How Southern Cross University Transformed Learning to Tackle Student Retention
A conversation with Thomas Roche and Erica Wilson of Southern Cross University, Australia.
Faced with retention rates well below the national average, Southern Cross University saw the need for dramatic change to the way it delivered education. Driven by pro vice chancellors Thomas Roche and Erica Wilson, the university set up the Academic Portfolio Office to reinvent their learning model. The revolutionary changes they implemented have turned the university’s performance around.
In 2024, The Chronicle of Higher Education interviewed Roche and Wilson to learn about the Southern Cross Model and the subsequent successes they’ve enjoyed.
Navigating low retention and progress rates
Southern Cross University was grappling with significant issues related to student performance and engagement. Both pass and progress rates were notably low. “Progress rate” refers to the percentage of students who successfully advance to the next part of their course each year. Additionally, Southern Cross’s retention rates were 14 percent below the Australian average, with one in three students choosing not to re-enroll after their first year.
“Context is always important when discussing education,” Roche explains. He believes that the previous learning model failed because it did not adequately consider the students’ backgrounds.
Southern Cross is a regional, multi-campus institution with campuses along the east coast of Australia along the east coast of Australia. It serves a high percentage of underrepresented students: over half are 25 years or older, nearly 70 percent are women, and 60 percent are the first in their families to attend university.
Many of these students come from low socioeconomic backgrounds and live in regional or remote areas. Additionally, 5 percent identify as First Nation (indigenous) — double the national average for Australian universities.
These students often balance significant family and work commitments alongside their studies. Understanding this context was crucial for the Academic Portfolio Office to effectively address the university’s challenges.
Revolutionizing education with block models
“What do we do when one in three of our students aren't succeeding? Are we content with these outcomes?” These were the critical questions Southern Cross University’s decision-makers were asking themselves around four years ago.
Wilson, Roche, and their colleagues sought inspiration from universities in the U.K., North America, and Australia. “We looked to institutions that had embraced a revolutionary spirit,” Wilson notes. “They had been bold in tackling issues similar to ours with comparable student demographics.” They observed that block models were yielding positive results at institutions like Victoria University in Australia, Colorado College in the U.S., and the University of Plymouth in the U.K.
Unlike the traditional semester model where students tackle several subjects simultaneously over 12 weeks, block teaching concentrates on one or two subjects over a shorter period. The model is predicated on the belief that greater focus enhances performance.
Moreover, this approach shifts away from the traditional “sage on the stage” method to a more interactive, engaging style of instruction. Classes become smaller, allowing for more tutorials and deeper discussions.
The immersive Southern Cross Model
Traditionally, “intensive” block models involve studying one or two subjects over four weeks. However, the Southern Cross Model adapts this approach by extending each immersive block to six weeks, during which students tackle two units at a time. Each academic year includes four of these immersive blocks.
“We didn’t want to use the term intensive like some other block model institutions have. We wanted to refer to it as an immersive block model with unit content and assessment that’s really manageable for students […] It was largely around providing a better student experience.”
This modification of the block model is particularly well-suited to the needs of Southern Cross’ student body. Many students work full-time jobs while studying part-time. The traditional model, requiring intensive study of one course over four weeks, would not be feasible for those balancing work and family commitments.
A phased rollout amidst global and local crises
The Southern Cross Model was introduced incrementally. The Southern Cross Model was introduced incrementally. It began as a pilot in 2021, with some units in the Bachelor of Business and Enterprise, an Associate Degree in Engineering, and a suite of preparatory pathway programs. By 2022, the rollout was extended to all faculties except for nursing and law, which joined the program in 2023.
This phased approach allowed the university to carefully evaluate the model’s functionality and its impact on staffing. The extensive nature of this process was due in part to the need to completely rewrite approximately 1,000 units.
External factors significantly shaped the inception of the Southern Cross Model. It was conceived and piloted amid the Covid-19 pandemic, imposing limitations on in-person activities.
In February 2022, as the campus was gearing up to reintroduce students and launch the new model, a catastrophic flood struck Lismore. The deluge, which brought fifteen meters of water, devastated the area.
Positioned on higher ground, the Lismore campus served as a crucial refuge and evacuation center for the community. Over the following four to five weeks, Southern Cross was thrust into crisis management mode, striving to deliver the best possible experience for students while managing the fallout from the disaster. The focus provided by the Southern Cross Model and the digitally-rich content delivery of the model enabled students to keep studying through the flood.
Results showing undeniable success
Since the implementation of the Southern Cross Model, the results have been overwhelmingly positive. Pass rates increased from 70 percent to 88 percent, and student grade point average (GPA) rose by a whole point, based on the 7-point GPA system in Australia.
Additionally, both fail and absent rates have decreased. The rate of early withdrawal from courses dropped from 14 percent in 2019 to 10 percent. These numbers demonstrate that this model “makes students more confident and think ‘Yes, I can do this. I can succeed in my studies,’” according to Roche.
The 4 key ingredients to success
The sustained success of the Southern Cross Model can be attributed to several factors, from the university culture to a commitment to continuous growth. Wilson and Roche highlight four critical elements.
It was vital that the transformation not be imposed from the top down. Recognizing the significant changes required, the model was co-designed and co-led by academic staff, with support from administrators. “Change champions,” experienced in designing assessments for six-week periods, were pivotal in this process.
“Today’s students live in a digital and media-mediated world,” Roche notes. “Why can’t we harness some of those technologies more effectively and systematically in content delivery?”.
The pandemic underscored the importance of technology as the next battleground in the academic arms race. Course content was integrated into learning sites, enabling students to access materials remotely and learn at their own pace — a crucial adaptation for those balancing multiple commitments.
From the outset, the Academic Portfolio Office established a dedicated stream to “interrogate the impacts of the Southern Cross Model.” This team continually evaluates how changes affect various aspects of the student experience, sharing insights university-wide through a publicly accessible dashboard and publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals for total transparency.
Feedback from students has been integral from the first pilot projects. Although initial responses highlighted some growing pains, the program has become stronger as time goes on.
Roche emphasizes, “It’s important to listen to how students respond to the model. This will help you on your journey, and it’s a journey that’s going to take some time.”
About Southern Cross University
- 3 main campuses on Australia’s east coast / 6 metro campuses and Hayman Island
- 20,000 students
- Top 100 Young Universities (2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings)
This content was paid for and created by Southern Cross University. The editorial staff of The Chronicle had no role in its preparation. Find out more about paid content.
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