skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

JD, Usha Vance visit Greenland as Trump administration eyes territory; Maine nurses, medical workers call for improved staffing ratios; Court orders WA to rewrite CAFO dairy operation permit regulations; MS aims to expand Fresh Start Act to cut recidivism.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The Dept. of Health and Human Services prepares to cut 10,000 more jobs. Election officials are unsure if a Trump executive order will be enacted, and Republicans in Congress say they aim to cut NPR and PBS funding.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Rural folks face significant clean air and water risks due to EPA cutbacks, a group of policymakers is working to expand rural health care via mobile clinics, and a new study maps Montana's news landscape.

Faculty mentor program at NC college increases retention

play audio
Play

Monday, January 20, 2025   

A college in North Carolina has developed an innovative model that lets faculty mentor students.

Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem is connecting students with faculty for guidance and support.

Katina Barksdale is associate dean of the Transfer Excellent and Success division at Forsyth Tech.

"We know from the research that if students feel a connection to even just one or two staff or faculty on campus, their retention and persistence rates increase considerably," said Barksdale, "especially when they have a connection with a faculty or staff member outside of a classroom. That's even more impactful."

Barksdale said faculty mentors help in a variety of areas. They ensure students know about career fairs and transfer events, and are aware of job opportunities.

Faculty members also have professional insights and can provide students with resources, depending on where they are in their higher education journey. Students still have a team of advisors to help them as well.

Of course, there have been challenges. Barksdale said technical and career-focused students have classes with a core group of faculty and so they also know their mentor.

But for college transfer programs, there are more professors and so a student might not have classes with their faculty mentor. Barksdale said the mentors' job in these cases is to be intentional about reaching out.

"Sending messages at the right time in the semester, in the right format," said Barksdale, "texts are more effective that emails - just letting the students know we're here, here's how I can help you, and being available during our student hours for students to make appointments to meet with us if they want to."

Barksdale said a program like this might seem daunting, but it's fulfilling to connect with students.

"Our aim is to help you beyond," said Barksdale. "When you leave here, where are you headed, what is your plan, how will this degree program fit with your career aspirations? And we have many students who stay in touch with their faculty and send emails and let us know how they're doing, years after they leave us."

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.




get more stories like this via email

more stories
Mississippi's three-year recidivism rate reached 40% in 2023, according to state task force data - among the highest in the United States. (Pixabay)

Social Issues

play sound

For thousands of Mississippians leaving prison each year, a single question looms large: Who will hire me? State lawmakers could remove some of the …


Health and Wellness

play sound

Rural communities in Missouri are bracing for a tough reality as they plan ahead for the possibility of federal cuts to programs such as Medicaid…

Environment

play sound

Groups in Pennsylvania are asking Congress to preserve federal clean-energy tax incentives. Concerned about the possible repeal of 30% energy tax …


Biosolids, also known as sewage sludge, were applied to farms in Johnson County as fertilizer to boost crop fertility. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

play sound

By Sara Hashemi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration John…

Environment

play sound

West Virginians are more concerned about bird flu's effect on grocery costs rather than health implications, and Republican voters are more likely to …

According to 2024 DEA laboratory testing, five of 10 pills tested contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

The federal HALT Fentanyl Act advancing through Congress would increase prison time for fentanyl traffickers. Kentuckians convicted on distribution …

Social Issues

play sound

Labor groups representing thousands of Minnesota state workers find themselves at serious odds with Gov. Tim Walz over his move this week to reduce …

Social Issues

play sound

Minnesota lawmakers this session are emphasizing new protocols to shield state agencies from fraud. A watchdog group says so far, it appears they're …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021