More paperwork for universities as accord reforms progress

The Australian government’s abolition of the unpopular “fail rule” has created more workload for universities, which must now produce “dedicated” plans for supporting their students.

A bill to implement the Universities Accord’s early recommendations requires universities and colleges to develop policies around how they help students complete their subjects. Institutions must abide by the policies and report their compliance to the federal education minister, with breaches attracting fines of A$18,780 (£9,658).

The minister, Jason Clare, introduced the bill into parliament on 3 August. He said institutions would be obliged to “proactively identify” students at risk of “falling behind” and outline practical steps to get them back on track.

Examples included individual literacy and numeracy support, “crisis and critical harm response arrangements” and “non-academic supports” on issues like finance, housing and mental health. “We should be helping students to succeed, not forcing them to quit,” Mr Clare said.

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Under the fail rule, introduced as part of 2021’s Job-ready Graduates reforms, students lose access to government subsidies if they do not successfully complete at least half of their modules.

A discussion paper scheduled for release within days will outline what information the new policies must contain, with the content to become “mandatory obligations” in Australia’s higher education provider guidelines.

Andrew Norton, professor in the practice of higher education policy at the Australian National University, said many institutions were already providing support of this nature. “Whether they’re prepared to be able to supply this to large numbers of people is another matter,” he said. “[It may] be too much of a burden on them without any additional funding.”

Professor Norton said the new requirement added to his concern that the accord reforms would generate more “bureaucracy” in higher education. He also warned against “unrealistic expectations” around universities’ duty of care to students.

“Why is the university responsible for all the health and other problems of the students, beyond what’s narrowly to do with their education? If students don’t turn up to campus they have a pretty weak relationship to the university and, in practice, the university has very little control over the students.”

An explanatory document accompanying the bill says the new requirement is “not onerous” and fits with community expectations. “Support for student success and monitoring of student progress is expected of a modern, quality higher education provider,” it says.

Commentators have welcomed Canberra’s decision to press ahead with the accord recommendations, most of which take effect next year. In a statement, Universities Australia congratulated the government for “quickly implementing” the accord’s five priority actions.

john.ross@timeshighereducation.com