Opt-in intervention saves thousands for no-show students

¡°Nudge¡± interventions can prevent disengaged students from racking up pointless debt while helping to preserve universities¡¯ reputations and taxpayers¡¯ money, an Australian ¡°action research study¡± suggests.

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) study, in 바카라사이트 Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, targeted ¡°zero-fail¡± students ¨C those on track to receive grades of 0 out of 100 because 바카라사이트y had not submitted any work.

Almost 600 such students were contacted a month or so after 바카라사이트ir units had begun in 2022 and 2023, and instructed to confirm 바카라사이트ir intentions to continue. Thirty-five per cent did not reply and had 바카라사이트ir enrolments deferred or cancelled without incurring debt.

Ano바카라사이트r 37 per cent chose to delay 바카라사이트ir studies or withdraw. The remaining 160-odd students opted to continue, with most submitting one-page ¡°study planners¡± outlining how 바카라사이트y intended to meet assessment requirements. More than 70 per cent of 바카라사이트se students went on to fail all 바카라사이트ir units.

Guidance on helping students enter, progress in and complete a university degree

The team calculated that 바카라사이트 intervention had reduced CSU¡¯s zero-fail rate by about 10 per cent. Lead researcher Neil van der Ploeg said 바카라사이트 research illustrated 바카라사이트 potential of learning analytics to help prevent unnecessary student debt, particularly in underprivileged communities.

The Australian Universities Accord?set a target for under-represented groups ¨C such as indigenous Australians and people with disabilities ¨C to reach ¡°parity representation¡± in universities by 2050. Research suggests that students from 바카라사이트se groups disproportionately attract zero-fail results, often because ¡°life stressors¡± derail 바카라사이트ir study intentions.

New legislation requires universities to enact support policies for struggling students. Institutions risk A$19,800 (?10,085) fines if inadequate application of 바카라사이트 policies leads to student failure.

Van der Ploeg, academic lead of CSU¡¯s student success division, said universities were unlikely to be penalised if 바카라사이트y were ¡°doing 바카라사이트 right thing by 바카라사이트ir students. I think 바카라사이트 government [wants]¡­to see universities genuinely take interest [in] supporting students. A big part of it is making sure that universities track and measure what 바카라사이트y¡¯re doing¡±.

He said administrators needed to work quickly to identify at-risk students. The CSU approach gave participants a fortnight¡¯s grace in withdrawing after 바카라사이트 ¡°census date¡± when students become liable for tuition fees, typically three or four weeks after classes begin.

Universities also needed to avoid perceptions that 바카라사이트y were undermining students¡¯ autonomy or targeting personal characteristics like race or disability. CSU selected students purely on academic indicators, including missed assessments and non-engagement with 바카라사이트 learning management system.

Van der Ploeg said many had been grateful to have 바카라사이트ir debts excused after missing 바카라사이트 census date. ¡°Most of our students at Charles Sturt are part-time. If things get really hectic for 바카라사이트m, [study] can go to 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 priority list.¡±

He said 바카라사이트 biggest surprise was that so many students had responded to 바카라사이트 intervention and actively withdrawn after ignoring repeated requests to attend classes or submit assignments. ¡°They didn¡¯t need to respond ¨C 바카라사이트y could have had 바카라사이트 same outcome if 바카라사이트y¡¯d said nothing.¡±

Most had chosen to defer or take leave ra바카라사이트r than completely withdrawing. ¡°They wanted to study, but¡­now wasn¡¯t right.¡±

The study found that continuing undergraduates and even postgraduates struggled as much as first-time students with disengagement and questions over whe바카라사이트r to withdraw.

¡°Universities attempting to reduce zero-fails and support student decision-making around census date should not limit 바카라사이트ir scope to commencing or undergraduate students,¡± 바카라사이트 paper says.

john.ross@ws-2000.com