Deep Dive into Student Retention Strategies for Hybrid Accelerated Health Care Programs

This article is a continuation of our exploration into student retention within Hybrid Accelerated Health Care Programs (HAHPs). In Part 1, we discussed challenges and admissions, onboarding, and curriculum design strategies of student retention in HAHPs. In this follow-up, we will explore the comprehensive student support structures that are essential for cultivating a culture of success in HAHPs.

Comprehensive Student Support Structure

Retention often hinges on the quality and accessibility of student support structures. In HAHPs, support must be scaffolded, building upon various layers—from peer interaction to faculty mentorship and professional guidance from institutional services.

Academic Coaching Program

A well-designed Academic Coaching Program can significantly improve retention by fostering ongoing communication between students and faculty. Students are assigned an Academic Coach at the program's start, who acts as a mentor throughout their academic journey.  

Academic Coaches help monitor academic performance and provide targeted feedback, facilitating both remedial efforts and personal development; offer guidance on career-building and professional identity formation, assisting students in shaping their roles as future health care providers; and provide support and guidance to students experiencing personal issues that may affect their academic performance.  

Dr. Black comments on the importance of a faculty-led academic coaching program: “Over and over again, I hear students say they want more time with faculty, in a non-academic outside of the classroom” a solid coaching program promotes this type of access for students.  

Director of Student Affairs (DSA)

The DSA plays a pivotal role in overseeing student success. Their responsibilities include:  

• establishing and overseeing the Faculty Coaching Program

• training faculty members to be effective mentors who can identify early signs of academic struggles or personal issues among students

• maintaining visibility over the academic performance of individual students and the overall student cohort

• serving as the liaison to student services within the university

University Student Services

While the Faculty Coach and DSA handle much of the day-to-day support for students, university-wide services are essential to the student support structure. These services can provide:

1. Counseling services for students dealing with mental health challenges or stress.  

2. Financial aid counseling to help students navigate the costs of their education and manage any financial stressors that could impact their studies.

3. Academic support services, such as learning accommodations or tutoring to assist students struggling with coursework.

Student Success Interventions and Strategies

When students show signs of academic or personal difficulties, timely and targeted interventions are critical. Institutions must have strategies to identify struggling students early and offer the necessary resources to help them succeed.  

Regular Faculty Touchpoints  

Faculty coaches should schedule regular check-ins with their students. These can be both formal meetings and informal conversations designed to assess students’ well-being, academic progress, and any challenges they may be facing.

It is also important for students to build meaningful connections with faculty outside of the academic setting. This fosters a sense of community and support, which is critical for student retention. It helps students feel more personally invested in their educational journey and more confident in seeking guidance when challenges arise.

Performance Tracking and Early Warning Systems

Institutions should employ performance-tracking systems that provide weekly updates on student progress. This allows faculty to identify at-risk students based on declining performance or engagement metrics and implement intervention strategies to address personal challenges and alter their learning trajectory.  

Learning Management Systems (LMS) and other learning assessment platforms are invaluable tools for monitoring student engagement and performance. This data-driven approach allows for earlier intervention, preventing minor struggles from becoming major academic crises.

Root Cause Analysis and Remediation  

For students who are identified as at-risk, it is essential to dig deeper into the reasons behind their struggles. Faculty can conduct a root cause analysis to identify underlying issues, whether academic, personal, or related to study habits.  

Remediation plans, which may involve additional tutoring, changes in study strategies, or scheduling adjustments, can be put in place to address these issues and guide the student back to success.

Peer Support Strategies

Peer support is essential in a hybrid, accelerated learning model. Dr. Black notes, “The students that struggle the most are ones that do not have connections in the classroom, don’t have someone they can rely on and talk to about how difficult the program is.”  

To mitigate this, innovative curriculum design, instructor-facilitated groups, or voluntary peer mentoring programs can provide students with the sense of community they need to avoid isolation and feel supported throughout the program.  

Dr. Black adds, “I have particularly found that the group coaching meetings are really important helping the students to understand that they can actually learn a lot from each other, it also gives them the opportunity to recognize shared experiences and trust in being able to being able to rely on their peers.”    

Student Strategies  

Students also play a crucial role in their success in HAHPs. Maintaining health and wellness during their accelerated education is critical, as the program's demands can be intense.

Establishing a regimented study schedule and staying organized is essential for keeping up with coursework.  

Open communication with Faculty coaches and the Director of Student Affairs is also important. When students experience personal or academic struggles, early notification allows faculty to intervene and provide support before the situation becomes a crisis that could lead to dropping from the program.

Conclusion

Student retention in hybrid accelerated health care programs requires a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach that addresses the various factors influencing student success. Institutions can significantly improve retention outcomes from admissions processes that carefully assess student readiness to scaffolded support systems that monitor and mentor students throughout their academic journey.  

By fostering inclusive, engaging learning environments and maintaining strong faculty and peer support networks, students are more likely to thrive in these demanding programs.