University of Tasmania, Australia

Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) is an internationally recognised academic support program. It is a non-remedial program and focuses on supporting students' learning and connecting them with their peers and with their discipline. PASS offers regularly scheduled out of class review sessions to all students enrolled in a PASS supported unit. These sessions, led by PASS Leaders, are planned, informal seminars, in which students review notes, discuss readings, develop organisational tools and prepare for examinations. Students in PASS learn how to integrate course content with reasoning and study skills in an informal and fun environment.

For further information about the PASS program please refer to About Us.

Evaluation of PASS at UTAS shows that, on average, students who attend PASS regularly earn higher grades and withdraw less often. These results are consistent across disciplines and at universities worldwide.

Students have also said that PASS assists them to identify and better understand key concepts and helps them to develop good study techniques relevant to their discipline.

For further information on the benefits of PASS please refer to Results.

PASS sessions are free one-hour study sessions. In PASS students participate in group activities and discussions. The focus is on integrating the course content (what to learn) with academic reasoning and study skills (how to learn).

PASS aims to make learning interactive and enjoyable. PASS sessions are facilitated by PASS Leaders; students who have previously and successfully studied the subject. Although all sessions are planned by the leader, they are designed to be flexible enough to accommodate the particular learning needs/questions/concerns of the group. PASS is more like a facilitated study group than another lecture or tutorial for your unit, effectively replacing an hour of study you would normally do at home on your own. For further information about the PASS program please refer to About Us.

The PASS program is offered free of charge to all UTAS students enrolled in a PASS supported unit.

PASS is not compulsory for any unit. It will, however, be of great benefit to you to attend PASS. There is a significant body of research that shows that students who regularly attend PASS achieve better results than students who do not attend PASS and are well prepared for future study.

For further information on the benefits of PASS please refer to Results.

PASS sessions run each week of semester starting in week 2. The exact number of sessions offered each week will vary depending on unit enrolment, the number of campuses and the availability of leaders. The number of sessions is determined by the PASS office prior to the start of each semester. To gain the maximum benefits out of PASS it is recommended that students attend regularly each week.

To see when sessions are run for your unit, please refer to the Timetable.

You are free to attend as many sessions as you like each week. You do not need to enrol for PASS, just go along to the session of your choice. Sessions are subject to attendance limits, and preference, in these situations, will be given to the students who have consistently attended that particular session.

To see when sessions are run for your unit, please refer to the Timetable.

Bring anything that you need to work in your unit: pens, paper, textbooks, calculators, lecture notes etc. Most importantly be ready to use these materials actively throughout the session.

PASS Leaders are not employed to give feedback or help on your actual assignment tasks. This is the role of your lecturers and/or tutors. Also, a PASS Leader is not a proof reader. PASS leaders will, however, discuss topics of a similar nature to your assignments, and model the skills needed to complete assignment tasks and to prepare for exams.

PASS sessions start in the second week of semester, concluding in week 13.

In 2012 PASS is offered on 57 units across the three Tasmanian campuses and satellite campuses offering approximately 90 sessions per week in Semester 1, 2012. To see if PASS is offered on your unit, please refer to our Units.

PASS Leaders are senior students who have previously and successfully completed the unit which you are studying. PASS leaders attend some class lectures, take notes and act as a model student for their classmates. PASS Leaders have been specifically recruited and trained to facilitate study sessions. PASS leaders do not replace the role of academic staff and are closely monitored by an accredited PASS supervisor. Most importantly, PASS leaders are still undergraduate students who are therefore still connected with the student experience.

To view who your PASS leaders are please refer to Leaders.

The selection of units for PASS is generally undertaken by the PASS Coordinator, in conjunction with the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) of each faculty and is based upon expressions of interest for PASS and the overall goals of each faculty. However, the final decision regarding the implementation of PASS within a particular unit rests with the unit coordinator and teaching staff. If you are interested in PASS being offered on your unit, feel free to contact us to discuss whether this may be an appropriate program for your unit.

PASS is not intended to create additional work for faculties. PASS leaders independently develop activities and sessions based upon the lecture content and notes. However, teaching staff can support PASS in many ways. This includes:

• Granting time for occasional in-class announcements
• Providing access to all key course materials for all PASS leaders
• Scheduling meetings with leaders throughout semester to hear how PASS is going.
• Promote student attendance for PASS sessions
• Avoid suggestions that only those who do poorly will benefits from PASS
• Provide information for the evaluation of the program

For further information on PASS and your role as a staff member please refer to Staff.

Recruitment for the PASS program takes place towards the end of second semester each year. Students who achieve a distinction or above in a particular unit, as well as maintain an overall average of a credit or above are eligible to apply to become a PASS leader. If PASS is being offered in a unit you have just completed, and you meet the criteria, you will be contacted and asked if you are interested in applying.

For further information about being a PASS leader please refer to Become Involved.