Early Conditional Offer Programs

1. Early Conditional Offer Programs 9 May 2012 Annette Cairnduff Director, Social Inclusion Unit

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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