Student Support Services Research Articles

AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT UNDER THE FLIPPED CLASSROOM MODEL

The flipped classroom offers many positive educational outcomes. Student engagement is an important indicator for assessing the quality of education in higher education and is a key factor in the success of curriculum reform. For this reason, assessing student engagement in the flipped classroom has always been a high priority. Purpose: The main purpose of this research is to use the Flipped Learning Student Engagement Scale to measure student engagement in the flipped classroom at a China university. The scale includes four engagement sub-scales, namely behavioral engagement, peer-relationship (emotional engagement- I), relationship with the faculty member (emotional engagement- II), and cognitive engagement, with 21 items in total. The scale has good stability, internal consistency, model fit, and constructs validity. Methods: Data were elicited via a survey approach and analysed quantitatively to support the investigation. The researcher selected a random sample of 507 university students from Long Dong University, Gansu Province, China. Results: The students reported that the overall engagement was generally good. Emotional engagement was significantly higher than behavioral and cognitive engagement. There were significant differences in students' levels of student engagement in terms of college, flipped learning experience, preferred course mode, type of preparation before the flipped classroom, and level of information technology. Conclusion: The research will provide a basis for evaluating and improving the current state of flipped learning engagement and optimizing student support services.

(Non)fungibility of socio-cultural capital for rural-based students in South African universities

The number of university students coming from rural areas has significantly increased in South Africa in the last two decades. While this is a positive sign of inclusive social growth and development, the fact that 70% of South African universities are still located in urban areas creates challenges for a number of these students. This is also compounded by the fact that most rural schools in South Africa offer sub-optimal preparation for post-school activities. As such, the first barrier for most of these students is negotiating various levels of access to higher education (HE), using forms of social and cultural capital that may be incommensurate with urban-based HE institutions. Using an in-depth review of literature on the subject of rural education, transition to higher education, student success and reflections on the professional experience of the authors in student support services in higher education. This study argues that since most South African universities are “urban enclaves”, students from rural areas take time to adapt and accumulate relevant socio-cultural capital to enable them to thrive and succeed. The transition of students from rural schools to urban-based universities is a socio-cultural as much as it is an epistemological mobility. As such, this “troubled transition” of rural students can be ameliorated through a trans-sectoral or transdisciplinary transitional intervention to simultaneously enable epistemological access and create commensurate socio-cultural capital. However, previous interventions on student transition have been generic and lacked the nuanced intersectional analysis of rurality on student access and success.Transdisciplinary contribution: The study proposes a trans-sectoral or transdisciplinary transitional space in which education institutions (basic and HE) collaborate with government and non-state partners to ensure sufficient and effective transition, especially for rural school learners.

Young People and the Future: School Students' Concerns and Hopes for the Future after One Year of COVID-19 in Austria-Findings of a Mixed-Methods Pilot Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in enormous changes in everyday life and numerous burdens for adolescents. This pilot study focused on how young people look to the future in the face of these burdens. Responses to two open-ended questions on concerns and hopes for the future that were part of a larger online survey on the mental health of school students in Austria were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Subsequently, differences in the experiences of boys and girls, young people with and without a migration background and psychologically stressed and non-stressed young people were examined by applying a mixed-methods approach. Data collection took place from 3 February to 28 February 2021. From a total survey sample of 3052 adolescents aged 14-20, a representative sample according to gender and migration background (N = 500) was drawn. Qualitative content analysis revealed several areas of concern about the future, including school-related concerns, concerns about the further development of the pandemic and the associated restrictions, concerns related to a lack of locus of control, health-related concerns and concerns about social relationships. The analysis also indicated young people's greatest hopes for the future, such as hopes related to further pandemic development, hopes regarding major life goals, school, social relationships and health. Young people's experiences differ according to gender, migration background and the extent of psychological distress. This study contributes to research on the psychological well-being of adolescents during the pandemic and provides important insights into the subjective experience of young people. It aims to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the concerns and hopes for the future of young people in a time marked by various challenges. The results of the study should be used to develop ideas for measures, such as the expansion of school psychological services and low-threshold support services for students, such as school social work and counseling.

