I find that it is essential to develop relationships with the students before any problems arise. If you have a good rapor with all students and show a genuine concern about each individual, he/she will feel comfortable coming to you if the need arises. Also, the student will not feel that you are prying into his/her personal affairs but that you are truly concerned.

Based on many years of teaching experience, I find that the first obstacle most students must overcome is a lack of self-confidence. In many instances, I found that once I convinced the student that he/she was capable of comprehending the subject matter, he/she was able to approach learning with a more positive attitude. The results in most cases were remarkable.

I feel that for a retention program to be successful all departments must work together for the betterment of the student. There should be interaction between admissions, faculty, and placement to follow a student's progress from orientation to graduation.