Tips for Faculty to Help Retain Students

Most students enroll in their courses with the intention of completing them by the end of the semester. However, most students decide within the first four to six weeks of the semester whether they will stay or leave the University. Faculty plays a major role in encouraging students to persist in their classes. Thus, it is important that faculty set the learning environment beginning on the first day of class. A few tips are shared below:

• Be enthusiastic! Students know when you enjoy teaching your subject matter.
• Provide a syllabus via online or paper copy. Make sure the students understand the syllabus and the course policies. Don’t make assumptions! Also share what you expect from the students and give them the opportunity to share what they expect from you and the class.
• Engage students on the first day of class! Don’t dismiss class early just because it is the first day. Students need to know that each day is important, especially the first day.
• Get to know your students! Learn their names.  When students are not engaged or connected to their instructors, they are more likely to drop out.
• Arrive to class early to engage with your students about issues that matter to them other than your course materials.
• On the rare occasion when you do have to miss class, please inform your students in advance so they will not lose time wondering if you will show up. When students show up to sign the roster and leave it on the desk, it sends the wrong message – “this class is not important” or “that you do not care.” 
• If a student is absent, call or email the student inquiring of his or her whereabouts. A personal call or email sends a real message to the student that you care about him or her. If you cannot contact the student, send an Early Alert to the ORAS at retention.office@aamu.edu. Remember, when a student begins missing a few classes, it can quickly become a habit and they will begin missing more.
• Encourage students in your class to form small buddy groups so they can check up on each other when they are missing in action.
• Provide reassurance to students when they need a word of encouragement to keep them moving toward graduation. Many students have competing responsibilities (work, family) which adversely affects their academic performance.
• Provide many opportunities for students to experience success.
• Encourage students to question concepts, theories, and others’ points of view. It does not motivate them to squash their expressions and/or offer sarcastic feedback. They need your thoughtful guidance and unconditional support.
• Provide opportunities for students to interact with each other both in and out of the classroom – to build a sense of community.
• Engage your students in the learning process using a variety of instructional strategies other than lecture; design interesting and creative assignments, etc.
• Teach students to learn the content in your discipline.
• Give students immediate feedback on their assignments, tests, quizzes, projects, presentations, portfolios, etc. They deserve it! Students perform better when they know how they stand in their classes. Having a graded paper returned two weeks after it was turned in does not positively reinforce the learning process.
• Maintain ethical standards at all times!

Sources: ORAS team members, AAMU faculty and staff, non-AAMU faculty and staff