Original Query from Deana Fischer, MSU for Seniors,
Mankato State, MN
Do any ILRs keep track of the percentage of people who originally
sign up for courses and then actually attend? We seem to have a high sign-up
rate, but much lower attendance rate, and we are wondering if other ILRs
have the same experiences. Our sign-up time is sometimes three months
prior to actual attendance, usually less than that.
From Don Tritschler, Salem State Explorers ILR,
Salem State College, MA
We at the Salem State Explorers in Massachusetts have about 80% or less
attendance by those who enroll in courses. Many of them do not keep dependable
records of what they requested. We find that a call from a class assistant
helps bring some of them in, if they don't show on the fist day of class.
We've also begun over-enrolling for classes with a limit. We haven't started
offering money yet, as the airlines once did, to dis-enroll when a class
is overenrolled. Our enrollment dates are about a month before the beginning
of classes. Good luck. It's a difficult problem to solve.
From Berny Dumoff, ILR, Albertus Magnus College,
New Haven, CT
We find that that initial attendance at the first class of a course varies
from course to course. Most courses show 90 to 100 percent attendance.
However, we find that those courses with very large registrations (40
or more) will probably show about an 80 percent attendance, not only for
the first but for all sessions. We appoint one member of each class as
a liaison to take attendance and to call each person who does not appear
for the first class to determine whether or not he/she will attend later
classes.
From Nancy Gluck, LIfetime Learners Institute,
Norwalk Community College, CT
We do take attendance in our classes. Our overall attendance rate fluctuates
in the low 70% range: 70-72%. Although it does vary from class to class.
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