HEPPP Evaluation
What is HEPPP?
The Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP) is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Industry Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE). It provides funding that is designed to increase equity in the Australian higher education system through promoting greater involvement in higher education by people who come from low socio-economic status (LSES) backgrounds. Traditionally, people from LSES backgrounds have had low participation rates in Australian higher education. Arising from recommendations in Bradley et al.'s (2008) Review of Australian Higher Education, the Australian Government has an ambition that 20% of domestic undergraduate students ought to be from a LSES background by 2020.
As its name implies, there are two branches of HEPPP, which cover:
- the process of attraction/aspiration to higher education with the outcome of enrolment (Partnership Programs)
- the process of retention/progress within higher education with the outcome of successful completion (Participation Programs)
What is the HEPPP Evaluation?
The HEPPP Evaluation is an overarching evaluation of the HEPPP projects that Charles Sturt University (CSU) has engaged in between 2010 – 2013, with a focus on programs undertaken in 2013. The HEPPP Evaluation aims to develop a holistic and in-depth understanding of CSU's HEPPP projects, including ways in which the projects are similar, different, and interconnected.
Who are the HEPPP Evaluators?
The HEPPP Evaluation is being conducted by a freelance researcher, Dr Clare Wilding, with the support of casual staff member, Ms Alison Robinson. The evaluation has been commissioned by and is financially supported by the Dean of Students, Professor Julia Coyle, using HEPPP funds.
Clare is a former CSU academic staff member in the School of Community Health (and is currently an Adjunct Senior Lecturer). Her research consultancy business is Knowledge Moves. Alison is a former CSU student and she currently supports Christian students on the Wagga Wagga campus as a Ministry Apprentice.
How is data being collected for the HEPPP Evaluation?
There are three main data collection strategies:
- Collection of population data about changes in numbers of LSES students and their attrition and success rates over the past decade. We are also developing a profile of current LSES students at CSU
- All CSU staff members are invited to tell us about their areas of strength in supporting LSES students and they are also being encouraged to identify areas for further improving their support of LSES students. This information is being collected via three types of online surveys: one for general staff; one for academic staff; and, one for institutional leaders/managers
- We are reviewing documents and previous individual project evaluations and are speaking to the staff who have been involved in managing the HEPPP projects at CSU
How can I get involved?
ALL staff are encouraged to complete an online survey before 20 December 2013. You can find out more about what participation involves by reading the information sheet.
- General staff: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CSU_General_staff
- Academic staff: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Academic_staff
- Managerial staff/ CSU leaders: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CSU_Leaders
Leaders of HEPPP projects will be invited to participate in an interview with Clare. If you have been involved in delivering a HEPPP project and would like to provide more information about your perspective please feel free to make a direct submission of information via email or telephone (see contact details below).
Students' perspectives will be collected indirectly via population statistics and within individual HEPPP project evaluations. The Dean of Students is also establishing a Student Reference Group and this group's feedback about HEPPP and its evaluation will be sought. Individual students or groups of students are also welcomed to make a direct submission of information via email or telephone if they would like to (or submit a comment via the feedback link on this page).
Contacting the HEPPP evaluators
Clare Wilding can be contacted at:
e: cwilding@knowledgemoves.com.au
p: (03) 5728 2629
Alison Robinson can be contacted at: (Alison works part-time Thursday & Friday)
e: arobinson@csu.edu.au
p: (02) 6933 4978
What will be the outcomes of the HEPPP Evaluation?
A report of the evaluation will be provided to the Dean of Students and the Senior Executive of the university. The report will include recommendations for future actions to attract and support LSES students and will detail the types of sustainable actions that CSU can take, both with and without ongoing HEPPP funding support.
HEPPP projects at CSU in 2013
| Partnership projects – These projects are about building aspiration to engage in higher education, so they are directed at high school and primary school children. | |
| Future Moves | http://www.csu.edu.au/future-moves/home |
| PICSE (Primary Industry Centre for Science Education) | http://www.csu.edu.au/student/transition/picse.htm |
| Partnerships Advisory Board | http://www.csu.edu.au/student/transition/board.htm |
| Participation projects – These projects aim to support students from LSES backgrounds to succeed at Charles Sturt University. However, many of the projects are not specifically targeted just for students from LSES backgrounds – they support ALL students. | |
| Student Scholarships and Grants | http://www.csu.edu.au/oncampus/help-with-costs/scholarships |
| BUSS (Building University Study Success) – a literacy and numeracy program | http://www.csu.edu.au/academic-support/welcome/buss-news |
| Rural and Remote Student Support Team | http://www.csu.edu.au/academic-support/welcome/regional-and-remote-learning-support |
| STAR (Student Transition and Retention Plan) | http://www.csu.edu.au/academic-support/welcome/star |
| SST (Student Success Team) | http://www.csu.edu.au/academic-support/welcome/student-success-team |
| PASS (Peer Assisted Study Session) | http://www.csu.edu.au/academic-support/welcome/pass |
| Student data collection and analysis: Office of Planning and Audit |
http://www.csu.edu.au/division/plandev/ |
| Establishing Port Macquarie campus | http://www.csu.edu.au/about/locations/port-macquarie |
| HEPPP Evaluation | |
| Faculty Specific Project – Faculty of Arts: Theology mentors |
http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/arts/theology |
| Faculty Specific Project – Faculty of Arts: First Year transition |
http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/arts/home |
| Faculty Specific Project – Faculty of Business: Addressing transitional challenges |
http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/business/home |
| Faculty Specific Project – Faculty of Education: Teacher Education in Community (TEC) |
http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/educat |
| Faculty Specific Project – Faculty of Science: the pre-lab project |
http://fyhe.com.au/past_papers/papers12/Posters/Poster_11.pdf |
| Academic Support Office Administration | |
Resources for supporting LSES students
Effective teaching and support of students from low socioeconomic status backgrounds: http://lowses.edu.au/index.htm
Safeguarding Student Learning and Engagement: https://safeguardingstudentlearning.net/
Got feedback?
Please let us know what you think about HEPPP, the HEPPP Evaluation, and/or CSU's HEPPP projects. What is good? What could be improved?
If you would like to receive a copy of the final report, leave your email address below.
Project Timeline
| Process | Dates |
| Start HEPPP Evaluation | 1st July 2013 |
| Ethics approval granted | 13th September 2013 |
| Data gathering | 23rd September – 20th December 2013 |
| Data analysis & report writing | 23rd December 2013 – 28th March 2014 |
| Project completion | 31st March 2014 |