Get Your Students Hired
We do a lot already. We have an annual picnic, we have 2 Tech-fests per year, where teams compete (like a science fair), and we have two "Student Appreciation Week" recognitions.
New students go through a formal Orientation, and are required to take a Strategies class which helps them adapt to the rigors of college life.
We recently started local chapters of national associations that relate to the students' field of study.
Sounds like you have your activity group working in the right areas. What about activities that include career themes... guest speakers... tours to places of employment? The key is to keep the vision alive. Does this make sense?
I believe that our school has mny student based activities in place. We have an active student council that organizes dances, contests, fun games and physical activities fro the students. This is overseen by a dedicated group of faculty advisors. The school also has an active ACF (American Culinary Federation)chapter w/ many Insrutors involved. This opens professional/industry oppertunities to the students through several avenues. Not to say that there can always be more...I think we could benifit from a book club and possibly join forces with some local charities and/or downtown parterships.
Our school has workshops and events that our students can get involved with to motivate and inspire them to pursue their career path. We are also in the process of coming up with other activities to get the student body involved with each other and the faculty and staff, especially those who are from out of town.
I think that our school needs to help students become more involved. We do have a student council, but I think that some of our students don't get involved because they feel it is exculsive and feel that it is only for a slect few.
Student Council along with faculty representatives conduct many throughout the year;
Dances, Talent Shows, Game Nights, YMCA Night (basketball and slaughterball), fundraisers for school teams and charities etc.through community functions such as 4 gallery Crawls each year and cooking and Baking competitions
The Eta Sigma Delta Society
The American Culinary Federation and the Chaine des Rotisseurs are all outside organizations that students can get involved with while still in school.
There are many functions throughout the year that the school is involved with that are community oriented that students are involved with.
At our school we do the following:
• We proudly display pictures of recent graduates in our “Graduation Hallway”
• The Student Services Director plans a monthly event for the students to be involved in; it could be a Jersey day, crazy hat day, theme dress if there is a holiday or special day during the particular month
• We recognize honor students at graduation by asking them to speak to the graduating class
• Two or three times a year, if the students donate a dollar to a chosen charity they may wear “jeans” to school. The event is organized and run by students and the students select the charity.
• The student club will have a Pizza Day and sell pizza by the slice and the money goes to an event they chose. Last month they help fund the cost of GED testing for three of our ATB students.
New events that will be implemented:
• Beginning Cum Laude recognition at graduation. Their name listed in the graduation brochure, and each student will wear a different color cord.
• Beginning a “Student Advisory” committee and ask them for input to help with student retention and how to make the school more successful from their point of view.
I believe that a day at the river with a cookout could be a fun moral building exercise.
We currently have a monthly activity in place for the students, but i am excited about implementing some new ideas from this lesson.
Mostly everything that has been mentioned in this module are already in place at out school. Our school is a trades school and in the winter time the students go out to do weatherization and repairs to senior citizens homes in the community. It gives the students practice and it gives them the opportunity to help those who are less fortunate.
The problem again is we have students nationwide, so we really cannot put together any localized activites. Do you have any suggestions?
At our campus we have developed student clubs that directly relate to their specific field of study. These are official chapters so there are many benefits. We have the officers of the club make a presentation during orientation and also during the first quarter for the new students. In addition, the club members serve as mentors for the new students. So, if a new student is having issues, they can discuss it with a fellow student if that is what makes them confortable. We have found that the mentor will guide them to talk to a staff member for guidance (in most cases).
We also have scheduled student appreciation activities through out each quarter. Last year, we had very discounted tickets for our students to a professional baseball game, we have a student picnic in late spring and we also have scheduled field trips to our local industry leaders' facilities.
Here at the school I teach at we have open house and at that time we have contest for current and future students and give out prizes. We also do things through out the year besides just open house events that's more for student retention. I think it works we'll.
Each quarter, we try to do at least one social event for our students. Recognizing that most of our population are working adults, we end classes early or start them late so that the activities are during class time. They range from simply having donuts and coffee before class to all campus holiday parties.
We also have created a club on campus that encourages community involvement. They have bake sales, clothes drives, etc....to help give back to the community. We are also going to have them start helping with the graduation ceremony.
We find that the more activities we have on campus the better. We have lots of clubs for students to involve themselves in. We also have a Halloween, and Holiday party that encourages students to bring their kids into the school. We have once a qtr Student Appreciation days where we give the students lunch/dinner. As well as we recognize their good work throuhg certificates for good grades/ good attendance.
Seasonal activities such as fall theme or spring, summer, etc.
Specific holiday activities such as christmas, thanksgiving, easter, halloween.
Toys for tots during the holidays.
Feed the hungry program.
Holiday baskets
We have a list, and we have implemented so many of the same strategies which are mentioned here. But, we still lose students. I think that our missing piece is the bonding of the students to each other and to the school. So for us, it isn't so much about creating the involvement activities, because they do exist. I think it will be about making them more effective.
within the last year we implemented the student council and that has helped bond students together. we have discussed other activities; however, we have not made any decisions as of yet.
Develop a list of ideal school involvement activities that can be implemented in your school to increase student retention.