UniPASS Report Semester 1 2012 - Unilife - Curtin University

Conclusions and Recommendations
UniPASS Semester 1 2012 Report
The strong academic outcomes of UniPASS are clear, with an 11.7% average increase in the grades of regular
attendees and a reduction of the fail rate by about two thirds. UniPASS is attracting a sound proportion of students
from non-traditional backgrounds with approximately 20% coming from HEPPP target groups. UniPASS develops and
extends the graduate attributes of its facilitators and is proving to be a pathway into academia. The program has
proven that it is not burdensome for academic staff. Overall, the expansion of such a new and different program has
been highly successful.
The main challenge for the program is to build up attendance levels. Given the importance of faculty support and
lecturer promotion any effort to improve attendance needs to be integrated. Attendance will continue to develop as
the program matures and the peer learning culture becomes more established throughout Curtin.
The dual influences of the Bradley Review with its focus on widening participation and the emergence of TEQSA as
the national regulator gives increased value to UniPASS. By offering an evidenced and nationally accredited
academic support program Curtin is strategically aiming to meet the diverse learning needs of its students.
However, such a strategic approach requires committed fiscal resources as UniPASS has HEPPP funding only until the
end of 2013. It takes time for the benefits of a program like UniPASS to become widespread. By committing to the
learning needs of an increasingly diverse student population with UniPASS, Curtin University will demonstrate its
ability to improve academic outcomes, enhance the student experience and meet equity and regulatory obligations.
In the meantime, operational recommended improvements include:
• Establishing UniPASS at the Kalgoorlie Campus to provide an equitable student experience and improve
learning outcomes for students transitioning to the Kalgoorlie campus.
• Examination of the upcoming AIME program to determine if a need still exists for UniPASS as a peer learning
program for CAS.
• Continued development of a UniPASS unit profile which would list criteria that units would ideally possess to
be successful candidates for UniPASS. Such a profile would be most accurate after analysis of results and
data from 2013.
• Improving recruiting procedures by formally identifying the characteristics of our most successful facilitators.
Enhancing the promotion of recruitment to get a large pool of applicants. A commitment to recruit from
UniPASS regular attendees to build on the culture of constructivist peer learning already established in the
classroom.
• Build links with similar programs within WA to develop a professional body of practice specific to the local
context.
• Conduct research into attendance of voluntary support programs at Curtin University.
• Examine the prospect of formal university recognition for UniPASS PLFs as the program develops desired
graduate attributes.
Raphael Pereira September 2012 UniLife – START – UniPASS 24