Student Success and Student Retention are two new projects being managed by Student Services.
Yesterday, we featured details on the Student Success Project which is focussing on improving student experience amongst underrepresented groups. Today, we will be exploring the Student Retention project which aims to identify how, as a university, we can ensure better engagement, progression and retention rates amongst our students.
The project team are in the process of developing mainstream approaches that can reach all students, but particularly those who are disengaged with university life.
Supporting these students will enable us to more clearly identify the issues and circumstances that lead to student disengagement, thereby giving us the opportunity to establish a greater support network for currently vulnerable students, and those who may become vulnerable in the future.
Click here to view a flow diagram summarising the Student Retention Project.
Specific objectives include:
- Establishing an early warning system to help identify students who are disengaged with the university system.
- Developing a harmonised withdrawals process across the university and improving the data we hold on withdrawal rates, ensuring we are able to accurately report on these going forward.
- Improving the support offered to students who consider both repeating and suspending their studies.
In addition to this, the project team are also looking at how to better support staff in supporting students going through these processes.
Already, there have been a number of successes to date. The project team are currently rolling out an Early Warning System which will identify when students are disengaged with university life. This is based on students’ interaction with various university systems, including use of our online learning platform, access to the library and use of the PCs and printers.
Although the system is still in the pilot phase, it has already highlighted 22 first year students and 46 second/third year students who have engaged with university systems significantly less than their peers. These students will now be offered support and the chance to feedback on any issues which may impacting their studies. The pilot is currently operating in two faculties.
In addition, the team have also drafted a revised withdrawals process that will offer a greater baseline of support to all students considering withdrawal, and are now developing an implementation plan.
Both these and future initiatives will have been informed by cross-university working groups involving individuals from professional services, faculties and Union Southampton.
To get involved with the project or for further information, please contact the project team by emailing: [email protected]
