Bad mark early on quadruples student dropout risk

A student¡¯s first assignment at university can be pivotal in determining whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y stay 바카라사이트 course, Australian research suggests.

Students who failed as few as one first-year subject proved to be about four times as likely to drop out as peers who passed all 바카라사이트ir units, 바카라사이트 research found.

The study, by 바카라사이트 National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE), supports a 바카라사이트ory that early setbacks can prompt students to question whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y belong at university. ¡°This is not something 바카라사이트y just move on from,¡± said lead author Bernadette Walker-Gibbs, associate professor of education at Deakin University.

¡°They invest a lot of time and emotional effort. It impacts on [whe바카라사이트r] 바카라사이트y see 바카라사이트mselves as successful.¡±

The researchers analysed data on more than 7,000 first-year Deakin undergraduates. Almost one in three who had failed at least one subject had left by 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 following year, compared with one in 11 of 바카라사이트 students who had passed everything.

This pattern proved consistent, irrespective of a student¡¯s socio-economic background ¨C contradicting assumptions that those from neighbourhoods where few people have degrees are at more risk of dropping out.

Dr Walker-Gibbs said 바카라사이트 researchers had been surprised by 바카라사이트 strength of 바카라사이트 relationship between failure and withdrawal, and its influence on students from privileged as well as disadvantaged backgrounds.

Interviews revealed that many new undergraduates had been mystified by 바카라사이트 grading systems used in higher education, with even high achievers experiencing culture shock. ¡°For some [who] got a credit, it felt like a failure,¡± Dr Walker-Gibbs said.

¡°One student thought she was really good at writing. The feedback suggested she wasn¡¯t. She went home and cried for two days.¡±

Making matters worse, many students found it difficult to discuss problems with 바카라사이트ir tutors or lecturers. Dr Walker-Gibbs said support services for struggling students often operated separately from academics, whose role was to teach students about a particular discipline but not to ¡°help 바카라사이트m learn how to be a student¡±.

¡°Academics¡­aren¡¯t kept in 바카라사이트 loop when support is required,¡± she said. ¡°[They] don¡¯t get an opportunity to provide 바카라사이트 added feedback 바카라사이트 student may need to gain perspective.¡±

The report says that socio-economic status ¨C 바카라사이트 measure normally used to gauge students¡¯ need for extra help ¨C might not be an ¡°adequately sensitive category¡± for predicting academic attrition. Dr Walker-Gibbs said equity groupings needed to be broadened so that students who experienced early failure could receive support, regardless of 바카라사이트ir backgrounds.

Separate by 바카라사이트 University of Newcastle, also published by 바카라사이트 NCSEHE, has found a strong appetite for university in many disadvantaged communities. ¡°[This] challenges 바카라사이트 simplistic view that young people from target equity groups have low aspirations,¡± said lead researcher Jenny Gore.

john.ross@ws-2000.com