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Student Retention in a Tech Driven Culture

HVAC Excellence Conference 2014Las Vegas, NV

Soneka K. Kamuhuza

Porter and Chester Institute

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About Me

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Exercise

FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF

YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED

WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF MANY YEARS.

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Building the case

6We need to rethink the ‘HOW’ of education

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U

RSA.ORG

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Anhedonia

“Anhedonia refers to the reduced ability to experience pleasure. And it is a phenomenon

that is growing in leaps and bounds.”

Excerpt From: Hart, Archibald. “Thrilled to Death.

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Anhedonia

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Abandon hope all ye’

Technology is here to stayEmbrace the change

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THE PLAN

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Keys

•Understand demographics•Know your metrics•Understand your business–Inventory management

• Train, train, train•Staff buy-in

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AgeRace

GenderEducation

Demographics

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Demographics

–Diverse–Multicultural–Gen X, Y & Baby Boomers–Technologic awareness

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35%

65%

Gender

FemaleMale

14%36%

23% 11% 6%

7%

3%

Age Range

17-19 20-24 25-29 30-3435-39 40-49 50+

52%

24%

17%7%

Ethnicity

White HispanicAfrican American Other

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MetricsWhere are you leaking?

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Business of the business

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Would you trust these people with $625,000.00?

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Student Costs

Acquisition Costs

Retention Costs

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Train, train, train

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• Reduce instructor turnover.

• Eliminate mediocre instructors who tend to

increase attrition. •Ensure that prepared and

trained faculty are in consistent rotation in our

classrooms.

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TOP STRATEGIES & TACTICS

• Tutoring• Academic support and programs• Honors programs for academically

advanced• Mandatory advising by professionals, one on

one• Practical experience in their intended major• Programs designed specifically for new

students• Mandatory faculty advising, one on one• Early alert and intervention systems

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• Instructor 1 on 1’s– Develop rapport

with students

• 1st hr 1st Call– Instructor calls all

absent (at roll) students

• All activity documented– Automatic triggers

• Absence emails and texts

• Technology helpdesk

• SOS Meetings• Attrition Meetings• Facebook, LinkedIn,

Twitter, Instagram• Food, food, food

Attrition Plan

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• Attendance competitions

• Honors boards• Graduation board• Baby board• Awards ceremonies– In class in front of

peers

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Ultimately

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Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

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“BURP”

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