Policies and strategies for widening access and assuring success in an Australian university

Professor Sue Willis Pro Vice Chancellor )Social Inclusion)sue.willis@monash.edu.auData prepared by Dr Lucie Joschko

Australia 2009: the 40/20 challenge

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2025: Increase to 40% the total number of young adults (25-34 years) who have degrees (was 29%)

2020: Ensure that people from the lowest SES quartile are a reasonable share (20%) of undergraduates (was 16.3%)

Australia 2009: the national strategy

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Remove limits on the number of undergraduate students universities can enrol

Provide extra funding for low SES enrolment

Set improvement targets for each university

Target student income support more fairly

Monash Directions 2025

Monash 2010: the “20”challenge

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Monash campuses – target communities

Parkville

Caulfield

Clayton

Peninsula

Berwick

Gippsland

Monash 2010: the 40/20 challenge

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Metropolitan campuses

Applications increasingEntry requirements rising

High demand/high ‘tariff’ entry

Growing in size

Decline in low SES proportion

Monash 2010: the 40/20 challenge

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Outer urban and rural campuses

Disadvantaged, low rate of progress to H Ed Entry requirements rising (to match metro)

Low demand/high ‘tariff’ entry

Decreasing in size

High low SES proportion

Monash 2010: Office of PVC (Social inclusion)

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Strategic and operational

Determine targets and strategy

Coordinate and focus activity

University wide approach

Every stage from application to graduate outcomes

Monitor outcomes

Monash 2010: the “20” challenge

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16% of domestic undergraduates to be from low SES communities by 2020

Improvement across all fields, courses and campuses of the University

Entry standards to remain high to assure the quality and reputation of a Monash degree

Low SES participation strategy

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Students aim for higher education

University offers them a place

Students graduate with good prospects

Low SES participation strategy – Students aim for higher education

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S1: Engage with schools

S2: Engage with communities — schools and families — adult learners

Students aim for higher education

Low SES participation strategy – University offers them a place

“the very best [students] should be admitted to Monash irrespective of their means and circumstances”

Monash 2025: Strategic Directions

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Low SES participation strategy – University offers them a place

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S3: Enhance pathways

S4: Seek talent

(Based on evidence)

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ATAR Monash ATAR Floor

Data Source: Office of Planning and Quality, Bachelor’s Pass Admission data

Achievement – Bachelors domestic students 2007-10

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First year achievement – Bachelor’s pass domestic students 2007-10

Data Source: Office of Planning and Quality, Bachelor’s Pass Admission data

HD: 80-100

D: 70-79

C:60-69

P: 50-59

Monash ATAR Floor17

Low SES participation strategy – University offers them a place

S3: Enhance pathways

S4: Seek talent

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Achievement commencing undergraduates (school leavers) 2010

Data Source: Office of Planning and Quality, Bachelor’s Pass Admission data 19

In an expanding sector — drawing on the untapped talent in under

represented groups protects quality.

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Which students ‘take up’ the offer of a place?

Data source: Monash University, Office of Planning and Quality, Victorian Tertiary Admission data

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Low SES participation strategy – “first generation” students

Monash connect — enrolment and return from deferment

— the first year experience

— retention

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Low SES participation strategy – Students graduate with good prospects

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S5: Optimize transition and progress

S6: Produce high quality graduates

Graduate Employment – domestic bachelor graduates 2008-10

Data Source: AGS- Graduate Destination Survey Full Time Employment (2008-2010 combined data) 24

Graduate Salaries – domestic bachelor graduates 2008-10

Data Source: AGS- Graduate Destination Survey Full Time Employment (2008-2010 combined data) 25

Further Study – domestic bachelor graduates 2008-10

Data Source: AGS - Graduate Destination Survey Further Study (2008-2010 combined data) 26

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Towards Social Inclusion

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