Southern Cross University began a transition from a 12-week unit structure to a 6-week one at the beginning of 2022. Rolled out progressively across the disciplines, it will encompass all courses by the end of this year.

In the new Southern Cross University Model, the content of one subject, traditionally delivered across 12 weeks (a semester structure that has been used almost universally for hundreds of years) has been concentrated into a more intense 6-week block, with 2 subjects at once rather than 4 (on a full-time load).

Southern Cross has recently released a podcast discussing the benefits and success of the Southern Cross University Model. Developed by Professor Thomas Roche and Professor Erica Wilson, the idea behind it is to help learning fit into student’s busy lives, and to enable a keener focus with the amount of subjects on the go at once reduced.

“We saw a lot of overloaded students in the longer semester models," Professor Wilson said in the podcast, "There was too much assessment, too much content, too many words, lots of heavily weighted exams. Our students were telling us they weren't engaging, that they weren't succeeding.”

“It was a pretty big move (to the new model) and pretty scary in a lot of ways, both for staff and no doubt for students. So, we had lots of consultations. We had so many focus groups with students and staff. I think for a couple of years, we were just in discussion mode, trying to gather as much evidence and feedback and thoughts on it, but we just knew we had to do something different.”

As well as attempting to improve student focus, the new model has addressed the way in which information is delivered.

“There was a wide variety of approaches to delivering content at the university, which is often the case at universities,” Professor Roche said, “But what we thought would be great was if we could have a more unified approach, and a more active approach, a more engaged approach. So, instead of students sitting in lecture theatres and listening, we wanted them talking, interacting, solving problems and working on cases. And that's what we did.

"We set up principles of design that were around engaged learning, and that's where we've landed with the Southern Cross model, a more focused, active learning experience for our students.”

Professor Wilson said that with the Southern Cross University Model, assessment methods have been improved.

“We’ve removed most of our heavily weighted examinations because we don’t believe that this is the best way to assess students. We want more authentic, lived assessments that actually mean something in the real world.”

The podcast reports that the new model is seeing higher student success rates, with students passing units increasing by 23% and absent fail rates decreasing by 40%. Also, across the institution, Grade Point Averages – or (GPA)s – are up.

(Southern Cross University Lismore Campus)

However, it appears that feelings towards the new Southern Cross University model from students are mixed.

While pass rates are high, there is a reported concern that content for each subject has been significantly reduced, as lecturers attempt to get through it in the given time whilst also scaffolding for assessments. Some students expressed that the subject is rushed, without adequate time to reflect and absorb the material.

One Bachelor of Business student told the Lismore App, “I started a Bachelor of Business and Enterprise on the SCU 6-week model. Initially, I thought it was a fantastic initiative that allowed students to immerse themselves in the content. However, I quickly found the opposite to be true. The condensed model requires that I mainly focus on the assignment tasks. I have found that I have had limited time to research and gain a deeper understanding of topics which I have found frustrating especially when doing subjects that I’m interested in. It seems to be a shift from deep learning to ticking off assignments in the shortest period of time possible.”

Another student studying a Bachelor of Nursing, echoed this sentiment when interviewed.

“I worry about my capabilities to practically care for patients. Due to large class sizes and a quick turnaround of subjects, we simply do not have the time to practice essential skills more than once before entering the real environment and being required to practice on real patients.”

A Bachelor of Clinical Science student said “My experience of the 6x6 model at SCU has been negative. I and my peers had hesitations about it before it was rolled out in the health and human sciences department, as the feedback I had heard from its implementation in other faculties was negative overall. My primary complaint is that I have found it to encourage cramming and short-term retention of information rather than facilitating comprehension and long-term retention. The importance of this can hardly be overstated."

"I have also found it to be inflexible and stressful, as well as inconvenient when trying to arrange work around an ever-changing schedule. Overall, I think it is a poor shift away from traditional university learning, which does nothing for the reputation of or the student experience at SCU.”

Another student, studying Associate Degree of Creative Writing, was more positive saying “Bit of a love hate… love being able to concentrate on just two subjects at a time, rather than stretching attention over 4. Also the condensed “exam” period with only two final assessments due rather than 4. I do find it hard to keep up with the pace though when juggling work, as the volume of content is higher to catch up on, which compounds if content is missed."

"The early assessments for some subjects (I.e. 2 weeks in) are a challenge. Overall my preference is the SCU model though. I think I just need more practice reshuffling other life priorities better… if that’s possible.”

When contacted, Professor Thomas Roche, PVC Academic Quality responded by reinforcing the positive statistics mentioned earlier, and stated “We are particularly proud that not only is this helping the majority of our students succeed but that it is helping those who most often are challenged to succeed in their studies.

"Under the Southern Cross Model students from government defined equity groups such as low socio-economic status students, those first in family to study, and students registered with a disability have all seen significant increases in their success rates."

"We are also incredibly proud of the fact that indigenous students have never been more successful in their studies at the University than now through the Southern Cross Model."

"Equally with any new teaching model, there have been areas earmarked for improvement in the coming terms and years. The transition of students, who had been learning in the old semester-based model, to six-week terms has had its challenges and some students have found the adjustment tricky.”

SCU assures that student feedback is important and will inform them how they further evolve and improve the model as they take their concerns into account.