A Strategy to Improve Pass Rates of Written Postgraduate Statistics Modules

<p>Many universities apply student support services to undergraduate (UG) students, but some postgraduate (PG) cases need it. South African universities have intensified PG admissions. PG students admitted with a minimum admission mark are not PG-ready. For the Bachelor of Science Honours (BSc Honours) in Statistics (Stats) that requires intense Math conceptual knowledge to apply to Stats concepts, where competition is high, only top students can be competitive. In South Africa, the job market prioritizes graduates from historically white higher education institutions (HEIs), and formerly black and newer university graduates’ struggle. Non-stop students from the latter universities are not easily employed, so they need a stimulus. This study focuses on BSc Honours (Stats) students who perform low for intervention to improve their performance. Measures were proposed for student conduct and behavior to enable lecturers to constantly stimulate the teaching and monitor and evaluate progress while continuously assessing the students. The study followed an experimental design. Students were ordered to practice with module exercises using statistical software packages in the computer laboratory. Exceedingly high pass rates of 100% were realized. The methods were viewed as effective and beneficial.</p>

Experiences of online occupational therapy education during the COVID-19 pandemic at a South African university

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a worldwide shift of academic programmes towards a predominantly online forum. There was therefore a need to explore how students experienced these shifts to ensure optimal learning. This study describes students' experiences of online teaching, learning and assessment and perception of their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study was employed using a four-part self-administered online survey. Following a pilot study with 11 community service occupational therapists, the survey was sent to all eligible participants (N=118) with a response rate of 85% (n=91). Data were collected from second to fourth year registered occupational therapy students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2021. Data were analysed descriptively using R Studio Suite RESULTS: Over 50% of the students reported a positive online experience. Adequate access to infrastructure enabled optimal online learning. However, students experienced difficulty with structuring self-study time, theoretical application and time allocated for online tests. Additional challenges included stress and time management and managing the increased requirements for self-directed learning. Coping was enhanced by the availability and access to student support services CONCLUSION: The key issues identified in the study need to be addressed to enhance online delivery of the curriculum IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Online teaching, learning, and assessment in occupational therapy curriculum requires review and adaptation to facilitate optimal student learning On an online platform, or with digital learning, students require support with aspects such as structuring of their self-directed learning time, personal time and stress management An understanding of the online experiences of students may assist in the development and revision of curricula that are responsive to students' needs and which may aid in optimal learning outcomes.

Experiences of Student-Teachers: Implications for Refined Student-Support

Every institution has support services available for students, especially first-year students, that would help deal with issues they might need assistance with during their early years. Student support services offered at universities to assist students’ academic, social, or psycho-emotional needs help to enhance their overall welfare and academic achievement. This study investigated university student-teachers experiences and their implications for refined student support. A case study qualitative research design was employed for this study with 12 student-teachers (five male and seven female) as the sample. A focus group interview method was employed to generate responses, and the information was evaluated with thematic content analysis. This study reported that first-year students encountered various challenges classified into academic (inconsistency in keeping the timetable of lectures and lecturers, misplacement, and missing academic results), social (inadequacies in the transportation system and accommodation issues), and psycho-emotional (low self-esteem, external academic pressure, and suicidal ideation). It was also revealed that the respondents benefitted from extra classes by lecturers, tutorials from student associations and peers, assistance from the student affairs unit and students’ associations, and aid from the counselling unit, staff advisers, and clerics support services in the institution. Also, there is a need for improvements in the various support services available in the institution. Therefore, it was recommended that institutions only offer admission to students applying for education-related courses.

