1. Lynda Jones Senior Progression Adviser 23rd May 2019
Utilising Mainstream and Targeted Models to Support Student Retention: the USW Progression Advice Team Experience.
Lynda Jones
Senior Progression Adviser
23rd May 2019

2. Content Overview of USW Team Vision and Strategy What we do
How – Mainstream and Targeted
Impact
Questions.

3. Overview of USW 30,000 students from 120 countries
Campuses in Wales and Dubai
The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
64% over the age of 21
31% from areas of multiple deprivation
USW group includes Wales’s national conservatoire - The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama

4. Team Vision & Strategic Focus
To support students with any issues, which have, or have the potential to affect the successful completion of their studies.
Strategic Focus
70% proactive, 30% reactive.
Fixing issues at source.
Set up in 2017.
Myself and 3.5 advisers
When writing the business model for the team, I was determined to that our strategic focus would be based on
70% proactive, 30% reactive
Fixing issues at source rather than paper over cracks
Weekly team meetings to highlight any areas of concern. LJ’s role to highlight and ensure change is enacted where possible.

5. Where does the team fit?
Learning and Teaching
Student Support

6. What we do
Develop and deliver initiatives to support the retention and student success agenda.
Work with faculties to identify and support ‘at risk’ students.
Provide support to students at risk of attrition.
Support care leavers
Link with Student Money Advice Team
Information events
Support induction activities

7. Mind-set:
Ethos - Holistic interconnections.
Individual
Supporting students on a 1:1 basis
Explore any circumstances which are affecting the student
Work together to put a holistic support plan in place, referring to other services where appropriate
Highlight where systemic issues arise
Mainstream
Digital campaigns targeting pinch points of the year
Targeted
Target at risk students – Developed online resources for students and lecturers to support these groups, e.g. repeating / returning interruption of studies
Faculty Based
Each adviser is partnered with a faculty to develop initiatives to support progression and retention. Initiatives are agreed through the Faculty Executive.
Work with faculties to proactively identify and support ‘at risk’ students.
Curriculum
Group work campaign - Lack of group work assessment guidance , raised at LTEC, best practise review to be undertaken led by CELT and guidance to be developed
Attend pre-validation events
Provide guidance on:
Inclusive curriculum
Supporting key progression issues such as integrating different cohorts
key areas where students may fail/leave
Regulation/Policy
Highlight areas of concern, write business cases for change, develop in to action plans.
Wrong reason on IoS record – issues escalated – refresher training provided

8. Individual Students seeking support Complex cases
Information and guidance
Bespoke
Holistic
Outcome Focused

9. Mainstream

10. Mainstream

11. Targeted We target potentially ‘at-risk’ students
Provide key online information relating to their circumstances
Support mechanisms
Self Help
Self Reflective
1:1 & Group Support

12. At Risk Student Groups
Students undertaking a repeat module(s)/ repeat year
Students who interrupted their studies in the previous academic year
Students who were offered an unconditional offer, but failed to meet their predicted grades
Students undertaking resit coursework/ examination
We contact all the above ‘at-risk’ group via and provide them with useful information in relation to support and services available at USW which may enable them to remain on-track with their studies.

13. Lack of Engagement
Required to follow up students who are no longer engaging.
The University expects that students:
attend and actively participate in all timetabled activities;
make appropriate use of their VLE;
submit assessments on time;
respond to University communications.
Engagement regulations therefore not robust – business case and action plan – resulted in regs being updated.

14. Faculty Initiatives Faculty of Computing, Engineering & Science
Providing bespoke, online feedback and access to examination scripts for students required to undertake resit examinations in August 2019
Faculty of Life Sciences & Education
Providing free coaching and online resources for students required to undertake repeat modules/ year.
Faculty of Business and Society
Providing interactive induction sessions for students undertaking a foundation year (Level 3)
Faculty of Creative Industries
Supporting students on ‘top-up’ years (Level 6) and the transition of students from Level 4 to Level 5.

15. First Year Impact Supported 765 individual students
The two most successful digital campaigns at USW
Targeted 2902 students with bespoke online support
Improved retention for targeted ‘risk groups’ by 6.4%
Bounce back and Halloween – most successful campaigns

16. Thank you for listening
Any questions?