Student Success Imbizo
- Wits University
Stakeholders emphasise the importance of data-driven student programmes, systems integration and strengthening of the student voice.
Business Information Services (BIS) hosted an Imbizo – a dialogue attended by various stakeholders at the University who are key in student success. Held on 14 June in hybrid format, the discussions reflected on how well the University is doing in helping students navigate university and achieve success across various areas of student life.
Attendees included students, lecturers, faculty advisors, representative from the Quality and Academic Planning Office, the Student Transitions and Persistence Unit (STPU), Wits Libraries, those responsible for academic monitoring and evaluations, the Careers, Counselling and Development Unit (CCDU), the Centre for Learning, Teaching and Development Unit (CLTD), and the Wits Citizenship and Community Outreach, to name a few.
Speaking at the Imbizo, Prof. Nicole De Wit-Billings, Senior Director: Academic Affairs applauded the diverse teams present emphasising that student success underpins all operations at Wits adding that "it is therefore essential that the definition for student success is understood beyond measuring grades and academic accomplishments."
New thinking for new challenges
In driving holistic student success, De Wit-Billings said all parties should aim for an integrated approach between academic and psychosocial services. As such, systems are being modernised to promote data-driven decisions that would ensure a better picture of what’s happening at an individual level.
“Wits has historically offered a number of support to students through a number of different university strictures. However, each provider has tended to focus only on the support that it offers, be it financial aid, food, digital skills, counselling or academic support. While it is appropriate for providers to concentrate on their area of responsibility, there are limitations to this institutional approach.”
The multi-stakeholder gathering was also presented with findings of the 2024 First Years Experience (FYE) survey overseen this year by Dr Zena Richards, Manager of STPU. The survey tested awareness of faculty specific workshops aimed at first-year students, reasons for workshop non-attendance and first-year student needs and concerns.
The annual survey tests the effectiveness of first-year interventions. Low attendance of key workshops that facilitate academic and psychosocial success emerged as an area of concern.
“If you look at the reasons, it says that they didn't know about the existence of the workshops - those within faculties and within support services, lack of time, timetable clashes and technical issues,” said Richards.
Notably, students in the Faculty of Humanities were more aware of workshops and this reflected in their attendance.
“I really think that we probably need research into understanding why students would not take up certain personal, development, leadership development opportunities. We do need to understand what we're dealing with because it's something we discuss all the time in Student Affairs (low attendance) and we haven't come to grips with it,” said Karuna Singh, Senior Student Development Project Officer at Student Affairs, in response to the challenges of student apathy.
Student Thinking
Representing the student voice, Caitlin Leigh Thomas, who has a Wits BSc degree in Chemistry and is now pursuing Chemical Engineering, gave a frank feedback on the student experience.
She applauded the Gateway to Success programme aimed at first-year students, adding that it was valuable in her first year while transitioning from high school to university. The programme helps students to make adjustments by integrating academic and student life components.
Thomas highlighted that the University needs to bridge the gap between forums and what happens in the classroom and schools.
Among the questions raised by the students was the role of course evaluations.
“I'm very keen as to what is actually being done about the information that we supply (through student evaluations)?” Thomas.
Evaluations Coordinator Nompumelelo Mazibuko assured the students that feedback gathered from evaluation forms is treated seriously and that evaluations are used a tool to measure the learning experience and improve processes. Read more about the systematic collection, analysis, and use of data through student evaluations.
Systems for student success
The Analytics and Institutional Researcher Unit (AIRU), working alongside Wits ICT, have developed a Student Success Database. This easily accessible and searchable online platform listing all student support services intends to make support processes more efficient. Students, and staff involved in student support, will have access to the portal thus enhancing self-help and promoting broader awareness and use of support services.
Several presentations touched on existing dashboards and technologies at the University that are utilised in decision-making.