Delivery of Non-Academic Student Support Services by Staff at Kyambogo University

Non-academic student support services significantly contribute to supporting and enhancing students’ academic, social and welfare experiences, thereby supporting their subsequent success in higher education. Students’ activities at the university go beyond the lecture room setting since they spend 70% of their time out of the lecture room. Hence, higher education institutions should promote what happens outside of the lecture room in order to enhance positive behaviour amongst students, which will contribute to responsible citizenship in the nation. Staff in student affairs departments are key in assisting students in their experiences outside the classroom. However, as a result of changes in higher education, the roles of these staff have become broad, complex, non-specific, dynamic, and comprehensive yet there is declining funding and staffing. Hence, an understanding of how they deliver the services is vital to the effectiveness of the institution. Higher education institutions endeavour to provide the services, but the ways the services are delivered continue to be overlooked and hence not well understood. This study presents one of the latest findings of a recent study done in Uganda on the delivery of non-academic student support services by staff at Kyambogo University. The study aimed at exploring how the staff deliver non-academic student support services at Kyambogo University. It employed a qualitative approach that involved 11 staff purposively selected from the units that deliver non-academic student support services. The findings revealed three key aspects in the delivery of the services by staff; policy guidelines, management roles and capacity building. The staff made use of both internal and external policies and guidelines and carried out training for both staff and students. This study also revealed that the effective delivery of the services was hindered by inadequate funding, which affects other services like staffing and facilities. Staff revealed that in order to navigate the challenges, they worked with other departments in the university and student leaders. I therefore, recommend that the management of Kyambogo University ensures that the delivery of the services is clearly understood by all stakeholders; this will help in its improvement. Further, policies should not only be formulated but also be well implemented, and find alternative sources of funding like engaging in public-private partnerships and outsourcing services like halls of residence in order to improve funding in the university. In addition, it is essential that staff receive adequate training and support to effectively deliver non-academic student support services

Student support services: Perceptions and recommendations for the next generation.

Student support services/student affairs are central to the student academic experience and success at US and Canadian dental schools. This manuscript evaluates student and administrator perceptions of support services and offers recommendations for best practices in student services in predoctoral dental education to help institutions improve the student experience. A survey of administrators and dental students found perceptions of student support services vary between these groups. Seventeen student services administrators and 263 students started the survey, and 12 administrators and 156 students completed the full survey. Survey comments indicated access to student support services is a concern. Results of the student survey, in conjunction with current literature, were utilized to develop recommendations for dental student support services. Recommendations for student support services in dental schools include accessibility of student services, and ensuring students have access to support in the domains of wellness, academic support, and peer support as well as implementation of humanistic practices. Wellness supports should include behavioral health services, physical health services, and access to mindfulness interventions. Academic support services should include study skills, time management training, and academic supports such as tutoring. Structured peer support programs should also be implemented. Dental schools should also be mindful of the changing support needs of incoming dental students.

Professed Student Satisfaction on Scholarship Services and its Relation to College Persistence in One State University in Laguna

Lack of studies linking student support services and financial assistance, particularly the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) undergraduate scholarship, to college outcomes such as persistence has been one of the issues in STEM education in the Philippines. Even though previous findings have shown the clear impact of financial support on student success, local researchers have only focused on student satisfaction with the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) and persistence. This is why the researchers decided to determine the relationship between the satisfaction of scholarship services provided by the DOST in terms of scholarship updates, support for scholars’ organizations and activities, staff assistance, support for scholarship-related problems, and scholarship benefits and college persistence components, namely: academic integration, social integration, support service satisfaction, degree commitment, institutional commitment, and academic conscientiousness. A descriptive-correlational design was utilized with a convenience sampling technique to select 67 DOST scholars as respondents. Self-reported assessments were used to measure the variables. The results show that the students were very satisfied with the scholarship services, and they are highly persistent in all indicators except academic conscientiousness. However, there is no significant relationship between satisfaction with scholarship services and college persistence. Studying other potential variables related to scholarship services and implementing policies to improve college persistence is recommended.

