To increase retention it is important to focus on student social and academic inttegration.

I beleive this is a very important factor in students attrition. I have seen this first hand and it has worked both ways. I had a student come to me in her first MOD ready to withdraw. I asked her to give us one more MOD and if she still felt the sam way we would go from there. I spoke with her instructor and told him some ways to fix it. He went in and asked her to teach some of the newer students a procedure in lab and from that minute forward she did a complete turn around and is now one of our top students. I have also seen the power of making them feel important backfire as well. We have a student who is the leader in her class but not in a positive way. When the attention is put on her she projects that power in a negetive way so we have learned to not give her the attention and she does just fine.

I feel it is important to set high standards in every classroom. Students love to be challenged! When students are engaged and excited about their field, there is nothing more rewarding. Other students who might feel behind in the course still feel this excitement and it feeds off of each other. Now the student body feels as if they are apart of something special. If you can approach the classroom environment with this type of perspective, you will succeed and so will your students.

As an instructor, I feel that making a positive connection with my students really helps with overall retention.

Is it true that the customer is always right? In the event that they are not, how would you approach the situation.

I have had the opportunity of being on both sides...I have been a teacher as well as a School Director and Director of Education and I have learned through my experience that everyone in the school should share the responsibility of retaining students. Admissions has the unique opportunity of being the first person that potential students develop a relationship with and therefore should be an active participant in the student's time at the school because I have found that students tend to trust the admissions reps. Instructors are critical in the role of retention because they are with the students for a significant length of time and can develop rapport and can also observe changes in the student over time. While administration is expected to meet "retention" goals on paper, they should also maintain an active role in helping the students to succeed because it does matter to students that campus leadership cares enough about them to stay involved in their education. The more students believe that people care about them, the more likely they will be to think twice when the possibility of dropping arises.

How do we identify all the students who are posing a risk? I feel like sometimes there is a disconnect between admissions and education. I had one student tell me that he only picked his program b/c the admissions rep told him he would get bored in another program. It's essential to have a strong working relationship with admissions.

I often find that after I have been presenting for a few minutes many of the students start to doze off or look off. I know what I am showing them isn't the most interesting thing in the world, but what do you do when you get that really quiet and non-interactive group?

We have students that speak during our orientation but I love the idea of having the students go around and talk to the new students while they are waiting for orientation to start. This will definitely help with them being nervous.

I feel that we need to keep all lines of communications open with the students throughout the entire time the student is here not just during orientation. Letting them know that you are there for them right away will help alleviate their fears.

Job placement is such a motivating factor to the success of that student. This is probably one of the first questions that a perspective student asks in the admissions process. If one looks at the overall "big picture" this is the final step and goal of their educational journey! The ability to provide a comprehensive employment skills training is a vital component. This is a huge step to prepare the student for their employment....and it begins NOW...don't wait until the last minute or even after graduation!

I cannot speak more on this topic. It is so crucial to the overall academic success of our students! It is so important that not just my self, as the Program Director, but for my instructors to know and understand their students. They have to be "in tune" and recognize when things may shift within their lives because it can and will ultimately interrupt their academic studies. For example, as i arrive to work this morning i had an email from my Academic Dean that my instructor came to her last night during class about concerns with a student. Come to find out that the student was having a financial hardship and resources were needed. We were able to immediately react and provide what we could through our food pantry here at the campus. But, immediately the Director of Student Affairs was contacted and she will now be able to provide the resources needed for this student. None of this would have happened if it wasn't for my instructor being "in tune" with the students and understanding them as a whole person! Early intervention is the key!

I have implemented a student mentoring program with the senior students to the freshman students. This has been an integral part of the retention process in the program. Retention is usually that one thing that we are trying to improve always. The ability to provide this assistance for another student has given such a positive jump start to the retention movement. If you do not have a mentoring program implemented, please do it! It truly works!

I feel that it is imperative that each program director can sit and have a face to face interview with the perspective candidate for their program. I also feel it very crucial to work closely with the admissions department so that there is an open line of coomunication. THis also helps establish the relationship that the admissions reps will reach out and find out the true detials to quesitons that they know nothing about. I have really made sure that I work hand in hand with the admissions team, because truly it is a two-way street that needs to be walked by both deparmtnets to ensure quality education for that perspective student!

How do people incorporate other students into their orientations?

Instructors have a very important role in retention. Sometimes it is difficult to connect with students because instructors teach so many classes. I like to use the Dear Teacher letter as a means to connect. This is just a weekly writing telling me how their week has been and they are allowed to write about anything. They also ask me questions and I answer them, making the letters more personal. This way I get to learn about issues they are having and they feel a connection to me. Sometimes you just have to ask. Like the reading said, many students wait until it is too late to ask for help.

First impressions mean everything. I was walking through the hallway and had something on my mind and did not greet a new student, later i had that student in one of my classes and the student didnt warm up to me for days later i talked to the student and found out they were holding on to the moment that i did not great them to make them feel welcome.

I believe that consistence is the key. You have to let the student know that you are there and always asking how the are and if they need anything. That lets them know you care and your always following up with them and monitoring them at all times.

my mentor allowed me to think on my feet and be able to learn from my mistakes.