Transition to University
Lessons learned and the Student
View
Dr Judith Dickson – Dean of Students
Sandie Rudman – Development and Research Manager
Macquarie Transition Program
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
Setting the Macquarie Context
• Macquarie University is set on a 135-acre
campus of beautiful and spacious
parklands in North Ryde on Sydney's
north shore.
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
Macquarie overview
• There is a student population of around
30 000, including undergraduate, postgraduate
coursework and research students.
• The university is headed by the Vice Chancellor
(President), Emeritus Professor Di Yerbury with a
staff of over 2000.
• Macquarie has few prescribed undergraduate
degrees – students have great flexibility in choice
of subjects
•
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
The Macquarie Way
• First year students must enroll in person
• They must consult an academic adviser in
their area of study and have their
proposed program approved.
• This ensures that students have the
opportunity to discuss their program with
an academic and ask any questions they
may have
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
Informing and Inviting
Students
• All commencing undergraduate and
postgraduate coursework students receive an
Invitation to attend Academic Orientation in the
following ways
– In their Enrolment and Information Packs
– In person by Dr Judith Dickson, Dean of Students at
the Welcome and Pre-enrolment Sessions
– Personally by a student mentor during their enrolment
process
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
Are you Uni-Ready?
Respond YES or NO to the following statements
Academic Survival skills
Getting Around the Campus
•
I am an independent learner
•
I know what services and facilities the
University provides for my use
•
I know what to do in a lecture, tutorial,
seminar
•
I know where to find the things and places I
need on campus
•
I know how to take good notes when
listening or reading
•
I know where to go and who to see if I need
help
•
My maths skills are adequate for my course
Being Organised
•
I know how the University library works
•
I can use the library to find resources for my
assignments
•
I know how to use the University email
system and the Web
Macquarie Transition Program
•
I have no problems getting motivated
•
I know how to use my time well
•
I can balance study, part-time work and fun
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
Undergraduate Academic
Orientation Days
• An Academic Orientation day is conducted
for each Division (=Faculty).
– This enables the sessions to be more context
specific
– Allows students to meet other new students
commencing in the same general degree program
– Allows staff teaching first year units to be
introduced to new students
– Allows appropriate matching of mentors with new
students
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
Academic Orientation ProgramUndergraduates
• In theatre short
introductory sessions on:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Time management
Writing at university level
Support services
Library services
On line learning
Meeting teaching staff
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
The Mentor Program
Why Mentors?
•
Students listen to and value the advice and
support of their peers
Who are they?
•
Student mentors are any current student
(normally 2nd or 3rd year) who have
volunteered to be a mentor.
•
Mentors are recruited in Semester 2 each
year for the following year
•
Mentors represent all groups on campus
– Local
– International
– Mature age
•
Mentors are trained
– In group building and personal skills
– In being aware of and promotion of all
services available to students
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
The Mentor’s Role
Meeting a mentor.
• This part of the program
has grown in time
allocation as students
indicate that this is the
most useful session.
• The format of Divisional
Academic Orientation
allows mentors and
mentees to be grouped
according to areas of study
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
‘MU Student News’
emails
•
•
•
•
Regular emails are sent to first year students in the
semester as ‘drip feed’ of information
Feedback on emails is very positive, confirming the
need for ongoing reminders of services, dates, where to
find information etc.
Format is uninspiring but it is immediate – the
information is there. Linking to a website to read the
‘Student News’ may discourage many students.
Hyperlinks to specific web addresses are in the email
The only suggested improvements have been to
produce the emails in a more inviting format.
For 2006 there is a plan to design a ‘Weekly Diary’ on
the web
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
Content of emails.
