Supporting Students – The Missing Links?

Katrina Castle and Hazel Christie

Student Advisers

Wider Access and Retention Services

Edinburgh Napier University

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Why Look for the Missing Links?

• determine whether all groups of students are accessing academic support or retention focussed guidance

• concern over young, male students and a reluctance to access guidance – resulting in increased withdrawal rates from university

• to look at developing academic skills and guidance provision to attract these “disengaging” groups

One-to-One Retention Service

• impartial and confidential advice service

• offered to students at risk of withdrawing

• advice provided by a variety of methods:pre-booked interviewsemail telephone

Academic Skills Workshops

• open to all students in the university

• cover range of academic skills

• participatory ethos

How Do Students Find Their Way?

One-to-One Retention Service

• majority of students self-refer all student email Thinking of Leaving web

page on Student Portal• small, but increasing number,

referred by academic staff• other support staff and NSA

Academic Skills Workshop

• students have to opt-in weekly e-mail:

‘Academic Skills: What’s On?’ Links from student portal

Lots of groupies!

Edinburgh Napier (2009/10)

• Total student population: Total 17,605; 14,008 on campus Undergraduate: 14,533 ( FT 78%; PT 22%) Taught Postgraduate: 2,851 (FT 40%; PT 60%) Research Postgraduate : 221 (FT 51%; PT 49%)

• Students using Service One-to-one retention service 302 enquiries / 217 individuals Academic Skills workshops 663 attendees / 287 individuals

• Only going to consider UG and TPG students

Student Gender (%)

Student Age Group (%)

Fee Status (%)

Undergraduate or Taught Postgraduate (%)

Disclosed Disability (%)

Do the students contacting the one-to-one service match the profiles of the students using similar services or seeking support at your institution?

Are there any surprises in the profile of students?

Do You See What We See?

Finding the Missing Links...

How do you identify and engage the “at risk” students who are disengaging from university life?

Do we need to consider new methods of promoting services and informing students of available support?

Can different delivery methods significantly increase participation and engagement?

What works for you?