Reducing the attrition of tertiary bridging students studying by distance: a practice report

Paper


Whannell, Patricia and Whannell, Robert. 2013. "Reducing the attrition of tertiary bridging students studying by distance: a practice report." Maurice-Takerei, Lisa (ed.) 1st Foundation and Bridging Educators New Zealand Conference 2012 (FABENZ 2012): Create and Collaborate. Auckland, New Zealand 03 - 04 Dec 2012 Wellington, New Zealand.
Paper/Presentation Title

Reducing the attrition of tertiary bridging students studying by distance: a practice report

Presentation TypePaper
AuthorsWhannell, Patricia (Author) and Whannell, Robert (Author)
EditorsMaurice-Takerei, Lisa
Journal or Proceedings TitleProceedings of the 1st Foundation and Bridging Educators New Zealand Conference (FABENZ 2012)
ERA Conference ID50412
Number of Pages12
Year2013
Place of PublicationWellington, New Zealand
ISBN9781927202586
Web Address (URL) of Paperhttps://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/ako-aotearoa/events/fabenz-2012
Conference/Event1st Foundation and Bridging Educators New Zealand Conference 2012 (FABENZ 2012): Create and Collaborate
Foundation & Bridging Educators New Zealand
Event Details
1st Foundation and Bridging Educators New Zealand Conference 2012 (FABENZ 2012): Create and Collaborate
Event Date
03 to end of 04 Dec 2012
Event Location
Auckland, New Zealand
Event Details
Foundation & Bridging Educators New Zealand
FABENZ
Abstract

This paper describes an initiative commenced in Semester 1 2012 in a small rural town in Queensland, Australia, to address the high level of attrition experienced by tertiary bridging students studying by distance in regional areas. It was hypothesised that the attrition was caused by a lack of social and academic integration into the program. The initiative involved the conducting of face-to-face teaching and a study group on a weekly basis at a partner institution. The collaboration between the university, the local partner institution and representatives of local government and community organisations involved in identifying potential students and supporting those students once enrolled is described. The major findings of the initiative to date relate to the high incidence of a change in the circumstances of students which challenged continued attendance in the bridging program, the difficulties of distance students in relation to the administrative requirements of the university and the challenges associated with the completion of a high volume of assessment in the early transition weeks of the semester. The primary relevance the initiative has for providers of distance tertiary bridging programs relates to the lack of support that distance students have when experiencing these challenges.

Keywordstertiary bridging education; assessment
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020390303. Higher education
390499. Specialist studies in education not elsewhere classified
390404. Educational counselling
Byline AffiliationsOpen Access College
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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