Success Of First-year Students Research Articles

Investigating the Major Contemporary Issues facing First-year Students at a South African University of Technology

This qualitative research study investigated critical contemporary issues faced by first-year students at a University of Technology in South Africa. Drawing from interviews with five participants, the study illuminated three major challenges: academic pressures during the transition, financial constraints, and technology integration. The findings revealed that adapting to new pedagogical methods and academic expectations causes stress and a sense of inadequacy. Financial burdens stemming from tuition fees and living expenses hinder engagement while technology’s integration presents both opportunities and challenges, accentuating the need for digital literacy education. The study underscored the importance of comprehensive orientation programs, financial aid initiatives, digital literacy training, and peer mentoring to address these issues. Recommendations also encompass flexible learning pathways, holistic well-being support, and collaborative spaces. By recognizing and proactively addressing these challenges, higher education institutions can facilitate smoother transitions, foster inclusive environments, and ultimately enhance the overall first-year student experience. This research contributes valuable insights to guide policy development and support mechanisms, ensuring the academic success and holistic well-being of first-year students in the dynamic landscape of higher education. Keywords: First-year students, Contemporary issues, Higher education, Transition challenges, Academic pressures.

Academic success, engagement and self-efficacy of first-year university students: personal variables and first-semester performance

Higher education can be hugely transformative for students and has an important role in empowering human capital, innovation, and society’s social, cultural, and environmental development. The expansion of higher education has promoted access for a more heterogeneous mix of students, but ensuring access does not guarantee academic success. This paper aims to analyse predictors of academic achievement in 447 first-year students in their 1st and 2nd semesters, considering variables including sex, age, parents’ educational level and grades on entering higher education, along with levels of students’ academic engagement and self-efficacy after some weeks at university. Results show statistically significant paths for sex, age, and GPA to 1st-semester achievement, for parent’s educational levels to perceived self-efficacy, for students’ academic engagement to 1st-semester achievement, and 1st-semester achievement to 2nd-semester achievement. Students’ academic engagement also had an indirect effect on the 2nd-semester achievement. The correlation between academic engagement and self-efficacy was positive, strong, and statistically significant. The model explained 35.2% of the variance in 2nd-semester achievement and 15.0% of the variance in 1st-semester achievement. Knowledge about predictors of academic achievement and the importance of engagement and self-efficacy will support timely interventions, promoting success and preventing failure and dropout. La educación superior puede ser extremadamente transformadora para los estudiantes y tiene un papel importante en la formación del capital humano, en la innovación y en el desarrollo social, cultural y ambiental de la sociedad. La expansión de la educación superior promovió el acceso de una mezcla de estudiantes más heterogénea, pero garantizar el acceso no garantiza el éxito académico. Este artículo tiene como objetivo analizar los predictores de desempeño académico en 447 estudiantes de primer año en el 1er y 2do semestre, considerando variables como sexo, edad, nivel educativo de los padres y calificaciones al ingresar a la educación superior, junto con los niveles de compromiso académico e autoeficacia de los estudiantes tras algunas semanas en la universidad. Los resultados muestran trayectorias estadísticamente significativas para sexo, edad y GPA hasta el desempeño del primer semestre, para los niveles educativos de los padres hasta la autoeficacia percibida, para la implicación académica de los estudiantes hasta el desempeño del primer semestre y el desempeño del primer semestre hasta el desempeño del segundo semestre La participación académica de los estudiantes también tuvo un efecto indirecto en el desempeño del segundo semestre. La correlación entre compromiso académica y autoeficacia fue positiva, fuerte y estadísticamente significativa. El modelo explicó el 35.2% de la varianza del rendimiento académico en el segundo semestre y el 15.0% de la varianza del rendimiento académico en el primer semestre. El conocimiento sobre los predictores del rendimiento académico y la importancia del compromiso y la autoeficacia respaldará las intervenciones oportunas, promoviendo el éxito y previniendo el fracaso y el abandono.

