Job Discussion Forums

[Tamara]

A rose by any other name....right?

I work in a community college setting teaching ESL. One issue our program has faced for a long time is student retention. Now, we retain many students, but the records wouldn't show it because from one semester to the next, the student changes names. This is particularly the case with our Hispanic population, what with two last names and all.

I've proposed the solution of allowing for two last names, but the data entry folks seem to think it's not possible with our program. It is, I tell you, but they don't want the extra hassle.

It's not so much about what name a student tells us should go on his/her file, as getting said student to keep using that name throughout a career with our program.

Any other experiences similar? Can anyone offer suggestions or solutions you've tried? Any that worked?

Thanks

[Gordon]

What about issuing them a card. That card is required when they register and if they lose the card, they must pay a fee for its replacement. Numbers would correspond with their names and numbers are easier to keep track of than names.

[Tamara]

Hi, Gordon. Thanks for joining this thread.

Our program issues student numbers and IDs. However, numbers are usually only given to students who don't prove they have a social security number or tax payer ID. Also, it seems not everyone gets a card.

I know they try to look up students when they return after an absence to see if they're in the system. Heck, they look up all the students. The problem is that if a returning student gives a different name than previously used, our people can't find them in the database.

Your suggestion seems to make sense. We have strengthened our efforts to issue cards at registration, and hopefully that helps out. It will take a couple of semesters to determine if that makes a difference.

Thanks again, and everyone else who reads, please keep the suggestions coming.