They Came, They Saw, They Left: Reflections on Student Retention Professor Andrew McAuley Future of Learning in Higher Education Summit 16-17 th February 2015
Aug 04, 2015
They Came, They Saw, They Left:
Reflections on Student Retention
Professor Andrew McAuley
Future of Learning in Higher Education Summit16-17th February 2015
Overview
• Scoping the Issue
• Big Data & Little People
• Lessons Learnt & Strategies Refined for the Future
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e %
2012 Attrition - Domestic UG Commencing
Source: Department of Education & Training
Sector Avg 19.5%
SCU 31%(Adjusted 24%)
Adjusted SectorAvg 13.5%
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0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Internal External Multi-Modal All AttendanceModes
Attrition by Attendance Mode
Counting the Cost
8
Cost of Attrition to
SCU19-22 $M
Reduce to the Sector
Average
Increase Revenue by
7 $M
Re-Structure of Student Services
• Three new teams:
• Future Students Team (FST)
• Student Engagement & Retention Team
• Student Administration Team (SAT)
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Early Identification System
12
At risk & successful
student identification
Live data fed via dashboard
to staff
Linked to investment in a
new CRM 2015
13
2013 Improved Student
Feedback
Instant feedback via
phone app/web
2014 pilot of New Unit Feedback
System
Roll out in 2015
• Credible and responsive
• Open and honest representation of the University
• Helpful and try to answer in first instance
• Seek timely assistance where necessary
• Know the audience
• Conversational language
0 50 100 150 200
Safety and Security
SCU Events
Technical
Uncategorised
Administrative
Personal
Teaching & Learning
Services
555 Posts by Category
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Administrative Services Teaching and Learning
Administrative Process 44 Infrastructure/Facilities 50 Unit Content 26
Pulse Process 12 Technical Services 25 Learning Sites 22
Teaching Calendar 2 Library 24 Technical Difficulties 21
Other 14 SCU Outlets 23 Mode of Delivery 17
Student Representation 15 Study Materials & Text 21
Health/Wellbeing 6 Staff Related 11
Other 26 Results 9
Other 34
Total 72 169 161
Pre-Arrival
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• Personal & Academic Preparedness
• Bridging Courses• Self-Assessment
Example Initiatives
First Session
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• UniMentoring• Early Engagement
Campaign• At Risk Monitoring• Peer Assisted Study
Sessions
Example Initiatives
Learner Engagement & Peer to Peer Pilot
• A 2014 initiative from SERT
• Borrowed from QUT
• Students employed and trained to engage with peers in the learning space
• Aimed at connecting students to information, services & resources
• Call from another student well received
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Probably Seems Obvious
• No easy fix dealing with a multi-faceted issue• Let’s have more conversations with staff and
students• Listening to students and their expectations• Guiding them through Transition and
Orientation• Trying to change the culture of the frontline• Let’s be innovate; don’t keep doing what we
have always done
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Steve Jobs (1955-2011)
• Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently --they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.
Session 1 , 2015
• Following on from the Learner Engagement Pilot, 13 Session 1 units serving 75% of our first year students are being supported
• Expanding UniMentoring• With mentor 76% returned in 2014
• Without mentor 69% returned
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Are We There Yet?
• No, but we have a clearer understanding of our position, the strategic direction for the future and an increasing range of tactical responses to address the issue of retention and student success.
• First Year satisfaction reached 76% having been at 70% for a number of years.
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Trying to Build….
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…a whole of institution response, geared to delivering results.
…a University where the Student Experience is the driver behind every decision we make.