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 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

www.up.ac.za

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