What is it? Access and Advising at UFS is a service within the student success focus area that helps students enter and articulate, navigate, and succeed in their academic journey at the university.
Access focuses on supporting students' access to university via alternative pathways (such as recognition of prior learning)
Advising involves guidance from professional academic advisers who support students as they choose programmes, plan their studies, and align their academic goals with their career aspirations.
Why is it important? We help students to successfully transition into university and stay on track with their studies. Overall, the services we render ensure that students make the right academic and career decisions, reducing failure and dropout rates while improving progression towards graduation.
How is it implemented? We provide a combination of structured support services and guidance:
- Academic advising services: Trained advisers support students with planning their studies, making informed academic decisions, and connecting them to support services.
- Peer advisor training and professional development: We train student leaders to advise other students. We also provide professional development opportunities and academic and co-curricular support to peer advisors to ensure they develop graduate attributes and succeed in their own academic studies.
- Recognition of Prior Learning: Through this process, we make individuals' prior knowledge and skills visible. It involves rigorous assessment and moderation and is an alternative means of access and admission, recognition, or further learning and development.
What does it look like?