Themes and Checkpoints

Theme: First Year Transition and Retention 

First Year Transition checkpoints

  1. Linked pathways
  2. Clear management of student expectations from the outset
  3. Focused and reliable admission standards — including for English
  4. Student clarity on how UWS works
  5. Targeted and proactive transition assistance for groups identified as being at risk of drop out
  6. Responsive and agile central units and systems
  7. Feasible attendance, ease of access and participation, which is financially manageable

These checkpoints apply to both domestic and international students.

Retention checkpoints

  1. Use of a First Year Coordinator
  2. Best teachers in First Year
  3. Evidence that staff are consistently accessible (within agreed limits), responsive, committed and capable
  4. Effective use of peer assistance. Students report 'feeling connected'
  5. Discipline-specific English and Maths assistance
  6. Leading UWS researchers present on their work (videography etc)
  7. Consistent theory-practice links, active 'real world learning experiences'
  8. Consistent implementation of the Disability Action Plan
  9. Engaged learning incorporating relevant community, industry and international experiences, as relevant
  10. Consistent use of assessment-focused learning guides that help students to 'learn how to learn'
  11. Relevant use of ICT and Web 2.0 for active learning as part of a broader learning design and set of experiences

These checkpoints apply to both domestic and international students.

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Theme: Assessment and Standards

Tracking and Assessment checkpoints

  1. Early identification of and productive intervention with students at risk
  2. Effective management of assessment in terms of:
    • expectations, including assuring clarity of assessment and grading systems
    • prompt and constructive feedback on learning and assessment
    • moderated marking
    • staged assessment deadlines/assessment burden
  3. Benchmarking of the quality of the assessment items, criteria and marking of all courses, which are not subject to external professional accreditation or its equivalent

These checkpoints apply to both domestic and international students.

Academic Standards checkpoints (draft)

  1. Consistency and equivalence of learning outcomes and assessment standards in:
    • Units with very large enrolments
    • Units that offer on-campus and distance delivery modes
    • Different but equivalent core units
    • Units on different campuses and different sessions
  2. Standards meet quality assurance of professional accreditation criteria (e.g. Accounting, Nursing, Translation, Education, Engineering)
  3. Standards are benchmarked against national and/or international programs (e.g. Accounting)
  4. Standards are clearly documented (policy and procedures), implemented (e.g. unit outlines, learning guides) and monitored across all courses
  5. Literacy and maths standards (e.g. AUQA Good Practice Principles for English Language Proficiency for International Students in Australian Universities)

These checkpoints apply to both domestic and international students.

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Cycle 1 Outcomes

The Cycle 1 outcomes which relate to our Cycle 2 themes are:

Affirmations

  1. Review assessment practices
  2. Further enhancement for WebCT and blended learning
  3. Monitor client service in student administration and support

Recommendations

  1. Identify the distinctive UWS student experience
  2. Increased HDR enrolments, support and completions
  3. Implement Indigenous Education commitment and add a graduate attribute

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