solving the tef through student centricity
TRANSCRIPT
Managing DirectorJeremy Cooper
Solving the TEF Through Student Centricity
Universities UK Annual Conference
7 September 2016
Director Student SuccessBenjamin Stein
Harder than ever to get the right student to the
university
Retaining students becomes critical
Connecting students with their future
The critical change over the last few years is that the vast majority of universities are no longer in a process of selecting; they are in a process of recruiting. Very few institutions have been able to both increase their average tariff and increase student numbers. The price of expansion for most institutions is a lowering of the entry threshold.
The HE market for hopes and dreams: UCAS on results dayWonkhe
Harder than ever to get the right student to the
university
Retaining students becomes critical
Connecting students with their future
Such variability is not simply a statistic, nor even simply a squandering of taxpayers’ money. It is worse: it represents thousands of life opportunities wasted, of young dreams unfulfilled, all because of teaching that was not as good as it should have been, or because students were recruited who were not capable of benefitting from higher education.
Success as a Knowledge Economy: Teaching Excellence, Social Mobility and Student Choice
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
“Every student who does not continue in higher education means a loss of potential, a bad experience for that student and poor value for the taxpayer, as the investment in tuition costs is likely to have a low return.”
Staying the CourseSeveral institutions are making progress on both WP and retention at the same time
Investments in the student experience overall do pay off, as shown by the correlation between student satisfaction and retention
Overall variation in retention rates is worryingly large.
Staying the CourseThe largest group of institutions are making progress on both widening participation and improving continuation rates
No correlation between improving widening participation and worsening continuation rates
We should be able to do both.
Staying the Course
Higher student satisfaction in general is correlated to lower non-continuation rates
But what strategies work best?
How to respond: defining student-centricity
Awash in jargon
Orienting university resources, people and process around their potential impact on the student
A mindset that encompasses and supports retention, engagement, satisfaction and other critical concepts
Retention&
student satisfaction
Nurturing belonging
Engagement with people
Make it easier to connect
Make it personal
Identify disconnected students
Rooted in research
Our approach to student-centricity
Retention What is harder to measureGiving every student the best opportunity to complete his or her degree programme
Focusing on underserved or underperforming populations
What is measured: qualitative assessmentTEF: HESA non-continuation rates; NSS questions
Two sides of retention and satisfaction
Those who consider withdrawal
Nurturing belonging
We know what works
”[T]he institution, department, programme and module should all nurture a culture of belonging through the way they function and relate to people.”
“Where students reported that they would be able to turn to a variety of support services…students are less likely to have considered dropping out of university.”
Academic sphere Professional services
People make the difference
Engagement with people
I. Make it easier to connect
II. Make it personal III. Find disengaged students
- Harness existing data- Capture qualitative
professional input
“Nurturing belonging and improving retention and success should be a priority for all staff…and changes need to be mainstreamed to maximise the success of all students”
Analytics
Student Success and Engagement
Early alert Professionalservices AnalyticsEarly alert Holistic supportPersonal
tutoring Analytics
Putting concepts into action: Make it personal
Starfish student folderCapture and store information from across the institution
Student characteristics and real-time interactions
Qualitative judgement alongside hard data
Putting concepts into action: Make it easy to connect
Personalised success networkAutomatically build a support network for every student
Offer multiple ways for students to reach staff
Promote student-staff and staff-staff collaboration
Putting concepts into action: Make it easy to connect
Starfish student folderOnline integrated appointment booking
Record outcomes and categorise every meeting
Students easily find available tutors and support specialists
Putting concepts into action: Reach disengaged students
Instant custom reporting and cohort-buildingCross-filter student characteristics and behaviours to create risk profiles
Take mass action across like students
Connecting data to action around the student
A community of practice
A community of practice
Boosting top line retention rates
Youngstown State University has increased course
completion rates by nearly 10% in four years
“Our focus has been to change the campus culture
from one where students were used to withdrawing or
stopping outto one where students are informed of the impact of
their actions early enough so they
can make better decisions.” -Jonelle Beatrice, Former Executive
Director of Student Life, YSU
Success Stories
“Over the 2013 academicyear, more than 68% of our
undergraduate students were ultimately successful in a course where
a flag was raised. We are very encouraged by this.”
-Barbara Gayle, Vice Presidentfor Academic Affairs,
Viterbo University
Increased faculty participation in early alert process from 13%
to 91%
Identify disengaged students
Success Stories
Making it easy for students to connect
Supporting personal and academic tutors in three, then five, then eight
faculties
“I think the system is a great idea, it’s pretty intuitive to use. I think Starfish would make it more likely that people would approach staff to discuss their
academic problems.” -Student,
Imperial College London
Success Stories
Pick an approach1
2
3
Three things you can doThe role of executive leadership
Academic/personal tutoring
Talk to us. Have us come see you. Visit our partner clients.
Get started. Technology catalyses important conversations.
Professional servicesInstitution-wide
