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INTUITION – A User’s Perspective. Lesley Ferguson NAMSS Conference 2011. Challenges. Strong history of recording our activity, self assessment and planning Lack of IT support internally Too many disparate systems within the directorate Risk of students ‘falling through the net’.
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INTUITION – A User’s Perspective Lesley Ferguson NAMSS Conference 2011
Challenges • Strong history of recording our activity, self assessment and planning • Lack of IT support internally • Too many disparate systems within the directorate • Risk of students ‘falling through the net’
Handling Resistance • Principal very supportive • Student Services staff enthusiastic BUT • Needed to convince Finance Director • Needed MIS team on board
Business Case Based on: • Increased professionalisation • More holistic service • Comparison with other support departments • Working smarter – not doing repeat work
Business Case Our requirements: • Track individual students so that we have a complete picture of how and for what purpose they are accessing the range of services we provide • Track ‘at risk’ students • Pull student biographical data from EBS • Provide cross-cutting reports • Provide data which will address Ofsted requirements • Benchmark against other colleges
Business Case Perceived benefits • Reduce/remove repeat work • Provide a holistic view of the full range of support provided to individual students • Ensure more joined up working between Student Services teams • Begin to collect benchmarking data, as the system develops • Provide quick and comprehensive reports for self assessment and Ofsted including against a range of equality and diversity indicators • Track ‘at risk’ students
So how’s it going so far? The Positives • It’s doing what we hoped it would! • Minimal training required • Ease of set-up - user defined fields • Quick and easy data input • Holistic record of student interventions • Back-up from Active helpdesk
So how’s it going so far? The Positives • Removed duplication of work – biographical data pulled from EBS • Reporting potential – strategic/transactional • Identify & target under-represented groups • Wide range of reports, easy to access • Reduced workload for reporting - SAR, OFSTED • Truer representation of activity
So how’s it going so far? The Issues • Usual minor glitches of a new product – but somebody has to be the first! • Need to think about what we record/report and how (and possibly make compromises): - Recording group activity? - Recording non-student activity? - Recording multiple presenting issues?
So how’s it going so far? The Issues • Still need some technical support internally – may not be their priority • Reports need further development • Benchmarking – need more colleges on board • Ideally you’d want to benchmark against the best colleges
Contact details Lesley Ferguson lferguson@bedford.ac.uk Andy Durman AndyD@activesol.co.uk