Remedial Mentors & Student Advisors –

Supports That Lead to Success for

Health Care Aide Students & Lower Attrition Rates for Colleges

Presented by: Boris WoytowichAssociate Chair, HCA Program

Objectives:

1. Describe trends occurring in HCA Programming that led to concerns.

2. Describe how we chose to address our concerns.

3. Discuss how our strategy has impacted student success and attrition rates.

4. Discuss plans (and hopes) for the future for our HCA Program.

Overall Trends in HCA Programs in Alberta

• Positive job market led to increased enrolment from diverse groups

• HCA students were coming increasingly with greater needs

• Students and/or instructors were asking for more support than before

• Concerns about student successes forced us to have to look at the situation

Goals Set for 2014-1015

• Attrition rates for the 2012/13 academic year were 25%

• Attrition rates for the 2013/14 academic year were 29%

Our goal for the 2014/15 academic year was to maintain or stay below 20%.

The Model We Chose

Dimensions of RetentionEnroll

StudentsLikely to Persist

KnowWhy Stu-

dentsLeave

Interveneto PreventAttrition

DeliverDesired

Experiences

ReframeSignificanceof Attrition

Organizeto Ad-dress

Retention Issues

TrackAt Risk

Students

PromiseOnly What

We Can Deliver

The 8 Retention

Dimensions

Maguire Associates. (2014). Eight Dimensions of Retention.

Knowing Why Students Leave

Intervene to PreventAttrition

• Refer students to college services

• Create a Remedial Mentor position

• Create a Student Advisor position

The Remedial Mentor’s Role

• 1:1 and Group Support Sessions• Remedial Labs • Lunch & Learns• Exam Reviews• Re-Entry Program • Lab and Clinical Practicum

Support• Orientation for New Instructors

Tracking the Remedial Mentor’s Influence

2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-20140

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

18

25

29

12

1614

NorQuest College Health Care Aide Program Attrition RatesReasons Within Our Influence vs. Beyond Our Influence

Academic Years 2011 - 2014

Total % Withdrawn Total % Within Influence

Academic Year

Perc

enta

ge

The Student Advisor’s Role

• Advising/Supporting Students• Providing Information &

Promoting the HCA Program• Liaison With Other Departments• HCA Department Management• Instructing and Cover Off• Orientation for New Staff• Supporting Instructional Staff

Tracking the Student Advisor’s Influence

What it Takes to be a HCA Student Mentor or Advisor

Are We Excited Yet?

Many Thanks to Our Team

To the supportive team in our HCA Program that put all this together:

Chair: Sharleen RavnsborgRemedial Mentor: Roxanne ThompsonStudent Advisor: Jaylee LesewickProgram Administrator: Leslie Marquardt

and Clayton for his enthusiasm!

And Thanks to All of You

References

Carole A. Estabrooks, Janet E. Squires, Heather L. Carleton, Greta G. Cummings and Peter G. Norton. (2015). Who is Looking After Mom and Dad? Unregulated Workers in Canadian Long-Term Care Homes. Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement. doi:10.1017/S0714980814000506

Maguire Associates. (2014). Eight Dimensions of Retention. Retrieved from: www.magnapubs.com/about-us/press-releases/121410

NorQuest College. (2015). Health Care Aide Program Yearly Statistical Data Reports, 2011-2014.

NorQuest College. (2015). Program Review Data Package Health Care Aide.

NorQuest College. (2015). Remedial Mentor’s Annual Report.

NorQuest College. (2015). Student Advisor’s Annual Report.

Health Care Aide Self Screening Questions

1. Do you have a clear Criminal Record?2. Are you able to bend, squat, and lift up to 40 pounds?3. Are you comfortable giving close personal care to both males and females?4. Are you able to read the print on prescription bottles?5. Are you able to be on your feet up to 6 hours per day?6. Clinical practicum starts at 6:45 AM do you have child care in place for these 5 weeks?7. The program costs approximately $4000.00 do you have funding available?8. Do you have English 10-1 or equivalent?9. Are you able to work in crowed, noisy, busy environments?10. Are you comfortable working with people from a variety of cultures and religions?11. Do you respond positively to constructive feedback?12. Are you able to hear a whisper, soft beeping or telephone ringing?