UWS Quality Forum

Shaping our future through quality: the first year law

experience

3 November 2008

Enhancing FY law experience

Promote SOCIAL integration

+ Ensure positive ACADEMIC experience

= Successful FY transition

Why? Long commitment to structured and

supportive FY experience for diverse and disadvantaged cohort

School of Law context– Curriculum review 2007: FY coordinator– FY retention– Moral imperative

FYE literature – whole experience, social

SOCIAL: Orientation day

Concise Overview first few weeks Meet first year teaching staff – campus

tours Meet other students – small groups,

lunch

Orientation camp

Social activities

FY advisor interviews - groups

FY Law vuws site

First year coordinator

Orientation Assessment sequencing FY interviews Communicate emails FY vUWS site Assist @ risk students FY inquiries Organise social Follow up @ risk Overview all FY units

ACADEMIC: Introduction to Law

Foundation conceptual, legal method & writing unit / workshop

Smaller interactive classes - good teachers

Online textbook, vUWS communication Authentic assessment task promote

group work, law research & writing skill Clear assessment guidance using

criteria & standards

How? Committed personnel

– First year coordinator, First Year Advisors, staff at Orientation & Camp, Teachers

School endorsement – HOS, financial

Institutional support– LTAP grant – vUWS

Difference? FYA interviews identified early student

concerns– most well settled and confident by week 4 – juggling their commitments and managing

their workload: most working 10-20 hrs – Early alert: assisted & referred those in

difficulty– Staff re-energised & commitment renewed

Best aspect of the camp ‘Learning from peers about their

concerns, knowing I’m not alone’ ‘Inspiring UWS law graduates giving

me confidence as a UWS student.’ ‘The sense of belonging that you felt’ ‘Learning how to survive doing law in

uni’

Would you recommend the camp?

Introduction to Law – F & AF

Fail and Absent Fail - Introduction to Law

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2005.1 2005.2 2006.1 2006.2 2007.1 2007.2 2008.1

year

%

F

AF

Introduction to Law results

Grade Distribution Introduction to Law

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

2005.1 2005.2 2006.1 2006.2 2007.1 2007.2 2008.2

Year

%

AF

F

P

C

D

H

Introduction to Law: feedbackI was able to learn from feedback in this unit

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1

Agreement

%

SA

A

N

D

SD

Differently? FYC dedicated position – holistic Extend strategies to all 1st yr law units Exploit Gen Y media: email, facebook,

u-tube, vUWS Provide more follow up

– Phone call / email / letter– After first assessment – esp failures

Personalise feedback Manage expectations – assistance, unit,

assessment

How can UWS support FY?

Appoint first year coordinators – ½ load Provide structures & support to promote

social + academic integration Encourage personalised approach

– staff & student relationships– feedback

Develop systems and strategies to follow up @ risk students

Listen to students

Suveer Verma, FY law student