How Can Course Advising Better Support Pacific Student Success?

Abstract

Previous research has explored the importance of effective course advising to academic success. Course advising that is student-focused and takes a “whole-of-student” approach has been found to be especially important for students that have historically been minoritised in tertiary education. This includes students who are Indigenous, first-in-family, or from low socio-economic backgrounds. However, no research, to our knowledge, has investigated how Pacific students and staff envision course advising. Given Pacific students are among the fastest growing academic cohort in New Zealand and Australia, it is important for universities to understand how to foster Pacific student success. This research involved a series of talanoa (conversations) with both Pacific students and staff to better understand the current role of course advising in student decision-making, future hopes for the development of course advising, and suggestions to improve Pacific support in course advice. Understanding the perspective of Pacific students and staff helps to highlight the current gaps in course advising systems and encourages universities to acknowledge the importance of relationship building, the development of cultural competencies, and increasing Pacific representation in the course advising process. Results support reassessing course advising systems to help improve retention rates of Pacific students.