Student Retention

The Retention Team seek to understand and improve student success at Charles Sturt University. The main pieces of work are the Pre census campaign and the Embedded Tutors Program, which both support transition to university by commencing students from non-traditional backgrounds.

Pre census campaign

The Retention Team works with Subject Coordinators to ensure best practice transition pedagogy is applied in subjects with a high proportion of commencing undergraduate students. Subject Coordinators are provided with support on the development of early assessment items and i2 site set up.

While this work helps to engage more commencing students and build confidence, it also allows the Retention Team to closely monitor a selection of subjects in the pre census period to identify students at risk of an unsuccessful transition.

These students are provided proactive support through the Student Outreach Team. To save some students an accumulation of fruitless debt, the Retention Team reviews the enrolment of a small number students who, despite earlier intentions to study, are showing strong signs that circumstances have changed.

Embedded Tutors

The Embedded Tutors Program is an initiative in which embedded tutors provide timely, subject-specific feedback to students in selected first year undergraduate subjects.

The Embedded Tutors Program is an initiative in which embedded tutors provide timely, subject-specific feedback to students in selected first year undergraduate subjects. Embedded tutors are faculty-specific sessional staff with the capacity to enhance student learning and increase understanding of subject-specific content. Embedded tutors empower students to succeed in their studies. The program has had great success in increasing students’ confidence and in providing support for participating students.

2022 Australian Awards for University Teaching

2022 Award for programs that enhance learning

Universities Australia have awarded the team the 2022 award for programs that enhance learning.

About the award

Team contacts

Reach out to the team for help and support or contact retentionteam@csu.edu.au

Academic Team

Neil van der Ploeg

Academic Lead

Sarah Teakel

Manager, Embedded Study Support