STEPS toward retention : a case study

The success of CQU’s STEPS (Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies) preuniversity preparatory program suggests its potential benefit as a safety net for at-risk undergraduate students. Unable to manage what the mainstream learning environment requires, students can defer their program and participate in STEPS to address their academic under-preparedness. This paper presents findings from semistructured interviews with three at-risk undergraduate students who availed themselves of the STEPS option. Student reflections indicate the value of STEPS in providing an opportunity to acquire more highly developed academic skills and greater resilience prior to resuming their initial study. This research gives voice to the proposal that STEPS become a recognised CQU undergraduate retention strategy.