professor ana naidoo and professor nthabiseng ogude [email protected] an institutional approach...
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Professor Ana Naidoo and
Professor Nthabiseng Ogude [email protected]
AN INSTITUTIONAL APPROACH TO
IMPROVING STUDENT RETENTION AND
SUCCESS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
PRETORIA
www.up.ac.za
WELCOMING DAY
www.up.ac.za
UP IN A NUTSHELL
• Large, research intensive institution • Tuition in both Afrikaans and English• Total of 61 500 students in 2012 • 45 000 contact students
13 155 PG 31 872 UG contact 8382 first-year 54.7% Female 46.9% Black
5 Campuses 9 FacultiesLemmens 2012 (ICP)
www.up.ac.za
VISION/GOAL
To provide a holistic quality undergraduate education experience: Lay a foundation for a holistic UG
education and improve graduation and throughput rates
Review the educational model (how we teach)
Address the demands of a diverse student population (who we teach) [UP Strategic Plan - 2025]
www.up.ac.za
MODEL DEVELOPMENT
Previous UP student success practices (10 years)
Research Question: Model to suit UP : SA context
Best practices: (Literature review, conferences, expert input – Kuh, Gardner)
Academic involvement : Deputy Deans Steering Committee for Student Access and
Success
www.up.ac.za
Ogude,Kilfoil & du Plessis, 2012
www.up.ac.za
IMPLICATIONS OF THE MODEL
How to determine and address
Institutional readiness
Faculty readiness
Student readiness
Faculties are caught in the middle – how do they change??
www.up.ac.za
STUDENT ACADEMIC READINESS SURVEY
STARS RESULTS
www.up.ac.za
WHAT HAVE WE CHANGED?
COLLABORATION.. COLLABORATION…collaboration
Providing support structures for students Surveying students on their perceptions
of readiness for university preparedness Reflecting on the profile of students Foregrounding high impact modules that
prevent students from progressing or completing their qualifications
www.up.ac.za
7. Lecturer roles
5. Tutor model4. Tutoring
2. Academic counselling
8. Evaluation processes
1. Personal development
(DSA)
6. Tutor training
3. Academic literacies
PROVIDING SUPPORTSTRUCTURES – ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT – DEI
www.up.ac.za
REFLECTING ON THE PROFILE OF STUDENTS
A failing school system
Students with top marks
Under-prepared students
Financially disadvantaged students
www.up.ac.za
SKILLS(Study;Test-taking;Tme-
management)
1st generation;Self –efficacy; Engagement
Financial; Accommodation
MentorsStudent Counsellors
Residences/Client Services
STARS RESULTS
Faculty Student Advisor
support, career/ programme choice
SURVEYING STUDENTS ...
... FOR UNIVERSITY PREPAREDNESS
www.up.ac.za
FOREGROUNDING HIGH IMPACT MODULES (HIMs) First-year modules that
– form the core of the degree– support ease of progression into subsequent years of
study– are prerequisites for many other modules/ programmes– have large enrolments
Core modules in any year that are particularly relevant for specialization
Modules that have the potential to impact on PIs such as graduation rates
www.up.ac.za
UNIT FOR ACADEMIC LITERACY
From the newly developed study guide:
Students graduating from a thousand different high schools are distributed along an academic literacy continuum reflecting differences in schooling, language competence and aptitude. This module accommodates that differentiation through individualised learning pathways during the first six months of the programme, thereby reducing the disadvantage inherent in those differences.
www.up.ac.za
MENTORS & FACULTY ADVISORS
Each faculty has :• Trained mentors from the undergraduate senior students• A faculty advisor employed specifically to direct students
to the various support structures present within the faculty intersection HIMs & At-risk
Positions are on annual contracts
Community of practice as part of the development programme
www.up.ac.za
TUTORING SYSTEMS
Use of senior students
Each faculty has :• An education consultant for teaching
development• Tutors to provide academic support to students
3 systems available:• Supplemental instruction• Tutor sessions• e-tutoring
SI – Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science
E-tutoring – Statistics
Tutors for High Impact Modules
www.up.ac.za
WHERE DO WE HAVE INPUT?
Orientation• Skills required
Pre-Orientation
• On-line course
Integrated into the disciplines
www.up.ac.za
LECTURER SUPPORT
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Model Use
University-wide initiative
Cognitive
NBT & Grade 12 & University performance
Non-cognitive
STARS – psycho-social
“At- risk” students/ modules
Faculty and departmentally monitored tutoring, mentoring and advising
www.up.ac.za
STUDENT FEEDBACK
www.up.ac.za