Academic thriving and online course design: a conceptual model

ABSTRACT The concept of thriving in post-secondary education has largely been studied in the context of academic advising and student support services, with limited research that links thriving to pedagogical practices. This paper presents a conceptual model created using an integrative literature review to illustrate how instructional choices made during the design and teaching phases of online courses may impact students’ academic thriving. The Instructional Design for Academic Thriving (IDAT) model, nested within the Community of Inquiry (COI) framework for online learning, supports online course design practices that emphasize student wellbeing and allow students to not just succeed but thrive academically.

FOREIGN EXPERIENCE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT OF STUDENTS: LESSONS FOR UKRAINE

The research relevance is determined by the necessity of studying innovative technologies of students social support to be implementated in higher education institutions of Ukraine. The article aim: to analyze the foreign experience of social support of students during their studies in higher education institutions. Methods applied: theoretical methods related to the study of the results of research by foreign and Ukrainian researchers regarding the forms and methods of social support for students, the method of generalization, comparison, and understanding of information on foreign experience of social (social-psychological) support of Ukrainian higher education institutions students. Features of the Ukrainian model of functioning of social (social-psychological) student support services in higher education institutions are characterized; assets and problematic aspects of the activity specified type are singled out. The tasks, leading directions and forms of social services work of foreign higher education institutions are outlined. The diversity of content, forms and methods of activity are characterized, as well as compliance with international approaches and standards of work with the youth, focus on meeting the needs and requests of students, creation of optimal conditions for vital self-determination, professional and personal formation. Innovative technologies of work of student social services determined by modern challenges are characterized: namely, social support for students with disabilities, foreign students and the implementation of special support programs for Ukrainian students and their family members who went abroad because of large-scale war in Ukraine.

Institutional responses to state policy: Using student voice to prioritize equity

AbstractThis chapter aims to extend conversations around educational equity by emphasizing the role of community college contexts as a mediator between policy reform and student experience. Narratives of Tennessee (TN) Reconnect Grant recipients indicate that community college contexts related to advising and student support services and enrollment, transfer, and financial aid structures stand out as critical aspects for how TN Reconnect students engage once on campus. We pose recommendations for community colleges and community college leaders to better serve their adult students.

‘It has been an uphill battle from the get go’: The experiences of single parents studying at university in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Single-parent families represent a significant proportion of all UK families, but literature suggests that they face challenges in accessing, participating in, and completing Higher Education (HE). This article draws on data obtained from three months of mixed-methods research in 2021 with single-parent students to explore the meanings of being a single parent studying at university in the UK in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so it considers the personal demands that the pandemic placed on single-parent students, and the avenues of support available for single-parent students in the context of the UK HE system. These issues are then analysed within a theoretical framework to argue that single-parent students occupied a simultaneous position of agency and mastery in the context of HE. The article concludes with three key recommendations for change: (1) Universities should collect data on student parents and use this data to enable tailored support via student support services; (2) Universities should work with Student Unions to ensure parent-friendly freshers activities and ongoing social/support groups for student parents; and (3) Universities should make concrete changes to campus space, including the introduction of accessible, flexible, discounted childcare on campus, parent and baby rooms, and baby-changing facilities. These three changes would significantly improve the experiences of single-parent students studying at university in the UK.

The impact of student self-disclosure on the stress and wellbeing of tertiary educators during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Workplace stress, burnout, and fatigue are commonplace amongst tertiary educators, and are compounded by the ongoing challenges of teaching and learning during a global pandemic. Amid efforts to identify and understand contributors to educator stress, student-teacher interactions have received relatively little attention. However, educators are often expected to engage in pastoral care when students disclose academic and personal problems. Receiving and responding to self-disclosure can be emotionally taxing, particularly in professional contexts of care, and therefore contribute to educator experiences of stress and burnout. In this study, we examined the relations between student self-disclosure and educator stress and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand. Almost all of the 318 tertiary educators received COVID-19 related disclosures from students. Findings show that educators whose students had shared personal problems during COVID-19 were more likely to report high stress and poor wellbeing.Such communication was also associated with higher rates of workplace presenteeism, suggesting that these teachers were likely to push themselves to a level that risks illness. Fortunately, these negative impacts were ameliorated when educators also reported a sense of support in the workplace. The implications for educators and tertiary institutions are discussed, including the provision of educator training and well-resourced student support services.

