When students come to me for advice about staying in school or dropping out of school to provide for their family? I have a hard time seeing them drop out of school.. I wish they was more help for our students....

As I prepared to study and complete the RT 101 course, I was inspired to share my thoughts on taking this course. Even though I did not think much of thses course in the past I am here to say I have a re-newed attitude. Before unlocking the course I kept thinking to myself, "get this done so I can knock it off my to do list". But in the spirit of learning more so I can do better, I suddenly decided; its time to go back to the basics. So I started this course by reading the entire introduction. Seriously, I read every page. Even thought the title is self explanatory, this time I refused to let my "know it all" ego have the last word. After reading the introduction, my excitement for this approach inspired this post. In the last course I took, I tried avoiding the post but it was required for completion. And I wonder why students unconsciously approach learning as I do. Wow! Anyway, this is my first of at least three post. All discussion post to follow will be topic specific. I just wanted to share an honest observation and revelation about my self. thank you, Tyrone Williams

I really enjoyed mod 1. The topic hit home. I thought I was monitoring correctly until now. I left out the f/u with a call portion. And, so I immediately called a few of my students to follow up and they were pleasantly surprised. I will continue to monitor better. I wasn't aware that students really appreciate a call from their instructor. I will start calling students when they are mia from now on. Thank you!!

What does your campus' techniques to reach external customers

Mystery shoppers help our company by giving an unseen sight into the customers point of view. Do you think mystery shoppers actually benefit your company?

Where do the FERPA rights of students restrict my gaining information? I don't want to ask for information about a student that they told to a counselor in confidence.

After many years of instruction, I have found that in order for my students to be successful, they have to overcome the fear of failure. Henry Ford said, "Failure is just an opportunity to start over more intelligently." I believe that many students quit because they are afraid of failure. When they realize that mistakes are not only acceptable but a necessary part of learning, they begin to feel more confident and less likely to feel inadequate in comparison to their peers.

How do I know where my responsibility for student retention ends and the students' own responsibility begins? Sometimes I feel like I am being pressured to assure success even at the cost of allowing my students to take ownership of their own learning. I don't feel like they will be successful in the real world if they don't learn to commit themselves to putting out their best effort, but I feel like am pressured to assure passing not necessarily learning.

What is the best way to bring awareness to the student of the pitfalls they may encounter in completing their program?

Hvving a career service advisor can help with retention . Students need that extra push .

Student involvement around campus can create great retention of students. Having some type of involvement is a motivataton of accomplishment .

Orentation can also have a impact on student retention. I think orientation should be the basic , on the fisrt day of class the instructor/Program Director talk's more in depth about th expectation of program .

I think student retention atarts at the moment they come on to campus . It's the relationship they build first with the admission rep's. financial rep's, instructors.

Many students have an unrealistic view of their employment opportunities upon graduation. They are quickly brought back to earth once they start working and their expectations are in line with their experience and background. Many don't realize that supervisory employees are in their current positions through hard work and receiving job promotions after working many years for the same organization. Nothing comes easy and there is no recipe for instant success in the work place - just through hard work and dedication!

I found this section particularly interesting and valuable since we just completed our annual graduation ceremony and, as always, it was a wonderful event. I'm fortunate to have a co-worker who has taken ownership of this activity and it is always successful. Not all our graduates are able to return for the ceremony - they may have relocated to another state or perhaps are working and cannot take the day off. To see the faces of the students, their friends, and family members is something that I want to be involved with on a regular basis! It is so rewarding when you have personal knowledge of the struggles and challenges that some have faced before walking across that stage.

My campus has a student leadership team that mentors new and current students in various aspects of their education during their time on campus. They look out for students who are having difficulty in their courses and tutor them in various subjects. They also are our eyes and ears in the classroom and encourage their fellow classmates to become involved in student activities. It is no wonder that they are looked up to by both staff and students!

Effective placement and employment skills training positively impacts retention. Employment skills activities are ways for students to carify goals and values and make self discoveries that impact on their retention.

Successful retention strategies are about early and continuous intervention. Students who are involved with other students as well as faculy and staff tend to persist in school.

I work at a culinary college and a campus tour is certainly a wake up call to those prospective students who are enthralled by the Food Network! You will not be leisurely working in a designer kitchen wearing whatever you have in your closet or desire to wear that particular day! This is a demanding profession and unfortunately many students are not physically or mentally fit to handle the rigors of this career. I know that I couldn't do it! A campus tour brings students back to the reality of this career - they see current students working at stoves/ovens in hot kitchens trying to meet deadlines to have their dishes completed on time. Welcome to the real world!

Mentoring is a way for a school to demonstrate its caring for students, and mentoring are among the many strategies that increase retention.