Web links provided to access each of
these services
Email 1
• MQid (access to Services)
• Writing Gateway
• Study Skills seminars
• Numeracy Centre
• Transition web site
• First year meeting places
• Accessing student email
• Sports Association and Clubs
Email 2
• Online Study Support
• Library Training Courses and
Notes
• Counseling – ‘Drop in before you
Drop out’
Macquarie Transition Program
Email 4
• Mail from Undergraduate Studies
Section – what to expect and what
to do with it
• Student Enquiry Service web page
• Counseling and Medical Service
• Checking details on eStudent
(Student administrative info on
line)
Email 5
• Check draft exam timetable
• Writing Skills Courses
• Writing Advisory Service
• Numeracy Centre
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
Student feedback on First Year emails
n =447
Strongly
Agree
Questions
Agree
Slightly
agree
Disagree
1. provided useful information
41
52
6
1
2. made me feel someone was interested in
me
17
41
32
10
3. reminded me of things I’d heard but
forgotten
37
44
16
3
4. told me about things I’d never heard
about
43
38
15
4
5. prompted me to visit the websites
mentioned
36
41
20
3
17
39
32
12
6. helped keep me motivated
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
What students say…
some comments
•
Thank you for the transition newsletter. I have found it useful and supportive
being a newcomer to Macq. Univ. Having someone make contact is supportive
for me so I appreciate the information and the mere fact of some simple
directions for where to go to for assistance without having to wonder about the
correct location.
•
Well done! am finding your emails very useful. They have given me new
contacts and also reassurance in some areas. Thanks for you time and hard
work.
•
Just a quick note to say thank you thank you. I have found your messages very
helpful and most of all they have given a sense of support knowing you are
there. Thank you and please keep it up.
•
The transition student news is very helpful, definitely continue this service
throughout the year and continuing years. I've always known that the uni offers
so much help, but all the different pamphlets and people to see makes it
confusing and creates an overload. Your e-news brings it
altogether and makes it simple. Thanks.
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
Postgraduate Skills and
Information Workshop
• Promoted to all new postgraduate
students
• Attended by large numbers of
commencing local and international
postgraduates
• Focuses on
– Writing at postgraduate level
– Library research skills (degree areas specific)
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
Other Initiatives
• In 2002 the Transition Program assumed
responsibility for the Family Orientation Evening,
held in the third week of March.
• This is attended by the Chancellor, Vice
Chancellor, Deans of Divisions and many
academic and other staff involved in first year
student issues.
• Around 400 parents and friends of new students
take the opportunity to attend this function which
closes with informal drinks, with parents being
able to ask questions and socialise with staff.
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
• Increasing presence at Open Day and Advising
Day to promote transition issues
• Short presentations are given on ‘Transition to
University’
• Mentors contribute by running stalls and talking
to parents and prospective students about the
first year at university and the services
Macquarie offers to assist them
• Transition Program has been instrumental in the
development, implementation and administration
of Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) in one Division
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
University-wide
collaboration
• With teaching and support staff regarding
Orientation and ongoing assistance to students
in transition
• With international students’ Student Support
staff and Study Skills Advisor
• With other staff in the development of
integrated academic support in units such as
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL), Student Support
Officers in Divisions
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
What has worked well
• Having Academic Orientation by Division
• All students attending get basic introduction to
academic expectations, services available and
who and where to get information when they
need it
• Increased role of mentors – they take a
prominent front-of-house role
• Mentor leaders – greater skills acquisition and
valuable addition to their university education
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
What hasn’t worked….
• Various attempts to establish first year meeting places
on campus in the first weeks where first years can pop
in with questions.
• Several models have been tried with little success
and why!
• New students are reluctant to identify as needing help
• Difficult to get meeting time to suit times when students
are on campus and available
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
How to do it better…
• Weekly ‘How to do it Uni-style’ sessions
• Content of sessions designed to coincide
on a ‘need-to-know’ basis with time line of
academic expectations in classes
• Student focussed
• Led by mentors with other appropriate
staff support
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
Topics under consideration:
• Week 1
• First year Information stall during Clubs and Societies Social
Orientation week staffed by mentors to promote sessions
• Week 2
• Accessing Online material, using Online teaching facilities,
accessing, iLecture and using student email
• Week 3
• The basics of note taking in lectures
• Making the most of Tutorials, practicals and other small group
learning. Use drama group to model (using humour)
• Week 4
• Tackling your first assignment - academic expectations, library
resources, Note taking from written sources, plagiarism, referencing
• Week 5
• ??????
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View
Other Plans
• Build on the mentor program to extend mentor
engagement with the greater university
community by:
– Having mentors as students representatives to
present the student view in the area of teaching and
learning
– Collaborating with the Alumni Office to have mentor
functions attended by alumni who have been
successful in their careers
– Develop regular mentor social events to facilitate
group building and other skills which will value-add to
the mentor experience
Macquarie Transition Program
Transition to University – Lessons Learned and the Student View