Early Conditional Offer Programs
9 May 2012
Annette Cairnduff
Director, Social Inclusion Unit
SYDNEY
White Paper & Strategic Plan
› Central to our purpose & values
› We aim to create & sustain a university in which, for the benefit of both Australia &
the wider world, the brightest researchers & the most promising students, whatever
their social or cultural background, can thrive & realise their full potential
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SYDNEY
Related Strategic Plan Initiatives
› Strategy Eleven: Attract & support promising students from a diversity of social &
cultural backgrounds
› Attracting promising students whatever their social or cultural background is core
to our sense of purpose & consistent with our history. Our aim is to diversify our
student population and, particularly, to increase the participation of students from
low socioeconomic, Indigenous, rural & remote backgrounds. We are committed to
improving the preparation, aspiration & achievement of intellectually able students
from groups currently underrepresented in our student population
› Expand our partnerships with specific schools & community organisations to raise
awareness of the value of tertiary education, support educational attainment, &
increase aspirations for further study
› Review admissions criteria & policies, including those covering pathways, special
admissions programs, & ATAR bonuses, to increase participation by
underrepresented groups
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SYDNEY
Related Strategic Plan Initiatives – Cont’d
› Set University, faculty & school targets for recruitment & retention of low SES,
Indigenous & rural & remote students
› Complete ongoing negotiations with universities in rural NSW for greater
cooperation in education & research, & the provision of flexible pathways for
students
› Ensure appropriate support for the retention & achievement of students from
underrepresented groups
› Provide staff development activities & resources to build the necessary skills to
support the successful implementation of social inclusion & Indigenous education
initiatives
› Convene a cross-disciplinary network of researchers into social inclusion &
exclusion & related community issues
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SYDNEY
› Strategy Fourteen: Develop & implement a coordinated University-wide framework
for local & rural community engagement
› Strategy Fifteen: Deepen our engagement with a supportive network of alumni &
friends – volunteer programs
› Strategy Four: Enrich the experience of University life for all our students
- Review & develop the University’s provision of services for student health,
wellbeing & welfare
- Support universal access by investing in implementation of the Disability Action
Plan 2011–2015, including the allocation of disability officers & ongoing training
for staff
- Provide more affordable & appropriate student accommodation on & near the
University’s campuses, consistent with the Work Slate project on student
accommodation
- Undertake a feasibility study of the virtual colleges
› Strategy Ten: Promote indigenous participation, engagement, education &
research
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SYDNEY
Where Do Our Students Come From?
Vast majority attended independent & government selective schools
Nearly 60% of all student enrolments from Independent & Government selective
schools
Although the vast majority of HSC candidates are from Government non-selective
schools, this cohort accounts for only 25% of commencing enrolments for the
University
More than 75% of students enrolled at the University are from the Northern &
Eastern regions of Sydney when these students represent just over 30% of NSW
HSC candidates that year
25% of students enrolled are from the West & South Western regions when these
students represented close to 30% of NSW HSC candidates
35% of Sydney Access scholars are sourced from government non-selective
schools
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SYDNEY
Admissions
› Series of programs or special entry schemes plus flexible entry
› From 2011 eligibility for the Broadway Scheme includes all students from both the
state & federal low SES partnership program lists who apply to the University
› The University has signed an MOU with UNE which includes development of joint
admissions pathways including principal’s recommendation scheme & second year
transfer to Sydney after successful completion of first year at UNE. The first cohort
of these students are at UNE this year.
› Faculty of Business piloted a Principal’s Recommendation Scheme (Inspired by
Business) this year with 13 students gaining entry. Includes ongoing financial and
other sport
› There are also some discussions within Faculties about particular pathways into
courses from TAFE.
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UNIVERSITY WIDE PROGRAM
› The Admissions Working Group undertook are broad scale consultation
which resulted in a discussion document to look at admission process for
domestic undergraduate students. This included a review of a number of
assessment tools used internationally.
› Agreement to develop pathway based on early conditional offers
› Senate has agreed this week to the framework for early conditional offers
to students from low socio-economic backgrounds and Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander students.
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Conditional Early Offer Scheme
› The Conditional Early Offer Scheme is designed to enable the University to identify prior to
the NSW Higher School Certificate (or equivalent) students of
- promise who have suffered educational disadvantage and who may benefit from
- early engagement with the University and additional support.
The criteria used for assessing early promise will be one or more of:
- a recommendation from the Principal of the School;
- performance in the Record of School Achievement (ROSA);
- performance in a test of non-cognitive skills approved by the Academic Board;
- other measures of promise approved by the Academic Board.
› Students who are offered a conditional place under this scheme will be required
- to meet a minimum ATAR determined by the Dean, provided that the minimum ATAR is not
more than 5 below the Capability Score for the course
Conditional Early Offers may be made to students at the end of year 10, or during years 11
and 12.
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Early Conditional Offers
- Three programs under development with the aim for a 2013 entry
- Principal’s Recommendation Scheme
- Year 10 Early Entry (based on ROSA)
- Pemulway Pathway
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PRINCIPALS RECOMMENDATION SCHEME
› Used in Australia and O/S by many institutions
› Aim to capture students of promise before their ATAR results and focus
their attention on Sydney as a real option
› High achieving students within context and across the board
› Financial, orientation and academic support
› Natural Sciences, Health Science, Education, Nursing, Arts, SCA,
Education, Engineering
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ROSA
› Replaces year 10 certificate. Moderated A – E results. Includes broader
co-curricula involvement (second language, volunteer work, skills
experience)
› Reasonable predictor of academic success at HSC
› Engage a group of students early in the University and link their academic
success to ongoing study
› Support and engagement through HSC enrichment, connection via
Experience Days, Summer School etc. Faculty and central programs
› Bands of offer – to early to expect students to have clear ideas about their
future
› Reason to aim and work for increased level of result through bands of offer
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