From Data to Insights: An Analysis of Enrollment, Retention and Completion Rates at the Cagayan State University

This study utilized the data visualization technique to explore the enrollment and graduation data of Cagayan State University- Carig Campus (CSU Carig). The study analyzed data for first-time full-time first year students entering the university from the first semester of school year 2018-2019 school year to the second semester of school year 2021-2022.The findings revealed that there were more female students enrolled in the eight colleges of the campus than male students, with the average ratio being 6:7. Most colleges had retention rates of 85% or greater, which was relatively high. However, the College of Veterinary Medicine had a retention rate of 72.47% in 2021–2022 which was substantially lower than that of the other colleges.The study also found that in terms of gender, the retention rates varied significantly across the colleges. The College of Industrial Technology has the largest male to female ratio, which may indicate that the technical and blue collar-related nature of the degrees it offers may draw a greater share of male students. On the other hand, the College of Arts and Sciences has the lowest male to female ratio, which suggests that women are more likely to pursue careers in the humanities, social sciences, and the arts.The retention rate for male students at the College of Engineering and Architecture was 62.13% in the academic year 2019–2020, but it significantly rose to 92.63% in 2020-2021 and 88.45% in 2021-2022, while it remained consistently higher than 80% for female students throughout all three academic years.With 100% of students graduating in the academic year 2021–2022, the College of Medicine achieved the highest graduation rate. These findings provide useful insights for CSU Carig that can help them in their decision-making about academic programs, student support services, and overall institutional performance.

The Effectiveness of Digital-Based Psychotherapy in Overcoming Psychological Problems in College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review.

Purpose: This review aims to determine the effectiveness of the application of digital-based psychotherapy in overcoming the psychological problems of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Several databases consisting of EBSCO-Host CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, Sage Journal, and Taylor and Francis were used in the search process and resulted in experimental studies focusing on the effectiveness of the application of digital-based psychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic timeline (2019-2022). Descriptive and exploratory analyses were performed based on the data set from the study. Results: A total of 12 articles were included in the review. The digital psychotherapy interventions found are diverse including websites, smartphone applications, and video conferencing with the types of therapies provided in the form of, Cognitive Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Mindfulness Therapy. Each intervention has a diverse duration and frequency adjusting to the type of therapy given. Digital psychotherapeutic interventions are effective in reducing mental health problems among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: The use of digital psychotherapy can be used as a prevention and support service for students who experience psychological problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. The combination of the use of digital media with video conferencing can be considered to increase the effectiveness of this service. Nurses need to understand how the procedure for implementing digital-based psychotherapy is to improve the quality of mental care services as an effort to prevent and support students. More research is needed to find out the effectiveness of the use of digital psychotherapy services and how they impact the psychological well-being of students holistically.

A Human Capability Perspective on the Progression of Low-SES Students to Higher Education in Ireland and the UK

This article focuses on targeted programs for low-SES students in two selective universities: Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, Ireland (Trinity Access Programmes/TAP) and the University of Oxford, UK (Lady Margaret Hall Foundation Year/LMH FY). The programs were collaborative developments, as examples of the potential of learning and adaptation across geographical contexts. It poses two questions: (a) How did the admissions processes in both universities change to target low-SES students? (b) How do social and academic support services for low-SES students, provided by two universities, contribute to the development of student capabilities? The article draws on the capability approach as the evaluative lens used to explore the two programs. Findings indicate (a) innovative approaches to socio-economic assessment in both programs, resulting in effective targeting of low-SES students, (b) the scaling of the programs beyond their initial remit and (c) the emergence of specific student capabilities through their engagement in the programs.