Integrating learning support: the relationship between first-year seminar enrollment and student success in developmental mathematics

ABSTRACT Nearly half of all students in the United States are placed into at least one developmental course in college. Many of these students fail to complete developmental course sequences and persist to degree completion. First-Year Seminars are one of several high-impact practices associated with increased persistence, retention, and graduation rates of college students. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to explore the effect of concurrent first-year seminar enrolment on the academic achievement of students placed into developmental mathematics. Study results indicated that students who self-selected into a first-year seminar were more likely to earn a passing grade in their developmental mathematics course and have higher overall GPA. These results may inform strategies for integrating learning support with instruction for academically underprepared college students.

USING ACADEMC LITERACY LEVEL AS A MEASURE FOR ACADEMIC PREPAREDNESS: A UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY CASE STUDY

Ponte Academic JournalFeb 2023, Volume 79, Issue 2 USING ACADEMC LITERACY LEVEL AS A MEASURE FOR ACADEMIC PREPAREDNESS: A UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY CASE STUDYAuthor(s): Jeremiah Madzimure ,Muntuwenkosi ChiliJ. Ponte - Feb 2023 - Volume 79 - Issue 2 doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2023.2.5 Abstract:National statistics suggest that drop-out rates for first year students entering science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) programmes are disproportionately higher across all universities in South Africa. Predicting first-year student success in these programmes has thus become a priority area for researchers in the student academic support and development centres. This paper reports on the results of a pilot study that sought to draw inferences about the predictive value of the Test of Academic Literacy Levels (TALL) at one university of technology in South Africa. The purpose of this test is to inform academic staff of entry profiles of students and to assign students to tutorial groups and other academic support programmes. TALL was meant to be written by all new students taking mathematics and science courses in the years 2015 (n = 1240) and 2016 (n = 2133). The findings indicate poor performance for most students who took the test. The findings indicate that the test is not adequate for predicting future academic performance of first year students at tertiary institutions. The results of the current study have informed the University about the diagnostic value of the tool and the academic profile of students which subsequently lead to improved student academic support initiatives. Download full text:Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution Username Password

Perceptions of First-Year Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds of E-Learning at the Durban University of Technology, South Africa

The introduction of innovative e-learning and teaching methods at universities of technology necessitates examining students’ perceptions of these methods in the promotion of student success. In South Africa, most first-year students are not exposed to methodology of technology-aided learning during their high school career, especially those from disadvantaged demographics. The purpose of the study is to examine student perceptions regarding their experience of e-learning at a South African university of technology with specific reference to the success of first-year students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Using qualitative research methods through structured interviews, we discovered that first-year students from disadvantaged backgrounds are experiencing challenges regarding access to resources such as computers, laptops and a reliable internet connection. Furthermore, inadequate training on the use of online resources and unsatisfactory performance during online assessments were discovered and these are heightened by the Covid-19 pandemic. First-year students from disadvantaged backgrounds are exposed to a variety of barriers that have an adverse impact on their success. The conclusion is that higher education institutions must avail the necessary resources to facilitate seamless assimilation of first-year students into their new environment.

Exploring the Complexity of First-Year Student Belonging in Higher Education: Familiarity, Interpersonal, and Academic Belonging

Belonging is critical to first-year student success and persistence in higher education. However, differing definitions make it challenging to fully understand why belonging is significant. Foregrounding student voice, this research explored how first-year Australian university students talked about their belonging. Using Kahu and Nelson’s (2018) framework of student engagement as a lens, 18 students were interviewed weekly throughout the year. Students talked about belonging in three distinct but interrelated ways: familiarity, interpersonal belonging, and academic belonging. While all were important for student wellbeing and engagement, academic belonging, students’ sense that university, their discipline, and courses were “right” for them, was critical for perseverance. Unlike interpersonal belonging which tended to build through the year, academic belonging fluctuated for many students. The findings suggest framing belonging merely as about relationships limits understanding of this important construct. Contributing to scholarship by bringing a refreshed perspective to the nuances and complexity of belonging, the research suggests higher education providers need to monitor and foster academic belonging in first-year students.

