Staff Comments

'… I have learnt that PASS is an essential program to help students meet the challenge of university level mathematics. It provides them with an informal environment in which they feel free to ask questions, not just about the mathematics that they are being taught but why are they being taught it……… PASS also provides students with a forum to develop better study habits… I have gone from not knowing what PASS is, to considering it an integral part of the student learning experience.'

Dr. Mark Nelson
Senior Lecturer, School of Mathematics and Applied Statistic, UOW.

'The PASS program has been utilised in my large first year business statistics subject over the last few years. We adopted the program because a significant proportion of students typically struggle in this demanding quantitative subject. Both anecdotal evidence and statistical analysis have shown the dramatic improvement in student results and confidence as a result of the PASS program, especially for students who traditionally do poorly in this subject. Apart from the direct effect of improving students’ results and capabilities in my subject, other evidence suggests that students also gain the skills and confidence to pursue further quantitative subjects at a more advanced level. I have also conducted statistical analysis of the use of PASS in subjects taught by other faculties and have reached similar conclusions.'

Dr. Martin O’Brien
Lecturer, Faculty of Commerce (Finance), UOW.

'I am very grateful for the PASS program, and the work that has been done with ACCY200 (Financial Accounting IIA) students. This is a difficult subject, and one of the students’ accounting major subjects. It has had a high failure rate over a number of years, and as subject coordinator, I have tried a variety of strategies to assist students to understand the subject, master its content, learn new study skills and think about the wider issues relating to financial accounting. The PASS Leaders have worked very hard with students, helping them with study strategies, and even preparing practice examination questions for them, in order to assist them with their studies……. I have been very impressed with their dedication and hard work. I am sure that the students find it easier to relate to them than to the regular teaching team, since they’re closer in age and understand the difficulties and pressures that students are working under these days.'