Institutional partnerships
within the first-year orientation programme
at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Student Counselling Career and Development Centre
NMMU, South Africa
Shereene Knipp
Outline
 Introduction
 Context
 Theoretical background
 Partnerships
 Events – demonstration of partnership
Introduction
 Geographical location
 The university
 The environment
Geographical location
NMMU
Situated in nature reserve
Context
26 000 students
Comprehensive institution
Diverse student population
Multi-campus; mainly Commuter
7 faculties
o
Arts; Business & Econ Sc; Education; Engineering, the Built Env and IT; Health
Sciences; Law and Science
Context
 How2@nmmu endorsed by VC
 Orientation earmarked by senate as important
strategy for retention and throughput
 Buy-in from academic staff
 Student development institutional programme
 Running successfully for past 6 years
 Incremental improvements over the years
First-year students
4500 and growing
30% growth per annum
From schooling system in transition
Numeracy and literacy levels
Varied and diverse backgrounds
Drawn mainly from Eastern Cape, the rest of
SA, SADC countries and small % international
 60 – 70% orientation attendance
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First-year students
at Welcoming Ceremony
Science students
South Campus
Relaxing at The Kraal
How2 Buddies
How2 Buddies: O-leaders
 260 across campuses and disciplines
 Recruited, interviewed and selected
 Good academic standing, good
communication skills; reliable; committed
 Lead a group of 20 FY students doing the
same course
 Buddy their FYs during first term
Theoretical background
 Collaboration and peer participation
singled out as some of the most significant
influences on student development (Pascarella
and Terenzini 1991, 2005; Kuh et al. 2010)
 Programme embedded in work of theorists
such as Astin and Tinto
Partnerships within orientation
Central Orientation Office
@ Student Counselling
Student Counselling
Centre for
Teaching and
Learning (CTLM)
Student Governance and
Development
(Societies, Arts & Culture,
Campus Health, Financial Aid)
Academics
Student Leaders
(How2 orientation
buddies)
Partnerships within orientation
Central Orientation Office @ Student Counselling
Student Counselling
Co-develop training prog
Interviews
Workshops
Training of buddies
Div of FY students
Centre for
Teaching and
Learning (CTLM)
Workshops
Student Governance and
Development
Byways to Highways
Mass dance
Campus Life Fest
(Societies, Arts & Culture,
Campus Health, Financial Aid)
Academics
Course info
Orientation academic
sessions
Recruitment
Student-Staff Fun
Event
Student Leaders
(How2 orientation
buddies)
Facilitate How2 prog
Some seniors co-train with staff
Partnerships events
 Welcoming Ceremony and Faculty Meet & Greet
 How2@nmmu
 Meet your lecturers
 Student-staff fun event
 Nelson Mandela Champion Within
 Career Portfolio Development
 Bursaries and Budgets
 Byways to Highways
 Academic sessions
Partnerships
 Welcoming Ceremony and Faculty Meet & Greet
 How2@nmmu
 Meet your lecturers
 Student-staff fun event
 Nelson Mandela Champion Within
 Career Portfolio Development
 Bursaries and Budgets
 Byways to Highways
 Academic sessions
OVERVIEW events
 Event
 Purpose
 Who is involved
 What role do they play
Event: Welcoming Ceremony
Purpose
 To provide opportunity for institutional welcome
 To welcome parents and students
 Create sense of belonging
Welcoming Ceremonies
Partnerships
 O-team central
 Marketing and Corporate
Relations
 Vice-chancellor’s office
Event: How2@nmmu programme
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Purpose
Offers small group experience
Provides safe environment
Provides sense of emotional security and
support
Bridging the gap
Physical orientation
Introduce NMMU services - how2
How2@nmmu buddy programme
 Conducted week before start of formal
lectures
 Peer-led
 Small groups: approximately 20 per group
 Course-based
 7 faculties
 5 campuses
 Two-day facilitated academic programme
 240 Buddies
Buddying in first term
 Extension of How2
 First term
 Support, motivate, encourage, refer
 Meet informally – lunch, study areas
 E-mail, BBM, WhatsApp, Facebook
 Supported by How2 trainers
Components of How2 Programme
Small group:
 Icebreaker – Getting to know you
 Bridge the Gap
 Poster – How2 survive the First Year
 30 seconds game – university terminology, support
services & resources
 My group@nmmu – team building
 Computer lab orientation
 Library tour
 Campus tour
How2@nmmu
How2@nmmu
Presenter: Shereene Knipp
Partnerships: How2 at NMMU
 Orientation Central Office
 Student Counsellors
 Student Leadership Staff
 CTLM
 Senior Buddies
 How2 Buddies
 Academic Staff
Partnerships:
Recruitment of Buddies
Dear Staff
Could you please nominate students (first-year to final year) for your How2 programme for
2014?
