• Section 1 - Summary
• Section 2 - Scope
• Section 3 - Policy Statement
• Commitment to Equality and Inclusion
• Supportive Learning Environment
• Student Engagement and Belonging
• Academic Learning and Success
• Section 4 - Procedures
• Section 5 - HESF/ASQA/ESOS ALIGNMENT
• Section 6 - Definitions

Section 1 - Summary

(1) This Policy expresses VU's commitment to maximising student retention and success at every stage of learning. It explains VU’s approach to upholding that commitment and it enables focused efforts across the entire University.

Section 2 - Scope

(2) This Policy applies to students in all study levels and modes at VU including Foundation, Vocational, Higher Education, Postgraduate and Research across all campuses.

1. Students studying at offshore and other partner locations may receive additional localised support services from partner institutions or third-party organisations as appropriate.

Section 3 - Policy Statement

(3) VU believes that student retention and success are the responsibility of the entire VU community, including students themselves.

(4) As a multi-sector university, VU recognises the value of a highly diverse student cohort and the need to support all of our students to achieve their educational goals. 

Commitment to Equality and Inclusion

(5) A key measure of student success and satisfaction is retention and the University’s retention initiatives and strategies are designed to address the needs of all students from all equity groups.

(6) VU will provide flexible entry and exit points and appropriate pathways and foundation courses to students. VU will guide and assist students to see the relevance of their study to their future careers and/or aspirations, and the needs of the communities to which they belong in order to foster a sense of purpose and commitment to their own success. 

(7) The One VU model includes the commitment to provide specific consideration to the recruitment, admission,
participation and completion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Supportive Learning Environment

(8) VU recognises the importance of high-quality education at all study levels with all students supported by comprehensive orientation and transition programs, effective interventions and data-driven retention initiatives that assist students to set and achieve their goals.

(9) VU will:

1. Deliver well-structured, multi-faceted orientation program and study-readiness programs; and
2. Strive to ensure that all student administrative and service processes are efficient, well communicated and user-friendly; and
3. Provide flexible, high-quality support services and resources, including advice on accessing social supports where indicated; 
4. Promote and support peer programs and networks among students; and
5. Recognise and accept its responsibility to support students' academic and learning success from the outset of their VU experience to the completion of their studies.

(10) VU continuously monitors, reviews and reports on strategies to eradicate the challenges our students face and commits to ensuring that all students are supported to meet those challenges via proactive and targeted early interventions.

Student Engagement and Belonging

(11) VU recognises that early and positive engagement with students is essential for fostering a sense of belonging to VU, helping them to build the confidence necessary for retention and success and, accordingly, provides appropriate accurate, timely and useful information to students and prospective students across a range of platforms.

(12) VU acknowledges that the quality of a student's experience, and their desire to remain with VU, depends not only on good teaching, but on functional administrative systems, adequate student support, access to appropriate learning resources and extra-curricular opportunities and activities that foster a sense of belonging, and commits to providing high quality, accessible services to meet all of these needs. 

Academic Learning and Success

(13) VU will provide support for academic and learning success in the following ways: 

1. The design and provision of academic support programs and the provision of targeted and integrated learning support in TAFE;
2. Investment in long-term course development and ongoing evaluation based on evidence from student feedback, graduate career outcomes, data and relevant industry feedback where appropriate;
3. Integrating developmental education into HE curriculum design;
4. Analysing student progression in relation to course and training composition and curriculum design;
5. Implementing early intervention strategies for students identified as being potentially at risk academically or in other ways, based on accurate data analytics, staff and/or student feedback; 
6. Conducting Individual Pre-Training Reviews for VE students which determine additional support needs, learning and vocational goals;
7. Investing in continuing and appropriate professional development for all academic, professional and TAFE staff; and,
8. Recognising the value of a culture of success and working to create this amongst both students and staff. This will be reflected in:
   1. Recognition and acknowledgement of students who are making good progress with their studies, with the form of recognition at the discretion of each HE College, TAFE College or equivalent organisational unit; and
   2. Success-oriented academic progress model predicated on the idea that progression and completion should be the expectation of and by every student; and
   3. Provision of supports for students who enter the academic progress process, with an expectation that the progress process will enable them to resume normal academic progression as a result; and
   4. Development of a Learning Support Plan for VE students as required to guide their learning progress; and
   5. Fair and transparent academic progress process that is communicated appropriately to students.

(14) The following policies, procedures, frameworks and channels form part of this Policy and provide detail to give practical effect to the policy principles:

Section 4 - Procedures

(15) Student Retention and Success - VET Learning Support Procedure

Section 5 - HESF/ASQA/ESOS ALIGNMENT

(16) HESF: Standard 1.3 Orientation and Progression (specifically 1.3.2c; 1.3.4; 1.3.5); 2.2 Diversity and Equity.

(17) Outcome Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations 2025: Standard 1.1(b) Training; 1.7 Recognition of prior learning and credit transfer, 2.2 Information, 2.3 - 2.4 Training Support; 2.5 Diversity and Inclusion; Standard 2.6 Wellbeing; 4.4 Continuous Improvement.

(18) National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (Cth): Standard 6 – Provision of access to support services to achieve expected learning outcomes.

(19) VRQA Guidelines for Non School Senior Secondary Education Providers: Standards 3 Student Welfare, 4 Student Records and Results; 5 Teaching and Learning.

Section 6 - Definitions

(20) Retention: Retention measures the number of students who return to study after an initial teaching period, whether that be a teaching block, semester or year.

(21) Success: The proportion of students who commence study at VU who successfully complete a course.