Atrium has emerged as a critical tool in supporting student success at UNE by identifying and engaging at-risk students early in the trimester.

Combined with a significant increase in academic participation and proactive outreach efforts, Atrium is ensuring students who need extra support are not left behind.

Strong academic engagement

In Trimester 1 (T1) of this year, a university-wide push, and the new student support policy introduced in January, saw usage soar to 84%, with over 350 academics using the platform to engage their students. While usage trend dipped slightly in T2, more than 300 academics continued to actively use Atrium.

This high level of engagement is essential for supporting students in their crucial early weeks of enrolment. The system enables academics to quickly identify those who are at risk of falling behind and take swift action to offer support.

Proactive email outreach

One of Atrium’s most powerful features is its ability to facilitate early intervention through email outreach. In T1, over 27,500 emails were sent across 414 units, nearly 10,000 of which were targeted at students identified as at-risk. These students may not have logged in or submitted assignments – both strong indicators of potential failure.

For students, the impact of a simple email is profound. Academics can reach out proactively. The data clearly show that students who receive an email before Census Day are much more likely to log in and engage. Students who haven’t logged in by Census Day are five times more likely to fail their unit.

Sending these emails is quick—just 22 seconds per student on average—but the results are significant. Students who were contacted by their academics showed higher levels of engagement and success compared to those who were not reached in time.

 Identifying and supporting at-risk students

Atrium’s ability to identify at-risk students based on their behaviour, rather than demographic factors alone, has been a game changer. While demographic data, such as low SES or regional location, can offer some insight, the most reliable indicators of student performance are behaviours like failing to log in or long periods of inactivity. These behaviours, identified early, allow academics to intervene before it’s too late.

Students are categorised into different levels of engagement:

• Engaged students are aware of their academic situation and will act if needed.
• Disengaged students, who do not respond to outreach efforts, are at a much higher risk of failure.

Academics are often the first to detect when a student is struggling, and with Atrium, they can refer students to appropriate services quickly and easily. This year alone, there have been 1,300 referrals, helping to connect students to the support they need.

What’s next?

While Atrium has made great strides in engaging students, there’s still work to be done. One of the key goals moving forward is to reduce the number of disengaged students—those who are at the highest risk of failure despite outreach efforts. By refining strategies and increasing proactive interventions, the Atrium team can ensure more students stay on track.

Additionally, the team aims to bring more academics on board to ensure even greater coverage. With continued focus on early outreach and system integration, Atrium will remain an essential tool in driving student success across the University.

Atrium is transforming how UNE supports it students and is helping improve outcomes across the board. As the Atrium team continues to refine and expand its use, the system’s impact will only grow, making it a vital part of our commitment to student success.

Contact: atrium@une.edu.au