The Hidden Cost of Legacy Curriculum: It’s Time to Teach-Out Smarter

Teach-out programs rarely take centre stage in a university’s strategic plan, but they have a big impact on how institutional priorities play out in practice. When poorly managed, teach-out can quietly erode student outcomes, inflate administrative and teaching costs, and create reputational risk as disengaged students delay or drop out. 

At the heart of these challenges are two systemic barriers: legacy curriculum structures and fragmented data systems. Without clear visibility over which students are enrolled in which courses (and what version), what units they have remaining, or how best to communicate their personalised pathway forward, universities, AND STUDENTS, are often flying blind.  

It doesn’t have to be this way. 

Why the Current State Isn’t Sustainable 

Across the sector, universities are under pressure to streamline their course portfolios. At the same time, institutions often encourage faculties to be innovative and responsive with their curriculum. Some curricular innovations will address critical student needs and drive high numbers of enrolments, others will not, and that’s okay. What's not okay is when there is no clear procedure for closing out a course, and it becomes a drag on resources, coordination and damages student experience. 

Without the right tools, staff are left juggling spreadsheets, static course maps and inconsistent advice. Students get caught in the middle; unsure of what subjects to take, what substitutions are allowed, or how long their degree will take. Many take longer than necessary to finish, others get frustrated and don’t finish at all. 

This approach is not just inefficient, it’s a missed opportunity to do better, for everyone involved. 

The Opportunity: A Data-Led, Technology-Enabled Teach-Out Engine 

There is a better way. 

Working with a large Victorian university, AptoNow has demonstrated what smart, scalable teach-out planning can look like. Powered by advanced analytics and AI we have developed a teach-out recommendation engine that pulls together Student Information System and Curriculum Management data to enable:  

1. Automated Teach-Out Planning 

Algorithms assess which students remain in teach-out programs, the units they require, and available credit substitutions—automatically generating optimised delivery plans and tailored communication. 

2. Individualised Study Plans for Every Student 

Each student receives a clear, customised study plan based on their progression, credit standing, and forecasted unit availability. No more static program guides. No more guesswork. 

3. Optimised Unit Sequencing 

Delivery schedules are mapped to real student demand and teaching capacity—reducing duplication, ensuring critical mass, and allowing programs to close efficiently. 

A Smarter Way to Finish Strong 

Strategic teach-out planning delivers benefits across academic, administrative, and student outcomes: 

So, Where to Next? 

Teach-out isn’t going away. In fact, as universities continue to reshape their portfolios, it’s becoming central to academic sustainability. 

At AptoNow, we believe teach-out shouldn’t be an afterthought. It’s a strategic lever and an opportunity to finish strong, protect institutional integrity, and support students with clarity and care. 

If your institution is grappling with fragmented or ineffective teach-out planning, let’s talk.