STUDENT DEVELOPMENT & SUPPORT

18 June 2015

Student Support Services Annual Plan

• WHAT? Improves chances of academic success for students

• HOW? Informed programme/career choice, access to financial resources, adapting to college life, additional academic support, leadership development, responsiveness to students with special needs, producing employable students.

• WHY? Effective and efficient students support services will lead to higher retention and throughput rates.

• Target – 30 June 2015 (to be implemented at college level, integrated and included in college’s plans)

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What informs the SSS plan

2015/16 APP

SSS Framework

and Manual

Academic Plenary Session

Stakeholder’s concerns /

college experiences

Student’s workshops

PRE – ENTRY • Critical for welcoming and adapting the student to college life.

(who do you use? 3rd level students? Are they adequately trained?)

• 48 colleges provide Selection and Placement tests, Budget to be in place for renewal of operating licenses

• Provision of adequate resources (venue, computers & manuals)

• Committee to assist with analyzing results for placement (SSS unit and Fundamental lecturers) e.g interventions to address components of poor performing subjects, e.g. Algebra & Comprehension

• Provide students with feedback timeously. provision and budget to capture data. 4

Pre- entry….math's findings

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above 50% 40%-50% below 40%0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

50,000

Maths findings

Algebra;

Exponents;

Geometry;

Polygons;

Pythagoras; and

Measure: Area and Volumes.

55% of college entrance

struggled with these topics

Pre- entry …..English findings

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above 50% 40 - 50% below 40%29,000

30,000

31,000

32,000

33,000

34,000

35,000

36,000

37,000

38,000

39,000

English

Pre- Entry cont….• Proper career advise based on the results of the

diagnostic tests • Standardised process of providing career advised

by trained personnel • Selection tests to be provided conducted from

September of previous year to avoid backlogs during registration.

• Target a particular no of students for early registration.

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Orientation – programme • Ensures readiness of students to begin their academic year, fully prepared in every way.• grooms the emotional intelligence of a student and adapting to the of the student community, life, culture shock, diversity etc….• They will not only know their lecturers, many of their peers and the college layout but also what is expected of them and who to contact if they encounter problems.• They will also know that many other challenges will be discussed with them during the year at specific times on their timetable.- Compulsory orientation programme at the beginning of each year

(what do you need content, resources (staff/financial)- Peer mentors / college buddy’s to assist students to ensure proper

integration (innovation/ local industry, partnership with SETAs or CDS)

BURSARY SCHEME•The allocation for college fees to all qualifying and deserving students must be prioritised

(keep to the allocation)

• Target for claiming of bursary funding aligned to the bursary schedule

• Inform students on the outcome of their bursary allocation

•The allocation for travel and accommodation allowances must only be reflected subject

to the availability of funds

•Ensure transparent and effective communication on bursary administration processes

(currently communication and engagement occurs / instigated by the student’s unrest)

•

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Pre entry – financial Aid

• provision for consultation and input on the bursary rules and guidelines (June –

July)

• Updated Bursary Rules and Guidelines for the 2016 academic year will be

distributed to colleges in September 2015. (must ensure students are informed

and orientated on the new bursary rules and guidelines).

• Colleges must initiate compulsory academic intervention programmes to

improve certification rates of bursary recipients and these must be reflected in

their plans

• Verification of addresses for student beneficiaries (pre- registration beneficial, 10 – 20% sample) could use returning students

• Monitor student attendance policy in administering allowances (monthly attendance register from principal)

2014 Certification Rates

• In terms of the DHET Annual Performance Plan for 2014, bursary beneficiaries were required to attain the following certification rates:

NC(V) L4: 59%

N1 – N3: 52%

N4 – N6: 52%

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2014 Certification Rates

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NCV L4 N1 – N3 N4 – N6

Eastern Cape 45% 42% 48%

Free State 60% 27% 42%

Gauteng 46% 50% 54%

KZN 24% 37% 39%

Limpopo 29% 41% 17%

Mpumalanga 49% 46% 48%

Northern Cape 36% 50% 55%

North West 34% 47% 51%

Western Cape 57% 37% 56%

National 37% 43% 43%

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Academic results

Mat

hem

atics

Engl

ish

Fina

nce

Eng.

