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Early Conditional Offer Programs. 9 May 2012. Annette Cairnduff Director, Social Inclusion Unit. SYDNEY. White Paper & Strategic Plan. Central to our purpose & values
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Early Conditional Offer Programs 9 May 2012 Annette Cairnduff Director, Social Inclusion Unit
SYDNEY White Paper & Strategic Plan • Central to our purpose & values • We aim to create & sustain a university in which, for the benefit of both Australia & the wider world, the brightest researchers & the most promising students, whatever their social or cultural background, can thrive & realise their full potential
SYDNEY Related Strategic Plan Initiatives • Strategy Eleven: Attract & support promising students from a diversity of social & cultural backgrounds • Attracting promising students whatever their social or cultural background is core to our sense of purpose & consistent with our history. Our aim is to diversify our student population and, particularly, to increase the participation of students from low socioeconomic, Indigenous, rural & remote backgrounds. We are committed to improving the preparation, aspiration & achievement of intellectually able students from groups currently underrepresented in our student population • Expand our partnerships with specific schools & community organisations to raise awareness of the value of tertiary education, support educational attainment, & increase aspirations for further study • Review admissions criteria & policies, including those covering pathways, special admissions programs, & ATAR bonuses, to increase participation by underrepresented groups
SYDNEY Related Strategic Plan Initiatives – Cont’d • Set University, faculty & school targets for recruitment & retention of low SES, Indigenous & rural & remote students • Complete ongoing negotiations with universities in rural NSW for greater cooperation in education & research, & the provision of flexible pathways for students • Ensure appropriate support for the retention & achievement of students from underrepresented groups • Provide staff development activities & resources to build the necessary skills to support the successful implementation of social inclusion & Indigenous education initiatives • Convene a cross-disciplinary network of researchers into social inclusion & exclusion & related community issues
SYDNEY • Strategy Fourteen: Develop & implement a coordinated University-wide framework for local & rural community engagement • Strategy Fifteen: Deepen our engagement with a supportive network of alumni & friends – volunteer programs • Strategy Four: Enrich the experience of University life for all our students • Review & develop the University’s provision of services for student health, wellbeing & welfare • Support universal access by investing in implementation of the Disability Action Plan 2011–2015, including the allocation of disability officers & ongoing training for staff • Provide more affordable & appropriate student accommodation on & near the University’s campuses, consistent with the Work Slate project on student accommodation • Undertake a feasibility study of the virtual colleges • Strategy Ten: Promote indigenous participation, engagement, education & research
SYDNEY Where Do Our Students Come From? Vast majority attended independent & government selective schools Nearly 60% of all student enrolments from Independent & Government selective schools Although the vast majority of HSC candidates are from Government non-selective schools, this cohort accounts for only 25% of commencing enrolments for the University More than 75% of students enrolled at the University are from the Northern & Eastern regions of Sydney when these students represent just over 30% of NSW HSC candidates that year 25% of students enrolled are from the West & South Western regions when these students represented close to 30% of NSW HSC candidates 35% of Sydney Access scholars are sourced from government non-selective schools
SYDNEY Admissions • Series of programs or special entry schemes plus flexible entry • From 2011 eligibility for the Broadway Scheme includes all students from both the state& federal low SES partnership program lists who apply to the University • The University has signed an MOU with UNE which includes development of joint admissions pathways including principal’s recommendation scheme & second year transfer to Sydney after successful completion of first year at UNE. The first cohort of these students are at UNE this year. • Faculty of Business piloted a Principal’s Recommendation Scheme (Inspired by Business) this year with 13 students gaining entry. Includes ongoing financial and other sport • There are also some discussions within Faculties about particular pathways into courses from TAFE.
UNIVERSITY WIDE PROGRAM • The Admissions Working Group undertook are broad scale consultation which resulted in a discussion document to look at admission process for domestic undergraduate students. This included a review of a number of assessment tools used internationally. • Agreement to develop pathway based on early conditional offers • Senate has agreed this week to the framework for early conditional offers to students from low socio-economic backgrounds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Conditional Early Offer Scheme • The Conditional Early Offer Scheme is designed to enable the University to identify prior to the NSW Higher School Certificate (or equivalent) students of • promise who have suffered educational disadvantage and who may benefit from • early engagement with the University and additional support. The criteria used for assessing early promise will be one or more of: • a recommendation from the Principal of the School; • performance in the Record of School Achievement (ROSA); • performance in a test of non-cognitive skills approved by the Academic Board; • other measures of promise approved by the Academic Board. • Students who are offered a conditional place under this scheme will be required • to meet a minimum ATAR determined by the Dean, provided that the minimum ATAR is not more than 5 below the Capability Score for the course Conditional Early Offers may be made to students at the end of year 10, or during years 11 and 12.
Early Conditional Offers • Three programs under development with the aim for a 2013 entry • Principal’s Recommendation Scheme • Year 10 Early Entry (based on ROSA) • Pemulway Pathway
PRINCIPALS RECOMMENDATION SCHEME • Used in Australia and O/S by many institutions • Aim to capture students of promise before their ATAR results and focus their attention on Sydney as a real option • High achieving students within context and across the board • Financial, orientation and academic support • Natural Sciences, Health Science, Education, Nursing, Arts, SCA, Education, Engineering
ROSA • Replaces year 10 certificate. Moderated A – E results. Includes broader co-curricula involvement (second language, volunteer work, skills experience) • Reasonable predictor of academic success at HSC • Engage a group of students early in the University and link their academic success to ongoing study • Support and engagement through HSC enrichment, connection via Experience Days, Summer School etc. Faculty and central programs • Bands of offer – to early to expect students to have clear ideas about their future • Reason to aim and work for increased level of result through bands of offer