Retention and Student Services at Téluq - Annie Breton and Francois Ouelette

EADTU Staff Training Event | Support Services in Open & Distance Education

1. Annie Breton Academic advisor François Ouellette Director of  students  services

2. TÉLUQ University For more than 50 years , the only distance learning university of the Quebec University network. More than 430 online courses and 125 programs. Around 20 000 students each years . Unique learning model in the province of Quebec . Would not study at the university level if not for the presence of TELUQ university ! 1 of 2 students Source : ICOPE 2022

3. Non traditionnal students that succeed in their own way Distance learning and TELUQ University are not the easy path . 89% are workers (76% with more than 30h/ week ); 90% are part-time students ; 55% have child ren ; 63% are first generation students . The notion of success is different . They do not all seek a degree . ( only 35% are admitted in a bachelor , a master or a doctoral degree )

4. OPERA Persistence and Academic Success Tool

5. Persistence and Academic Success Tool (OPERA) Since 2017 Development context 2010-2015 Strategic plan : « Promote excellence in courses and programs as well as student success » Mandate given to the Academic Advisor team How ? Formation of a committee Identification of 17 key milestones in a student’s journey Identification of detection criteria

6. Titre

7. Technical perspective: Identifying at- risk students Intervening with them Follow their progress Keep record of interventions

8. Success perspective New students Welcome Introduce the Academic Advisor team Propose program progress Share important information

9. First semester monitoring/ Declining cumulative GPA Provide support Aware of the impact of poor results on the academic journey Remind of the support resources

10. Registration Raise awareness about inactivity after 24 months without registration Remind of the maximum duration of studies Assist in course selection Graduate studies

11. Prevention Support students before academic probation Intervention Support students during academic probation and avoid withdrawn

12. Quantitative Factual data: Number of detections Type of interventions Results

13. Results Qualitative Numerous positive feedback from students Working preventatively rather than reactively Increase efficiency Providing targeted and personalized support Promote exchanges, gather information Facilitate follow- ups

14. Study on correlation between the tool and student success and retention What’s next ?

15. MaRéussite Learning support tool Launched in may 2022

16. MaRéussite What is MaRéussite ? MaReussite is a website offering the student s learning and life balancing strategies , and is accessible throughout the course of their study via their student portal. Premise of the project TELUQ students have more risk of failure factors than students whitout online courses (52 % have at least 9 risk factors like child support, full-time job, first generation student , financial difficulty , etc.). In 2017-2018, a study conducted internally found that : The success rate at TELUQ University varies from 52 to 74 % depending on the group of students ; The importance of the first courses at the university ( higher failure and withdrawal rates ); The positiv e effects of a personnal learning support offered to a group a students ( success rate of 72 to 82 %).

17. MaRéussite Objectives Better tools from the start of their program so that students can face the challenges of university studies in the context of distance learning formation. Support students perseverance and retention through asynchronous learning support. More specifically , to increase the success rate of the first course at TÉLUQ University .

18. What exactly is MaRéussite Learning about the environnement (services, ressources) Organizing myself for better success ( work -life- study balance, time management). Effectively process courses content ( reading strategy , s ummary ). Demonstrate my learning ( writing , evaluation ). Take care of myself (life balance, motivation, stress management). With the «  just in time » concept. 5 notifications, sent with the appropriate information regarding the progression of the student in his course. 4 academic themes 1 psychosocial theme A notification system Each theme includes : Theoretical content, presented in the lighter way possible. S elf-assessment tools to understand where they stand.

19. mareussite.teluq.ca

20. mareussite.teluq.ca

21. Results The next steps : Evaluation of the success rate of the first course at TÉLUQ University . Evaluation of the failure and withdrawal rates of the first course at TÉLUQ University . Qualitative survey to understand what could be upgraded . More than 25 000 visits during the 2022 fall semester . 76% reading rate of the notifications. 39% clic rate on the notification links.