to quit, therefore I had to support her decision because health is the most important. I have had to support other students' decisions based on sever financial problems,personal problems, etc. they had to quit school. I have had students to come back to school once they reshaped their lives.
Patricia
I agree. Student come to my school from all over the country and beyond. In some cases they are not financially, or emotionally prepared to be away from home. We have a team of people from concerned departments to work with these student but a few still don't make it. Student retention has become a top priority at my school and new programs have been put in place to evaluate and inform prospective student .
Hello Bernie,
Student retention is always a constant battle. At my institution 98% of the student body is from surrounding areas, and retention is still very challenging. It is simply the nature of the business, retention is always at the top of the things to do list.
Patricia
I always try to check the back round of my students before a new class to see if there are any students that have taken the course before and that way I will know which students I should direct extra help towards to help them not be a repeat drop out or fail the course. If the student has had a problem before I will be better prepared for it.
Hi Bruce,
I generally know if a student is repeating a course, and as an educator, you really like to try to make a special effort to help the student succeed.
Patricia
As instructors we must first talk to the student who are ready to quit and find out the reasons behind their decision.
One of the reasons I find is lack of self confidence. I am a math teacher and I know that lot of students have fear of math. They believe they will never be able to learn math. I always encourage them and try to boost their confidence. I give them my own example how I overcame the fear of math at high school.
They may have social and other reasons. We must always try our best to help them overcome their problems.
Hi Bharat,
Ready to quit students is a constant battle. You are right, we must get to the root of the problem. At my institution, we get the entire personnel involved in retention. We have done extremely well with our retention over the last 18 weeks by getting everyone involved when students are ready to quit.
Patricia
for those particular students i can usually relate well. I listen to their situations and let them know (without deluting) that i have been in similar situations as them. I will tell them what helped me get through and if not what ways might work for them. One good thing is i have been there done that.
Hi Rick,
Experience is the best teacher. You probably know how to better sympathize and empathize with these type students based on your experiences. I am sure you have great advice to give them. Try to retain as many as possible!
Patricia
the key to help a student is to make sure we are believable and that we are there to help because we want to, not because we have to
