Transition & New Arrivals - reviewing
activities for 2011 students
Noel-Ann Bradshaw
New Arrivals Group
Outline
 Intro to guidelines and policy
 Students’ statement of entitlement
 Good practice
 Discussion in groups
 Feedback
 Conclusion
Background to policy changes
 With the 2009 Policy Framework the
university formed a central steering group
to identify ways in which to improve the
transition to university for all students.
 From this process a New Arrivals group
was convened and, following consultation,
the ‘New Students’ entitlement’ was
devised and implemented.
New students’ entitlement, before
and on arrival:
ESSENTIAL
Before arrival
Primarily focussed on information
Before and/or on arrival
Welcome, introductions, expectations,
processes
On arrival in the first week, and ongoing
Getting to know staff, students, university
Activities – social and academic
“Induction”
“Transition”
“Induction” = Week 0
(in the university calendar)
Replaced by
“Week One” = Start of Term
Freshers’ view
Fun, Friendship, Fitting in
 Activities that create a forum for the
above.
 Some introduction to academic practice.
 Not all info given in 1st week.
 On-going activities and
information
Good practice
 Business School treasure hunt –
international / PG students
 Science – Wristbands
 Psychology – research social evening
 CMS – mentoring links to project work
 Review week – engineering and CMS
 Flying Start – CMS and Law
Discussion
 Groups of 4
 What works:
 Pre-arrival
 Week 1 activities
 On-going activities
 Post it notes
 Worksheets
Useful links
 New Students’ Communications
Checklist (uni website)
 http://www2.gre.ac.uk/students/new
 Acceptors’ Portal
 ‘What do I need to do?’ channel.
 Portal
 Staff development tab
Further reading
 Trowler, Trowler, (2010) Student
engagement evidence summary, HEA
says:
‘interacting with staff has been shown to
have a powerful impact on learning,
especially when it takes place outside of the
classroom and responds to individual
student needs’
 Foster, (2010) Why is Friendship
Important, Student Transitions Conference,