Academic Success, Emotional Intelligence, Well-Being and Resilience of First-Year Forestry Students

Academic success is conceptualized as a multifactor model, achievement and persistence after the first year of study being considered the main learning outcomes. In this area, the findings are inconsistent, depending on the academic context, individual characteristics and diversity of psychological measures. Here, we conducted two related correlational studies to analyze variables of the emotional domain, as emotional intelligence (2017–2019), emotions, well-being and resilience (2018–2020), dropout intention, perceived barriers to completion at the beginning of first years of study in forestry, academic performance and real dropout at the end of the first year of study and several socio-demographic variables. The two studies focused on undergraduate students and included 367 and 227 participants, respectively. Forestry students with higher academic performance report higher accomplishment and engagement and feel weak negative emotions concerning aversive academic assessment compared with students with lower academic performance and students that abandoned their studies. Female students and students with full ECTS load at the end of the first year use their emotions more effectively, have reported lower dropout intention and lower perception of barriers to completion of study, and have higher GPA admission and expected GPA. Performance at the end of the first year is explained by GPA admission, relationships with high school teachers, expected GPA, gender, and academic resilience. Dropout intention is explained by barriers to completion of studies, general negative emotions and negative affect related to threatened assessment situations, and managing others’ emotions. Our findings may help develop intervention measures at the individual and organizational level.

The Role of Science High School Optional Curriculum and Knowledge Coherence in the Science Academic Success of Students in the First Year of University Studies

The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationships between the science high school optional curriculum, knowledge coherence, and science academic success of first-year students at university. The correlational quantitative approach, the structured questionnaire, and a non-random sample of students were selected to be used in the study. The study found a high positive correlation between science high school optional curriculum and science academic success variables (r = 0.608). It is also revealed that the total variance of science academic success explained by knowledge coherence level is 33.8%, the other variance may be explained by other variables. The study found that high school optional curriculum, as well as knowledge coherence, predicts science academic success.

Predictors of academic success in postgraduate auditing in the Chartered Accountancy programme at a South African university

South African universities that offer the accredited Chartered Accountancy [CA] programme are monitored by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) to ensure that the programme meets SAICA’s requirements in terms of the standards of teaching and learning. The monitoring includes a scrutiny of the academic success of students with regard to pass rates and throughput rates. This inevitably results in universities not only focussing on the academic success of students, but also predicting the success of their students. Much of the existing research focusses on the success of first-year students in the subject field of financial accounting, or success overall at postgraduate level. This article aims to bridge the gap in the research field by exploring academic predictors of success for postgraduate students in the accounting programme, with reference to a specific module ‒ namely, auditing ‒ at a South African university over a period of five years (2014‒2018). The objectives are to determine the extent to which selected grade-12 subjects (maths and language); admission requirements, namely the Admission Point (AP) score and the National Benchmark Test (NBT); as well as undergraduate performance could predict the success of a postgraduate module. Drawing on quantitative data, the findings indicate that the grade-12 subjects and admission requirements do not have a positive correlation with academic success, with only a few selected undergraduate level modules predicting academic success.

Investigating factors influencing class attendance and performance of first-year Economics students

The academic success of first-year Economics students has been examined in many South African studies in Economic Education. These studies controlled for differences in demographic characteristics, last school examination (Matric) subjects and results, as well as lecture and tutorial attendance when investigating differences in students’ performance. While there is an abundance of international studies investigating the main reasons for attendance or non-attendance, these studies are rare in the South African context, especially in the field of Economics. Hence, this study fills the existing local research gap by investigating factors influencing lecture attendance as well as their possible impact on the performance of first-year Microeconomics students at the University of the Western Cape. The key empirical findings suggest that both lecture and tutorial attendance had a positive and significant impact on both the likelihood of qualifying to write the examination as well as the examination mark. In addition, students who enrolled in Economics in Matric and obtained better marks in first-year Macroeconomics in the previous semester performed significantly better in the Microeconomics examination. It was also found that the main reasons for not attending lectures are academically related, with the top reason being “busy studying for tests”. Furthermore, students who regarded tutorials as a replacement for lectures significantly suffered nearly five marks lower in the examination. We recommend revisions to teaching methods and making lecture attendance compulsory and part of assessments. Furthermore, given lecture attendance is low, revisions to timetables should be considered and expanded transportation be made available to students. Lastly, students should be given the necessary time management tools to adjust to greater workloads at university.

