Faculty Intention for Student Retention

Fall 2021: Weeks 5 & 6

Resources for Connecting With Students

Connect. Care. Calendar. Each of these play a role in student retention.

The following tips, the first in a series delivered during the semester, suggest ways faculty may foster student connections, communicate their care and concern to students, and support students as they navigate through their college career.

I look forward to engaging with you in ongoing conversations about helping more students experience more academic success. Feel free to contact me anytime and keep scrolling to get to CFE opportunities related to student retention.

Connie Schaffer, Ed.D.
Director, UNO Center for Faculty Excellence

cschaffer@unomaha.edu

Connection Tip:

Connect Students to Students

Peer connections can lead to study groups that can have a powerful impact on student performance on assignments and exams. A network of peers can also help a student get caught up when they miss a class due to illness or emergencies and in navigating other challenges they may face.

Faculty can…

Help form student study groups to connect students and enhance peer support and engagement.
Structure class time that allows students to collaborate in pairs or small groups.

Care-Centered Teaching Tip:

Reach Out to Students Who Have Missed Classes

Do you have a student who has missed two or more classes? Reach out and learn why they are missing, put them in contact with another student who might help them stay caught up, or connect them to applicable resources (CAPS; advisors; the Nebraska Medicine UNO Health Center; Financial Support and Scholarships; Accessibility Services Center; etc.) as needed.

Faculty can…

Check Canvas to see the extent that students have accessed the course and engaged with course content.
Offer to help or meet with students when providing feedback on early assignments and assessments.

Calendar Tip

Reinforce Important Due Dates and Exam Dates

Give your students concrete steps they can take now to prepare for the upcoming weeks. Encourage them to look at the schedules in their other courses to identify if they will have similar due dates that might need to be factored into their preparation timeline. Encourage students to plan for these deadlines in accordance with other important campus-wide deadlines, as well.

Faculty can…

Provide tips on preparing and getting started so significant projects are not too overwhelming.
Share information on academic support centers and how they can be helpful.
Have students submit rough drafts for early feedback or allow class time for peer feedback of drafts.

Keep These Upcoming Dates in Mind

October 15: Last day to file application for December 2021 graduation

Enrollment for Spring 2022 (including the Three-Week January Session):

October 25 – Graduate Students
October 27 – Seniors
October 29 – Juniors
November 2 – Sophomores
November 4 – Freshmen
November 8 – Open Enrollment

November 5 Last day to:

Withdraw via MavLINK from a course with a grade of "W"
Change a course to "Audit" (full tuition rate applies)
Change to Credit/No Credit grading option in a course or to change from Credit/No Credit back to grade registration

Opportunities to Learn More

Connecting Students Workshop

Learn strategies to connect students to other students in online and in-person environments. Led by Tammie Kennedy, Exploratory Studies. Monday, Sept. 27 and Thursday, Sept. 30.

TABS

Sign up for week 6, 7, and 8. Rolling registrations through October 6

Teaching Practices Workshop

Offered by the STEM TRAIL Center, Friday Oct. 1

Relationship-Rich Education: Book Discussion

Led by Shari DeVeney, last Tuesday of the month

Take Care of Yourself

Whole-Person Wellness Drop-ins for Faculty and Staff, every Wednesday

Keep Teaching Series

Offered by the Office of Digital Learning

For a complete list of events and opportunities, visit the UNO Center for Faculty Excellence calendar of events.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha is an equal opportunity educator and employer with a comprehensive plan for diversity.

Learn more about Equity, Access and Diversity on our campus.