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Virginia College News

Virginia College Online, which offers students a wide array of career education programs via the Internet, has experienced tremendous enrollment growth in the last two years. While that success has allowed thousands of people from all over the globe to continue their education in a way that met their schedules and lifestyle, it has also led to another challenge.

Virginia College Online president Stan Banks explains: "Because of the nature of on-line education, it is often easy to lose students, and especially early in the process. When life challenges come along or they feel they are too far behind to continue, some simply stop attending class. Students do not have that day-to-day. in-person support that our on-ground campuses offer. When many of them encounter challenges or simply realize that this is 'real' school, they may get behind in class to the point that they feel they cannot catch up. That is when we lose them."

With the help of the school's Student Services department, Dean of Students Shana Garrett, and Vice-president of Operations Jason Biddy, the school recently launched its SAVE OUR STUDENTS (SOS) campaign. There were two primary goals. First, the group set out to determine what made students drop out of school so early in their experience. Then they developed a concentrated effort to help them--whenever possible--to overcome those problems and complete their dreams of a degree and a new career.

The findings led to some truly heartwarming stories, as well as opportunities for the school to fulfill its promise of being resourceful and enabling when it came to working with students.

For example, one student fell behind in class attendance, and when contacted by an SOS team member, it was clear why. Her grown son had been diagnosed with stage four cancer and she was traveling to his hometown out of state to help him. She wanted to continue her studies but assumed it would not be possible. When a plan was worked out with her instructors to allow her to make up missed work, she was right back on track. She continues making progress toward graduation even as she assists her son in his challenge.

In another similar instance, a student was falling behind in attendance when he was reached by a team member. Again, the student had a good reason but he, too, wanted to continue with school. His wife and infant daughter had been in an auto accident involving a drunk driver and his daughter was in a coma for three weeks. Though she was doing much better, the student assumed he was too far behind to catch up. But SOS team members were able to work with his instructors to allow him to make up work and resume regular attendance.

"It is true that many of the students we contact simply are not ready for the challenges of school or expected it to be 'easy,'" Banks says. "In those cases we counsel them and show them what continuing their education can mean to them. We give them study tips and try to motivate them. But some of the stories are truly inspiring. When people face such difficult challenges and still desperately want to complete their education, we try to do all we can to enable them to do so. We will find a way. I hope students who face relatively minor problems will be motivated by those who truly have challenges but continue with their education."

Banks pointed out that the SOS group's proactive plan to contact students and see why they are not logging in to class is the key. Some students either assume there is no alternative to dropping out or they are reluctant to ask instructors or staff for help when they feel overwhelmed. Some have minor technical problems that can be quickly solved by the 24/7 support department--if they are made aware of the problem. Often a simple solution like a reduced course load for a quarter is all it takes to keep the students in school and on track to graduate.

There have been several examples of personal issues causing students to want to withdraw, but working with Career Services to find alternatives, it often turns out that those "issues" were not so overwhelming after all.

"We are thrilled that the SOS program has kept so many students from withdrawing," Banks says. "Our promise to every student is to give him or her the skills needed to be successful. With just a little help here and there, we can keep them on track for that degree. Our students are not just a number. They are real people with real dreams, and we want to keep those dreams alive if we can."

The SOS program will likely be extended to Virginia College on-ground campuses as well.