The Role of Science High School Optional Curriculum and Knowledge Coherence in the Science Academic Success of Students in the First Year of University Studies

The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationships between the science high school optional curriculum, knowledge coherence, and science academic success of first-year students at university. The correlational quantitative approach, the structured questionnaire, and a non-random sample of students were selected to be used in the study. The study found a high positive correlation between science high school optional curriculum and science academic success variables (r = .608). It is also revealed that the total variance of science academic success explained by knowledge coherence level is 33.8%, the other variance may be explained by other variables. The study found that high school optional curriculum, as well as knowledge coherence, predicts science academic success.

The Road to Retention Passes through First Year Academic Performance: A Meta-Analytic Path Analysis of Academic Performance and Persistence

ABSTRACT This meta-analytic path analysis presents evidence that first-year academic performance (FYAP), measured by first-year grade point average (FYGPA) plays the major role in determining second-year student retention and that socioeconomic status (SES), measured by parental income, plays a negligible role. Based on large sample data used in a previous study, we conducted additional analyses that included corrections for measurement error and created path models using precollege academic achievement, measured by ACT Composite scores and high school GPA (HSGPA), and SES to predict FYAP and then second-year retention. Precollege academic performances had direct effects on FYAP, and FYAP fully mediated their effects on second-year retention. SES did not contribute to the prediction of FYAP, and it had only a trivial effect on second-year retention. The results of this study point to the criticality of FYAP, and supporting first-year student academic success may serve as the central vehicle for retention efforts.

Three Timely Tools for Promoting First-Year Student Success During & After COVID-19: Positive Psychology, Mindfulness, & Self-Compassion

Three Timely Tools for Promoting First-Year Student Success During & After COVID-19: Positive Psychology, Mindfulness, & Self-Compassion

Predictors for the academic success of first-year physiotherapy students at a South African university.

BackgroundNumerous factors may influence academic performance and success in undergraduate physiotherapy programmes. Understanding these factors could assist with student selection and design of support structures.ObjectivesThe objective of our study was to explore the amount of variance explained by the National Benchmark Test (NBT) and the National Senior Certificate (NSC) in passing the first year of study and to explore the association between the NBT performance bands and first-year progression outcome.MethodThe sample comprised 2013–2017 student cohorts. Hierarchical regression models were used to explore significant predictors for academic success in the first year of study. The chi-square test was used to assess the association between the NBT performance bands and the categorised progression outcome.ResultsThe NBT domains explained 22% of the variance, R2 = 0.229, F (3, 212) = 20.97, p = 0.000. The four NSC subjects accounted for 20% of the variance. All seven predicting variables contributed to 43% of the variance in the first year of study, R2 = 0.435, F (7, 208) = 27.29, p = 0.000. Associations between NBT domains and GPA: quantitative literacy (Φ = 0.27; p < 0.000); academic literacy (Φ = 0.22; p < 0.000); mathematics (Φ = 0.18; p = 0.014).ConclusionAcademic success is associated with academic factors as measured by the NBT and physical sciences matriculation results.Clinical implicationsSupport programmes in the first year of study are needed to improve student performance and success such as additional tutorials and language enrichment programmes.

Fostering Retention in Online Higher Education: Students’ Perceptions of an Intervention Addressing their First-Year Experience

Dropout represents one of the greatest challenges faced by online higher education. This paper presents an institutional intervention aimed at fostering retention and success of first-year undergraduate students at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), an online and open University, through measures addressing learning design and academic support. Secondly, through analysing in-depth interviews with first-year students, the paper explores their perception of intervention measures and their possible advantages or risks. Results indicate that time-related factors represent the major issue for persistence and continuance. Intervention measures such as personalized course packages which prevent overlapping of submission deadlines; flexibility in continuous assessment; and personalized support and academic advising were valued highly by most students. Future retention interventions in open universities are also discussed.