Fun

dam

enta

ls&

Sys

tem

s

Labo

ur R

elati

ons

Com

pute

rise

d Fi

nanc

ial S

yste

ms

Plum

bing

The

ory

Elec

tric

al In

fras

truc

ture

Con

stru

ction

Build

ing

Dra

win

g

Wor

ksho

p Pr

actic

e

Crim

inal

Law

PROBLEMATIC/ CHALLENGING SUBJECTS

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Calibre of students????

Incompetent lecturers???

Irrelevant academic support

interventions???

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Academic support strategies

• Develop learner profiles (adapt teaching style to student’s preferences) Do we know who our learners are? Socio-economic /academic background…eg, are majority post matric?

• Requires teacher to monitor students performance and learning needs (esp in poor performing subjects, link learner profile)

• Adjust teaching methods to improve student learning• Increase instructional time for struggling students • Provision for Learning labs (quiet places for study/ booths

etc)/ Writing centers/ study skills • Tutorial classes

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Academic support strategies • Additional programmes (subject to available funding)/

partnership with Universities / industry )

Summer or winter schools Catch up programmes After school classes

Technology assisted programmes Digital/ online learning applications Course management programmes archive material (lecturer communicate with students online)YouTube type videos or lectures on college intranet Online forums/ discussions for students to assist each other

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Academic support cont…

• Textbooks to be handed to students on time•Academic support programmes to be planned and

budgeted for•Budget for renewal of licenses for computer based

programmes in all campuses•Advocacy in place for available academic support

programmes for those who wish to be part (Posters, fliers etc)/ provision on some campuses and not others..?• Track and trace system of students who struggle to

graduate and develop specific support interventions

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Mathematics results analysis

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Academic support programmes offered in colleges

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

Peer

Tuto

ring

E-Le

arni

ng

Extra

Clas

ses

Win

ter/

Sum

mer

Scho

ols

Lear

ner P

rofil

er

Othe

r

Available Academic Support Interventions in Colleges

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Student leadership

• SRC is an integral part of student life and a critical cooperative governance partner in a college.

• SRC members take responsibilities that enhance student life on campuses. This means that the SRC members are empowered to invest in people and communities.

• SRC guided by constitution, each college should have an up to date constitution in place (annually)/ per constitutional guidance.

• Preferably February of every year, each College SRC should be in place and fully functional.

• SRC orientation programme on college processes, role, participation in governance structures and leadership theories/ conflict management

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Psycho- social support

• The aim of student health and well-being is to assist the student to become independent, both academically and personally.

• A healthy mind, emotional and social well-being as well as successful relationships with self and others are as important.

• Assist in developing a well rounded student that is well balanced

• Health peer programmes • Sporting codes/ programmes • Support groups for students/effective referral systems

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Learners with special needs

• Learners with special education needs to be accommodated in our TVET Colleges (infrastructure and assistive devices)

• It is critical for Colleges to determine the number of students with special needs and the type of special needs that students have to enable them to successfully perform and adapt to the College environment.

• Colleges should have a data base of applicants with special needs (irrespective of the capacity of the college to support those students). This will assist the College to determine the number of students with disabilities that require assistance and access in their surrounding communities.

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Exit Support • WORKPLACE BASED EXPOSURE (WBE) • Objective: to improve National Certificate (Vocational) {(NC(V)} students’

employability by providing increased workplace-based learning opportunities.• Plan and budget for WIL implementation – transport for students, accommodation,

and insurance.• Brief and prepare college staff to play their roles in implementing workplace-based

component of college programmes.• Plan the workplace component of the curriculum and obtain or develop task

books/log books.• Recruit host employers and prepare them to manage and mentor students during

WIL/WBE placements.• Select and prepare students for the workplace-based component of their

programme.• Plan and budget for college staff to support and monitor students during their

placement.

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THANK YOU