Dr. Susan Schulz

HI Krista Sounds like maybe your Placement Department needs to learn about the programs you offer for students to start their own business. Then the Placement Department might be able to offer workshops to supplement what is already taught. "Starting Your Own Business" classes are very popular. You would invite the community as well. While in the course new people can learn about all the offerings at your school. Another example of how the Placement Department can increase enrollment. Best wishes Susan

HI Krista Always a problem to get students to show up or do anything. Have you thought about the placement contract that students sign committing to complete all placement activities? With that list what you expect them to do starting with employment skills training, getting ready to dress for success, etc. And put consequences in place for not adhering to their signed agreement. Best wishes Susan

Hi Hildie What you have pointed out so well is that one has to use many strategies to reach the goal. Thanks Susan

Hi Sheila Thanks for sharing the information. You certainly provided many ways to easily contact you plus an incentive. How much did it increase responses? Another idea is to include the survey on your website. That's even easier. And make the survey easy to use while getting the info you want. best wishes Susan

Hi Hildie Really great idea to survey students with the questions you posed. Now the challenge is to get responses. It's not easy. Traditionally people don't like to respond to surveys. It's a pain. So what to do? Keep asking in a variety of ways. Make it painless. Keep asking often. Figure out how to motivate students. Ask them when you see them in the hall. It's the information you want. Any way you can get it. Anyone have techniques that work to improve survey responses? Best wishes Susan

Thanks. Really very helpful. Susan

HI Amy and Hildie Interesting dilemma. Maybe the poorly performing students need to take extra "placement" training in order to quaify for job leads. Offer remediation on how to develop rapport with prospective employers. Best wishes Susan

Hi Hildie A placement agreement sounds great. Can you make it available to all of us. Thanks Susan

Hi Hildie It's always natural to work with our best students. But the ones who don't pick up the leads are probably those who need the most help. The satisfaction takes longer. But people know when you have given up on them or are going the extra mile. Best wishes Susan

Hi To discover roadblocks or how effective any strategy is suggest you plan ongoing outcomes assessments. You can use surveys, meetings, or anything to get information about how something is working. Best wishes Susan