Contents
Presenters
Dr Jennifer Stott – Senior Lecturer in Molecular Pharmacology, School of Health and Medical Sciences
Paper
This work investigated the experiences of students who initially failed to progress from year 1 to year 2 and rejoined their studies after a year out. Understanding these sometimes overlooked experiences is important for understanding how we can support a diverse range of student journeys and improve student outcomes.
‘Academic failure’ is a failure to meet pre-defined academic standards and is a common experience which contributes to attrition (Peelo & Wareham, 2022; Tinto, 1993). Failure is linked to both academic or personal issues, with under-represented groups most at risk of discontinuing their studies (Ajjawi et al., 2020). However, academic failure need not lead to dropout with perserverance in the face of failure linked to the student sense of self-efficacy, of belonging, and the perceived value of the course (Tinto, 2017). In this presentation, I will detail the principles of academic failure, the impact on students and the risk of attrition. I will then detail the assessment only year (AOY) which students may undertake as a result of academic failure.
I will present the results of a project investigating the experiences of students who navigated an assessment only year and successfully rejoined their cohort. The study employed a mixed-methods approach with surveys and interviews with the following aims:
- To explore the factors contributing the academic failure
- To examine the student perspective of the AOY
- To explore the student experience of the AOY
- To examine the impact of academic failure on student motivation
I will detail the support mechanisms available for students and the feedback from students, and finally suggest measures which might be useful for other courses to support students experiencing similar challenges.
This study offers valuable lessons for academics and courses striving to ensure successful outcomes for all students, regardless of their academic challenges, and demonstrates the potential of such models to enhance the overall educational experience and success of diverse student populations. As such this presentation should be of interest across multiple schools within the University
References
Ajjawi, R. et al. (2020) Persisting students’ explanations of and emotional responses to academic failure. Higher education research and development. [Online] 39 (2), 185–199.
Peelo, M. T. et al. (2002) Failing students in higher education / edited by Moira Peelo and Terry Wareham. Buckingham: Society for Research into Higher Education & Open UP.
Tinto, V. (1987) Leaving college : rethinking the causes and cures of student attrition / Vincent Tinto. Chicago ; University of Chicago Press.
Tinto, V. (2017) Reflections on Student Persistence. Student success. [Online] 8 (2), 1–8.
