Why wait until Day 1?
Retention and success starts from offer of place – A programme to
identify, intervene and prepare students for a successful first year
Kurtis Bell
Student Services
Improve Success & Retention Rates
Increase student satisfaction
Increase student engagement
• Tertiary Readiness Programmes
• Orientation
• Professional advice and support
• Cultural support
• FYE monitoring and peer intervention
• Peer Mentoring
• Social & Cultural activities
Over the next hour
• Background
• What we do
• Is it working?
8 Public (Government Funded) Universities
8 Public (Government Funded) Universities
Capped Environment
5% of Government funding now linked to student
performance outcomes
Became a university in 2000
26,000 students – one of the largest in NZ
Encouraging access to benefit community
Application
Offer Sent
Confirms Offer
Orientation
Semester Begins
Application
Offer Sent
Confirms Offer
Orientation
Semester Begins
STudent Analysis of Readiness Tool
Gathers and analyses student information
Identifies students for intervention
How they gained admission into the university
Special Admission
AES (Internal)
AES (External)
NZ Secondary School Academic Achievement
Low NCEA Score
Socio-economic Status of Secondary School
Low Socio-economic Status
Student’s Programme of Study
Historical failure/non-completion rates
Student Readiness Survey
Employment
Language
Technology
Commitments
Social
Study Choice
First in Family
Goals
Finances
Where did these indicators come from?
• Research from the literature
• Reviews of institutional exit surveys/interviews
• Analysis of historical student outcome data
• Interviews with support staff
• Collaboration with Faculty and other stakeholders
Entrance Method
NCEA Score
School Decile
Programme of Study
Student Readiness Survey
}
Final Score
Final Score
8
0
4
8
9
3
2
5
9
7
3
7
4
Example of a High Priority Student
Special
Admission
Low NCEA
Score
Low Decile
School
Enrolling on a programme with historically
high failure/non-completion rates at AUT
Working 30
hours/week
Sport & Church 15
hours/ week
First in
Family
Unsure of how will finance
study
AUT Response
Application
Offer Sent
Confirms Offer
Orientation
Semester Begins
This supplements existing activity
• Tertiary Readiness Programmes
• Orientation
• FYE monitoring and peer intervention
• Peer Mentoring
• Social & Cultural activities
Is it working?
83%
65%
50%
High Priority students
(not case managed)
High Priority students
(case managed)
AUT Average
Course successful completion rate. Preliminary findings
Is it working?
High Priority students
(case managed)
Higher Success Rates
High Priority students
(not case managed)
Lower Success Rates
Students feel well supported
Focus for Student Advisors
Concentrate proactive outreach
Discussion & Questions
Feedback on overall approach
Discussion of challenges
Questions or points to clarify
Summary
Learning more about incoming students
Proactively contacting those with factors that could
impact success
Supporting these students from as soon as they confirm
offer
Summary
Continuing support throughout semester/year as needed
Positive results so far
Continuing development with faculty, learning & teaching
stakeholders
Why wait until Day 1?
Retention and success starts from offer of place – A programme to
identify, intervene and prepare students for a successful first year.
Kurtis Bell