Get Your Students Hired
Faculty involvement is an essential aspect of any successful educational program. Students need to trust and enjoy learning from their instructors, and faculty members play a crucial role in fostering this positive learning environment. However, in the case of the college I work for, an online school, there is no in-person orientation or equivalent for new students. This means that there are no opportunities for students to establish a personal connection with their instructors. Despite this limitation, there may be other ways to ensure that students feel supported and engaged in their online learning experience.
A well planned Orientation will help student retention and provide support to students. I like the idea that the Director of the Education should take the lead in planning a good Orientation, but have the support of faculty and administrative staff to make it a fun and successful Orientation. Faculty members are crucial for students to meet at Orientations. I do love the idea of having a picture taken when students start and hang it for them to feel like they belong.
Students really want to know that the faculty teaching them has real world experience in what they are teaching and where they anticipate working after graduation.
I like the tips/ things to include in ACADEMIC MEETINS:
1. Classmate Testimonials
2. Classmate Interactions
3. Class Picture
4. Welcome Packets
I've noticed that once students have met me in person at least once, they tend to reach out for help/communicate with me much more often than students who have not met me. I think introducing myself to students during their orientation would be a great way for them to see me and realize that I am a resource to them.
Orientation should be fun and have full involvement with all faculty and staff to interact with each other. But most importantly have students, grads/alum to attend and participate.
I like how this included list of exactly what sort of things should be included in orientation like attendance, attire, academic support, classroom behavior.
discuss all important programmatic information so they know up front; introduce all staff and have them provide a small background about their experience and what they bring to the table; create a welcome pack to send home with the students.
I feel that we have done a good job with orientation but think we can get faculty more involved.
Key components;
Statements from the faculty regarding what they like about teaching.
Reinforce the institution's ability to prepare students for the workplace.
Set clear expectations for the classroom environment.
It is very important for faculty members to attend the orientation because they play a critical and key role in retention efforts. It's also important for them to create s relationship with the students.
Meeting faculty, instructors, and even other students ahead of time gives you a great opportunity to exchange information with each other for better communication about who your team is and what you will be doing in order to succeed.
Prepare items that will give confidence to the student that they are part of something larger than themselves.
I love having the faculty involved with orientation. It gives the student additional faces to look for if they are lost are need help.
I am going to start applying more ways for the students to interact with each other in the classroom, but also outside of the class.
I enjoyed reading how important faculty involvement is during orientation. I also found it helpful that faculty should include personal information to allow students to see the instructors as a person and "approachable". My question would be, should all representatives of other departments include this personal touch in their presentations, such as financial aid, student services, etc.?
All faculty should attend orientation. Too often we see just program directors at orientation. Having students meet their instructors and learn a few things about their background will make students feel more comfortable when they come to the first day of class.
A welcome folder with all informations needed for the term would be a wonderful idea. In my class i do a welcome orientation via zoom which consist of the agenda and expectations in the class. All instructors attend so we can introduce ourselves and provide guidance on how to navigate the 10 week term we have.