As I was reading through this Module, I was thinking back to my days in college and which classes I was more successful in than others. One of the biggest things that came to mind was the relationship I built with some of my professors. I worked harder in those classes because I did not want to fall behind. In Grad school, I had one professor for 5 of my graduate classes. He was without a doubt one of the best instructors I ever had. I learned how to be a better teacher from him based on the things he… >>>

My school doesn't have formal mentors. As I read this article, I tried to think of how this would work for an online school. Only two of our programs are in-person, and the rest are online and remote. Do we ask program directors and instructors for names of students who have been successful in their programs?  Have we just assumed that since we are online, this isn't possible, but there must be a way?  Anyone who has a mentor program and whose school is online. I would love to pick your brain for some ideas on how to make it… >>>

As a member of the student services team, I am reminded that retention is everyone's responsibility. This article mentions many points we all need to remember. We need to consider why students want to go to school and what their goals in life are.  I like the idea of a questionnaire for students about the programs they are interested in.  By asking questions about what the program is and sharing information at this level, students will know what to expect. This will give them time to make informed decisions. While I don't work in admissions, this will help me understand… >>>

Orientation is the sample of what is to come. We need to make orientation not only informative, but it should also be easy, interactive and fun. This is the first experience that the student will have. They need to see everyone as their biggest cheerleaders, and that they will have a whole team behind them to ensure their success. 

I consider it a valuable practice to understand each student's individual goals, needs and experiences. Building meaningful connections with students and engaging them with current students can help create a supportive environment. 

Supporting our students on all levels. Seeing them as a whole, they are not just a student. They are a whole person with a story that comes with them way before they started school. Stressors are unavoidable but helping them during the cycle is what will help them see to that they can keep going and achieve their dream. 

Retention is a campus wide effort; we all play a role in keeping our students. The student's journey is not linear, they are bound to have ups and downs. We need to be proactive in recognizing red flags. 

Most students leave programs because of personal issues that have nothing to do with the program. It is important to make students feel seen and heard. This can make a big difference and maybe offering the solutions that they may not have thought of. 

Retention is a group effort. Making sure that we are catching those troubled students before it is too late. 

An effective and active placement department is an integral part of a school's retention plan. When there is an effective placement department the student clearly sees there are other options than dropping out. Students can learn to overcome fear of failure to get a job by learning the skills to get offers