First Impressions Count: Our Induction Experience

1
First Impressions CountOur Induction Experience

• Sue Barnes
• John Gardener
• Simon Quigley

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Introduction

• Registry Services
• The previous system
• Student feedback sense of not belonging
• Academic department Involvement
• The New system
• More Student Staff interaction
• Academic preparation for Modules

3
Background

• Recent research
• Other UK universities highlighted similar
  concerns to those outlined locally
• Guidelines
• Induction events provide foundations for social
  interaction between students
• Induction activities promote development of good
  communication between staff students

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Planning for Change

• Meetings, meetings, meetings!
• Student Services, Academic departments, Registry,
  other support services
• Control devolved to Academic Departments
• Business School developed a sustainable programme
  as the vehicle of choice

5
Social Interactions (1)

• Lack of Staff/Student interaction needed to be
  overcome
• Students knew their way around the campus, but
  not the department
• Staff had briefly met new tutor group members,
  but no opportunity to know students individually
  or prepare them for their studies

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Social Interactions (2)

• Welcome Week group Activities
• Students in Blocks of 30 (became Seminar
  groups)
• Blocks sub-divided into teams of 5
• Block tutor provided welcome packs
• Treasure Hunt Logo Competition
• Guided tour of department
• Students encouraged to get to know each other

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Communication

• Single Campus University
• Staff Students meet regularly
• Reinforced in Welcome week by
• 10 students had a meeting with academic staff
  member
• Social gathering on Friday, lunch, quiz, voting
  on logo competition, prizes

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Findings

• Student friendships formed during welcome week
  were enduring
• Student-Faculty contact
• encourages cooperation among students
• engendered positive engagement with studies

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The Future

• Building on Success
• More emphasis on Academic and Study skills
• Students will be encouraged to write up a
  practical activity from Welcome Week as part of
  their Study Skills Module
• Early feedback to form an action plan for future
  engagement in their own learning