UniPASS Report Semester 1 2012 - Unilife - Curtin University

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Promotion and Marketing UniPASS Semester 1 2012 Report UniPASS undertook an extensive marketing campaign for semester one 2012. As a new program with different learning methodologies and outcomes from existing academic support a strong promotional strategy was essential. The main aim of the strategy was to build support and rapport with key academic staff and generate strong awareness of the program amongst students in UniPASS supported units. The marketing approach included: • Meeting with key academic and faculty staff to understand needs and build awareness. The Peer Learning Supervisor met with all key staff at the prior to week two and at the end of the semester or more often if required. Currently UniPASS has working relationships with 51 faculty staff. • The marketing message to students communicated the academic benefits of UniPASS and how to register. Initial student awareness of UniPASS was generated by: o Presentations in all relevant lectures in weeks one and two. o Direct emails to all students in UniPASS supported units. o Posters and flyers in schools. o A Powerpoint slideshow during lecturers and tutorials by lecturers to remind students. • A slide show and/or presentation at most school orientations. • Reminder direct emails to students during the semester. • Online session registration was established to predict attendance and gain student commitment to attend. • The UniLife website was updated with current UniPASS information and session timetable information created. • Blackboard access to all relevant units was requested to enable the posting of announcements. • In relevant units the facilitators promoted UniPASS in tutorials and school common rooms during the semester. • A trial of extended UniPASS revision sessions was run before exams in some units. • An iPad promotion was initiated in week four to encourage attendance across all units, with approximately 200 students participating. • Facilitators were required to send weekly reminder emails to all attendees. • A bulk email inbox was established to enable direct communication to over 5000 eligible students. The aims of the marketing strategy were achieved as student awareness was 84% (Figure 3). However, this did not translate into high levels of attendance in all units. So the end of semester surveys contained questions to generate insights into developing a more effective marketing message. The two main conclusions from the data were that time based factors were the biggest reason cited for non-attendance (Figure 5) and that the most effective communication channel was the lecture or tutor (Figure 4). These results have shaped the communication strategy for semester two with the main marketing message “UniPASS saves you time” being promoted. Evidence suggests that one hour of UniPASS is equivalent to three hours study at home (PASS – Accredited Supervisor Manual, 2012). Other marketing initiatives for semester two 2012 have included: • Developing a UniPASS Blackboard unit where all students in eligible units are uploaded. • Removing the need for registration as it proved confusing for many first year students. • Emphasising the need for strong support from academic staff during lectures. • Having the facilitators conduct the promotional lecture presentations as they are peers and therefore seen as more credible. • Having facilitators continue to visit tutorials to build rapport if attendance is low. • Continuation of Blackboard announcements and direct student emails during semester. Raphael Pereira September 2012 UniLife – START – UniPASS 9
Feedback from Regular Attendees Figure 2: UniPASS Semester 1 2012 Report 100% UniPASS Regular Attendees Survey Semester 1 2012 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Overall, attending UniPASS was beneficial. My subject knowledge has improved because of UniPASS. My study skills have improved because of UniPASS. I would have withdrawn from the unit without UniPASS. I would have failed without UniPASS. The facilitator was well prepared and organised. UniPASS should continue to support this unit. I would attend UniPASS in other units. I will recommend UniPASS to my friends. Strongly Agree Agree Somewhat Agree Disagree Notes on the Chart: • A regular attendee is defined by the Australasian PASS Centre as a student who attended 5 sessions or more (PASS – Accredited Supervisor Manual, 2012). Only regular attendees are included in the program results as any measurable effect of a peer learning program with less than 5 hours of student contact over a semester would be questionable. • UniPASS had a total of 256 regular attendees for semester 1 2012, of these 174 answered the survey. The respondents were regular attendees from all UniPASS supported units. The chart above clearly demonstrates the benefits of UniPASS for regular attendees. • 96% of student respondents strongly agree/agree that their subject knowledge improved • 79% strongly agree/agree that their study skills improved • 11% or 19 students strongly agree/agree that they would have withdrawn without UniPASS • 22% or 38 students strongly agree/agree they would have failed the unit • 88% of respondents strongly agree that UniPASS should continue to support their unit • 99% of respondents strongly agree/agree to recommending UniPASS to their friends The perceptions of regular attendees clearly indicate that UniPASS is of value to them. These perceptions are backed up by the quantitative data from Figure 1 which shows that UniPASS has a range of positive outcomes for students. Raphael Pereira September 2012 UniLife – START – UniPASS 10
Page 1 and 2: UniPASS Report Semester 1 2012 “T
Page 3 and 4: Acknowledgements UniPASS Semester 1
Page 5 and 6: UniPASS Semester 1 2012 Report Summ
Page 7 and 8: UniPASS Results Overview UniPASS Se
Page 9: UniPASS Semester 1 2012 Report Bene
Page 13 and 14: Feedback from Non-Attendees UniPASS
Page 15 and 16: Feedback from Non-Attendees (contin
Page 17 and 18: Feedback from Non-Attendees (contin
Page 19 and 20: UniPASS Semester 1 2012 Report Grad
Page 21 and 22: HEPPP Targets (continued) UniPASS S
Page 23 and 24: UniPASS Semester 1 2012 Report Tert
Page 25 and 26: Conclusions and Recommendations Uni

UniPASS Report Semester 1 2012 - Unilife - Curtin University

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