The University of Northampton - Improving the degree attainment of Black and minority ethnic students

The project aims to undertake the following activities:

• Identify hypotheses for successful BME attainment and examine institutional evidence and examples of successful practice within Schools/Divisions/Courses
• Undertake qualitative research with BME students and academic staff
• Set up a scheme for peer mentoring with Social Work Students of Black/African origin
• Evaluate the historic BME mentoring scheme run by Careers Service
• Establish an institutional key performance indictor around raising BME attainment
• Review different types of assessment (Division of Law/School of Social Sciences/Northampton Business School?) to see if any pointers emerge to reasons for the relative success of BME students and/or their underachievement
• Undertake review of curriculum/pedagogy across the institution to encourage greater inclusivity particularly in relation to BME groups and the internationalisation agenda
• Undertake initiatives to counter the “Pygmalion Effect”
• Develop a web-based tool enabling quick interrogation of attainment data across the institution
• Formalise an on-going group under the L&T committee looking at BME attainment and monitoring/evaluation of future programs and initiatives
• Look at the issue of Academic Misconduct re BME/International Students and consider measures to reduce the disproportionate involvement already recognised!

Key drivers for this work include: Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic) Learning and Teaching Committee Equality & Diversity Committee Institution KPIs (if agreed) new statutory Equality Scheme 2010-15 (to be adopted by June 2010).

Team Members
Paul Crofts: Equality & Diversity Advisor paul.crofts@northampton.ac.uk 
Angie Bartoli: Senior Lecturer in Social Work angie.bartoli@northampton.ac.uk
Dr. Terry Tudor: Postdoctoral Fellow in Wastes Management terry.tudor@northampton.ac.uk
Yvonne Watson: Head of Division - Fashion and Textiles yvonne.watson@northampton.ac.uk