Tony Cook Student Retention and Transition STAR

The STAR project (Student Transition and Retention) Documenting and disseminating good practice associated with student transition. – Guidelines – STAR Studies – Web site ( ) – Active dissemination

Take home messages Students have to change quickly and in many different ways Some of the problems are of our making Solutions can be applied before and after entry

TRANSITIONS

Managing transition End point Start point Independent, enthusiastic, involved, communicative, present, reflective ? sober

University Parent Teacher Student journey Choosing pre entry qualifications Choosing subject Choosing institutions Choosing degree subject Applying Selecting Passing Enrolment Engaging Induction Succeeding

Dimensions of Transition What changes do we expect of our first year students? – Social adjustment to independence – Work/study/student lifestyle balance – Intrinsic motivation – Curriculum changes – Assessment changes – Cope with staff relationship changes

The effect of A level score

Pre entry qualifications Most do precisely what they say – And no more. Many students are ill prepared Pre-HE performance can be a proxy for other background variables Pre-HE performance may not measure what we value.

Disadvantage Mostly first generation students – Lack of cultural capital Poor advice Low expectations of themselves Inaccurate expectations of University.

Causes of poor transition False prospectus Buyer’s remorse/ survivor’s syndrome Events

Solutions Better information to applicants Courses delivering what is advertised Developmental teaching of literacy and numeracy Better communication of standards through formative assessment.

Information to applicants Start induction on application Influence the advisors – Parents and teachers Get prospective students on campus in term time (interviews, taster courses) Put them in contact with existing students

Effect of pre entry mentoring December 2003 First term retention June 2004 Year One retention June 2005 Year Two retention Subject group (56) With mentors 54 (96%)51 (91%) Control group (34) Without mentors 30 (88%)26 (76%)22 (65%) Dan Bennett (2009) Brighton

Homestart Aimed at students living at home – A programme of workshops and social events “good, because in Freshers’ week, people in Halls had made friends already, and we had friends through Homestart.” “It gave me a sense of belonging and a chance to meet others who understood the travelling.”

Induction Start at Application… sometimes before – Newsletters/ information – Interviews/ visits/ taster courses – Initial induction Extends to semester 2. – Social events -student/ student- student /staff – Small group teaching – Study skills Don’t lose sight of the goal- independence.

Longer term solutions Merge full-time and part-time students – Accounting at the module level Funding Student success Post Qualification Application – Start at Christmas? Design a course to suit those who attend it

STAR Products Davies, Cook & Rushton (2007) How to get your kids through University. Accent Press Cook & Rushton (2009) How to Recruit and Retain Higher Education Students: a handbook of good practice. Routledge STAR Studies-

And finally Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome." – Isaac Asimov Of course there's a lot of knowledge in Universities: the freshmen bring a little in; the graduates don't take much away, so knowledge sort of accumulates – Lawrence Lowell