Predictive validity of the National Benchmark Test and National Senior Certificate for the academic success of first-year medical students at one South African university

BackgroundSouth African medical schools use the results of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination for selecting students. Five of the nine medical schools also use the National Benchmark Test (NBT). The University of the Witwatersrand weights the NSC and NBT results equally in the selection process. This study addresses the predictive validity of the NBT and NSC for academic success. The association between the NBT proficiency levels and students’ progression outcomes was also investigated.MethodsData obtained from the University’s Business Intelligence Services for 1652 first-year medical students from 2011 to 2017 were analysed using hierarchical regression models and chi-square tests. The three NBT domains and four of the NSC subjects were the independent variables in the regression models, with the first-year grade point average for students who passed the first year as the dependant variable. The NBT performance levels and first-year progression outcome (passed, failed, or cancelled) were used in the chi-square analysis. Frequency tables were used to describe the cohort’s demographic details and NBT results. Crosstabs were used to analyse student performance according to the school quintile system.ResultsThe three NBT domains explained 26% of the variance, which was statistically significant, R2 = 0.263, F (3, 1232) = 146.78, p < 0.000. When the NSC subjects (Life Sciences, English, Mathematics, and Physical Science) were added to the regression equation, they accounted for an additional 19% of the variance, R2 = 0.188, F (3, 1229) = 137.14, p < 0.000. All independent variables contributed 45% of the variance, R2 = 0.451, F (6, 1229) = 166.29, p < 0.000. A strong association between the NBT proficiency levels and first-year students’ progression outcomes was observed.ConclusionThe NBT results, when weighted equally to the NSC results, explained more variance than the NSC alone in predicting academic success in the first year of the medical degree. The NBT should not only be used for selecting medical students but should also be used to place students with lower entry-level skills in appropriate foundation programmes and to identify students who are admitted to regular programmes who may need additional support.

Student Experiences in an Online First-Year Seminar Paired with Remedial Mathematics

Educational research has explored the influence of first-year seminars, online course delivery, and developmental coursework on first-year student success, yet there is limited research on how these educational components intersect. A collective case study approach was used to explore the experiences of students enrolled in an online first-year seminar that was paired with a developmental mathematics course. Students reported different motivating factors and expectations for enrolling in the course, yet all expressed a desire to improve their academic performance and confidence. These results help to inform how delivery of an online FYS can support the goals of students and institutions.

Source of Self-Efficacy for First-Year College Students Based on Gender and Prior Knowledge

Self-efficacy has important role in determining the success and adjustment of first-year college students, including college students in study programs of mathematics education. The purpose of this study is to analyze the source of self-efficacy of first-year college students based on gender and prior knowledge. The research method used is descriptive. The study sample consisted of 68 students enrolled in calculus lectures and 58 students enrolled in algebra lectures. Other researchers have tested instrument of self-efficacy for there students. This study finds that a source of self-efficacy of first-year college students, namely vicarious experience and mastery experience affects more male and female students. Vicarious experience is the most dominant source of self-efficacy for each category of prior knowledge.

Integrated Support Strategies for Promotion of Students’ Retention and Achievement During First Years of College

Persistence and increased retention is a major focus in higher educational administration. The first-years of transition to college is a multi-dimensional new academic experience, noncognitive, and social challenges, often a disorienting period which can lead to academic difficulties. This review examines the literature for strategies, institutional policies and approaches for effective retention and first-year students’ success programs supported by evidence that contributes to satisfactory student performance, persistence and retention in post-secondary education. This review aim to develop a knowledgeable perspective on higher educational integrated and collaborative guiding principles for refining student learning and success efforts for improvements in student performance, persistence, and retention. The implications for practice are discussed and recommendations for of institution-wide collaborative critical strategies supported by data proven effective for the promotion, retention and success of first-year students’ success is provided.

The Online First-Year Experience: Defining and Illustrating a New Reality

All incoming students have a first experience with their institution. This article reviews literature on adult education, online learning, and first-year student success to articulate the scope of experiences and programs that ought to be included in institutional efforts aimed at helping adult students be successful in their first year of online education. In addition, three approaches to support these online students in their first year of college are illustrated. Key areas surveyed are online orientation programs, online first-year experience courses, and the co-curricular engagement of online learners. Examination of these cases demonstrates that supporting online first-year students is quite important, particularly given the proliferation of online students and their lag in standard measures of success.