Professor Ana Naidoo and Professor Nthabiseng Ogude - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Professor Ana Naidoo

and

Professor Nthabiseng Ogude ana.naidoo@up.ac.za

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 Faculties

Lemmens 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 STARS RESULTS

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WHAT HAVE WE CHANGED?

COLLABORATION.. COLLABORATION…

collaboration

• Providing support structures for students
• Surveying students on their perceptions
• f 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 model
• 4. Tutoring
• 2. Academic

counselling

• 8. Evaluation

processes

• 1. Personal

development (DSA)

• 6. Tutor

training

• 3. Academic

literacies

PROVIDING SUPPORT STRUCTURES – ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT – DEI

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REFLECTING ON THE PROFILE OF STUDENTS

A failing school system

Students with top marks Under-prepared students

Financially disadvantaged students

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SKILLS (Study;Test- taking;Tme- management) SKILLS (Study;Test- taking;Tme- management) 1st generation; Self –efficacy; Engagement 1st generation; Self –efficacy; Engagement Financial; Accommodation Financial; Accommodation

Mentors Student Counsellors Residences/ Client Services

STARS RESULTS STARS RESULTS

Faculty Student Advisor

support, career/ programme choice

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
• n 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

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LECTURER SUPPORT

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Model Use 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

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STUDENT FEEDBACK

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