Our experience has shown that the How2 Buddies recommended by staff generally make good
Buddies (academic staff, especially in smaller programmes, work closely with students and
seem to know them better)
We have found that students with a good academic record make good Buddies.
Additional attributes: good communication and interpersonal skills, committed, reliable
To ensure a quality How2@mmu programme for your department, we rely on you to nominate
quality students.
Ratio: one Buddy to 20 first-year students
Due date: Tuesday 31 July. We look forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Shereene Knipp
Orientation Coordinator
Event: How2 Training
 Small groups
 Faculty-based
 By faculty-based student counsellors
 Workshops previous year
o
o
o
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Communication Skills
Presentation Skills
Diversity Appreciation
Problem-solving
 3 days January (one week before orientation)
 Training by counsellors; student leadership staff
and senior buddies
Training partnerships
 Workshops offered by:
o CTLM:
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Presentation Skills
Problem-solving
o Student Counselling:
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o
o
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Diversity Appreciation
Communication Skills
3 days’ core training by:
Student counsellors
Student leadership staff
Senior buddies
Training Partnerships
 Content of programme developed by Student Counselling
team
 Covers range of activities to fulfil outcomes
 Includes academic and social integration
 Embedded in student development theory
 Programme in transition and adjustment
Training the Buddies
Buddy training
Hey there …
talk to me…
Learning to
communicate
effectively
Event: Student-staff fun event
Purpose
 Promote student –staff informal
interaction
 Enhance academic and social integration
 Foster sense of belonging
 Ease anxieties about staff and course
Examples: student staff fun event
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Law – mock trial
HMS (Sport) – amazing race
Education – song and dance
Building – construction olympics
ICT – treasure hunt
Mechanical Eng - lego construction
Science – walk in nature reserve
Event: NMCW
Nelson Mandela Champion Within
Purpose
To foster the development of the Mandela
values and a sense of what it means and takes to
be a champion
Partnerships
Nelson Mandela Champion Within
 Facilitated by academic and support staff
 Introduced in 2012
 2 hour duration
 On every campus
 Mandela values
 On being a champion
 Big groups max 500
Event: Byways to Highways
Purpose
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To introduce NMMU societies and clubs
To encourage FYs to join a society
Foster holistic development
Foster development of NMMU graduate qualities
Create a good vibe on campus
BYWAYS TO HIGHWAYS
Event: Academic Sessions
Introduced in 2011
 How2 get the most out of lectures
 Lecture and E-mail Etiquette
 Note-taking
 Introduction to Plagiarism and Referencing
Event: Academic Sessions
Purpose
• To prepare FYs for academic expectations
and requirements
• Foster feelings of security and readiness
Academic session
- eager young
faces -
Partnerships: Academic collaboration
2011 and 2012:
52 and 49 academics respectively participated in
new Academic Sessions
 Some just present
 Others co-presented
2013:
Academics presented sessions to their own
students
FY Attendance per new orientation sessions
South
North
2nd Ave
MVale
Total
How2 Get the Most out
of lectures
660
291
150
80
1348
Lecture Etiquette
499
130
126
118
899
Career Portfolio
Development
533
167
62
43
881
Note-taking
318
231
197
71
1264
Referencing &
Plagiarism
409
188
224
94
1198
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Bursaries & Budgets
(no attendance taken)
Reading Sessions
651
Homesickness
82
TOTAL
6515
Event: Mass Dance
Purpose
 To create a sense of fun and a great vibe on
campus
 To market NMMU on You Tube
Partnerships
 Orientation Central Office
 Department of Arts and Culture
 Marketing and Corporate Relations
 Student Governance
NMMU MASS LINE DANCE
S
first ever
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I
S
R
A
T
S
E
B
U
T
U
YO
MAKING !
What
FY students
said
 Bridge: “ The bridge made me realise exactly why I am here and reminded
me of what I really want to get out of studying”
 30 Seconds: “Very funny, interactive. Great way of getting to know the
resources
 Poster: “Made me think of what exactly I can get out of NMMU”
 Icebreaker: “All the activities I thoroughly enjoyed.”
“Was fun and broke the tension”
“…helped us interact with fellow students”
What
the FY students
said:
 ‘Feel more safe and more certain of ourselves’
 ‘We know what to expect from lecturers’
 ‘There was much more clarity about what you have to do , when and how’
 ‘We learnt to become organized and pay attention at all times.’
 ‘What an awesome experience we have had!’
That’s all folks!
Thank you
For more information about our orientation programme, go to
www.nmmu.ac.za /for students/orientation
Questions?