HERE – Learning from the DoubtersBecka Currant, Ed Foster & Chris Keenan

Background

• HERE Project set up as part of the ‘What Works? Student Retention & Success Programme’

• HEFCE/ Paul Hamlyn Foundation

• Collaborative project

• Two strands– Why do more students have doubts than leave?

• Surveyed at all 3 institutions – March – May 2009 • Followed up with focus groups and interviews

– What can programmes do to have a positive impact on retention?

Why did students have doubts?

Strand One: Student DoubtersStudent Transition Survey

Have you considered withdrawing at any point during your first year?

Please tell us what made you consider leaving.

What has helped you decide to stay on your course?

Student Transition Survey (March – May 2009)

NTU BU

Sample Size 656 89

% doubters 37% 45%

% male doubters 31% 36%

% female doubters

41% 50%

Age Slight rise as students age

More doubts among younger students

Disability 50% 60%

Part time 43% 0%

Progression

NTU BU

Sample size 370 52

% withdrawal from this sample

4.3% 3.8%

% withdrawal among doubters

8.8% 4.3%

% withdrawal among non-doubters

1.7% 3.4%

Reasons Why Students Considered Leaving (NTU) HERE Project (March - May 2009)

(263 responses from 219 individual respondents)

112

38

28 2622

137 7 7

3

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Course-related issues

Student lifestyle (accommodation & students)

Finance

Personal incidents/ problems

Personal /Emotional

Homesick/ Missing family

Other

Doubts about future goals

Lack of support

location

Current Course Experiences: Doubters vs. non-doubters (Bournemouth)

% is the number of students who agreed or strongly agreed with each statement

Base = 87 (doubters = 40, non-doubters = 47)

33%

35%

48%

43%

48%

53%

63%

45%

45%

75%

45%

75%

65%

88%

68%

70%

85%

45%

49%

55%

64%

64%

66%

68%

70%

72%

72%

74%

74%

74%

85%

91%

96%

96%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

I feel valued by teaching staff

My course is w ell organised

The feedback I receive about my w ork is useful

The assessment on my course is w hat I expected it to be

I am confident that I w ill have enough money to complete my course

My taught sessions(such as lectures, seminars) are interesting

Lecturers are accessible

I w ould know w here to go w ithin the university if I had a problem

I feel confident that I can cope w ith my coursew ork

I have an enjoyable social life

I have enthusiastic lecturers teaching on my course

My fellow students are supportive

I like the house/f lat/halls that I am living in

My family is supportive

I have easy access to university resources e.g. computers, library booksthat I need)

My subject is interesting

Completing my degree w ill help me achieve future goals (e.g. career)

Non-doubters

Doubters

Why did doubters choose to stay?

Reasons Why Student Doubters Stay at University (BU)HERE! project March-May 2009

BU data: 62 responses from 36 first year respondents who had doubts

22

13

75 5 4 4

2

0

5

10

15

20

25

Suppo

rt fro

m fa

mily

and

frien

ds

Adapt

ing to

cours

e/un

ivers

ity

Lack

optio

ns/h

ard

to tr

ansf

er/co

st

Deter

min

ation

/inte

rnal

fact

ors

Suppo

rt fro

m in

stitu

tiona

l sta

ff

Futur

e go

als/e

mplo

ymen

t

Oth

er

Loca

tion

Reasons why Student Doubters stay at University

HERE Project March - May 2009 NTU data 198 responses from 171 first year respondents

55

3428 27

24

14

7 63

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Some Recommendations

Implications from the research

• To improve retention requires work in two areas:

• Reduce student doubting– Particularly course related factors

• Work on the reasons why students stay– Particularly friendship, community, belonging factors

Thanks very much for your time

Any Questions?