‘Our community building and belonging’: A student and staff co-creation project

This article presents an evidence-based case study of a co-creation research project aimed to build and improve a sense of belonging and community through co-created activities, events, and campaigns. Various activities brought together both students and staff across a post-92 university in the North of England. The co-created project gathered empirical data to explore how belonging and community were experienced by students, evaluated the impact of the co-created events and campaigns for students, and highlighted key areas for the university to further develop. These included recommendations for how the university supports students to feel a sense of belonging, the efficacy of its Race Equality Charter action plan addressing differential outcomes, the learning and teaching approach around using co-creation, embedding equity and social justice within both curriculum and student support services, improved communication systems with students, and ensuring the concept of belonging is at the forefront of student experience. The article concludes by highlighting the intrinsic connection to retention, progression, and success for students with feeling a sense belonging in higher education and describes how co-creation can be used for social justice and equity activism to bring about positive changes to benefit a whole university community.

ACCelerator Advances Student Success Through an Innovative Learning Space at Austin Community College: An Interview with Curtiss Stevens

Curtiss Stevens, is the executive dean of the ACCelerator and Strategic Initiatives at AustinCommunity College (ACC). In 2019, Curtiss was awarded the President’s Leadership ExcellenceAward and the John and Suanne Roueche Excellence Award for outstanding leadership, service, anddedication to ACC. Curtiss holds a bachelor's degree in Geography from Valparaiso University, a master's degree in Geographic Education and Research from Western Michigan University, and pursued doctoral studies in Economic Geography at Indiana State University. He has amassed over 2 decades of experience in the field of higher education, serving in various capacities such as admissions and financial aid, student affairs, international education, academic and life skills training, grants and fundraising, curriculum, and athletics. His previous employments include positions at Valparaiso University, Western Michigan University, Indiana University, and Purdue University. Apart from teaching Geography and Geosciences, he has also worked as an Executive Director of a Boys & Girls Club and as a TV personality. The ACCelerator, at Austin Community College (ACC) Highland’s campus, is a 32,000-square-foot space that fosters dynamic learning. The ACCelerator features classrooms, study rooms, and numerous computer pod stations that can be reserved by ACC faculty and staff for a variety of purposes. The ACC Highland campus serves over 8,000 students, with over 17,000 student visits to the Highland ACCelerator per year. The ACCelerator features innovative teaching and instruction, learning support services, student support services, and community engagement, which provides an engaged student-centric customer service vision.

Student Support Services Towards Institutional Change and Development

Assurance of quality and assessment of the current state of services provided by government-funded colleges and universities are constantly dominating the agenda in most countries. Developing countries in the Asia Pacific, such as the Philippines, are concerned with continuously improving their academic standards while pursuing greater access and opportunity. Quality arrangements are now being sought to balance quantity, quality, and public accountability as it moves toward mass higher education with a greater diversity of students and modes combined with tightened or limited resources. As a result, SUCs (State Universities and Colleges) and LUCs (Local Universities and Colleges) are expected to constantly respond to changes in the higher education environment to address their students' diverse learning and support needs. Under such circumstances, this study is relevant. The main objective of this research is to cover the student assistance services offered by SUCs and LUCs, given that higher education institutions are focusing on meeting the standards assigned by recognized accreditation agencies on a standard-by-standard basis. Since HEIs (Higher Education Institutions) place a high value on quality assurance, and institutional and program accreditation leveling for global recognition, this study determined the current state of SSP as perceived by student respondents. This research is limited to a particular degree program (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration) from the following government-funded HEIs: University of Makati (UMak), Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST), Bulacan Agricultural State College (BASC), Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST), and Bulacan State University (BulSU).