BACKGROUND In 2010 and 2011 staff at Unitec Institute of Technology (Unitec) became increasingly concerned at the declining success rate of students in undergraduate Diploma level engineering courses. Unitec is the largest provider of technician and technologist level engineering education in New Zealand with over 340 full time equivalent students enrolled in either the two year New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Civil) or the three year Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Civil). In order to identify key drivers to student success a study of 73 classes incorporating 95 courses offered in 2010 and 2011 across a range of civil engineering subjects was undertaken to identify the causes for the declining success rate and implement systems to address the issue.