Early Conditional Offer Programs

9 May 2012

Annette Cairnduff

Director, Social Inclusion Unit

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SYDNEY

› 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

White Paper & Strategic Plan

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SYDNEY

› 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

Related Strategic Plan Initiatives

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SYDNEY

› 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

Related Strategic Plan Initiatives – Cont’d

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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

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SYDNEY

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

Where Do Our Students Come From?

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SYDNEY

› 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.

Admissions

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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