Higher Education faculty are expected to offer office hours. Unfortunately, many students do not utilize them. This may be due to intimidation, poor scheduling, inconvenience, or the fear of still being “just a number.” To counter this, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College rolled out its Office Hour Initiative (OHI) in Fall 2017.
In fall 2017, the departments of English and Math at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College implemented the Office Hour Initiative (OHI). Through this initiative, students are encouraged to reach out to their instructors when life gets in the way or they find themselves struggling. If students do not reach out, faculty step in, encouraging students to schedule an 'office hour' with them in order to get students back on track. In just one semester (fall 2017), both English and Math saw increases in student success rates (grades of "C" or better) and retention. Learn more about the initiative and its success by attending this session.
Office Hours Initiative: Math and English, Fall '17 & Spring '18
When do I get a student involved?
- students who miss an assessment/high-stakes assignment (even the 1st one)
- After week 2, when a student has a running/average grade of “C” or lower (note: once the student shows consistent progress and gets their average over a “C”, they are no longer required, but encouraged, to attend)
- Before the 65% mark, to establish if there is still time to get a student back on track and to reestablish a commitment to the course (will result in a “W”)
- After the 65% mark, if a student disappears, loses contact, or if you notice a decline in academic performance or sudden change in behavior (can no longer “W”, so trying to prevent an “F”)
What qualifies as an “office hour”?
- A student signs up for a 30-minute slot during your regularly scheduled office hours
- A virtual appointment
- A phone call discussion
- Visiting the tutoring center and providing documentation of visit (**note: if the student is unable or uncomfortable to meet with the instructor)
Why are we doing this?
- To improve retention
- To establish personal connections between instructor and student
- To make sure that communication remains open throughout the semester between student and faculty member
- Because students do not often take advantage of office hours and this would encourage them to do so
- To make students more successful
- So office hours serve their purpose
What happens if a student does not attend?
- Follow-up, attempt to reschedule/schedule an appointment: 1) email, 2) phone, 3) involve Chair
- After three attempts, if the student has still not made contact, please submit all documentation to your Chair
- The faculty member and Chair will then decide if it is in the student’s best interest to withdraw/be withdrawn from the class
What this is NOT:
- Institutional (yet); the plan is to pilot in the largest divisions in fall 2017 and spring 2018; possibly, will go institutional-wide in fall 2018
- Faculty advising (yet)
- Social hour