University of Wolverhampton
- Years:
- Number of students:
- Study prepared by:
- Position at University:
- 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
- 24,000
- Kirsty Jones
- Start Right Manager
Summary
Before UniSmart
Each course holds their own induction programme arranging their own content.
Pre-Unismart there was no consistency in the message that we gave to students about starting University life. Some courses did it well but others missed out the vital information regarding support available to students.
The most normal induction programme was for courses to invite support services in to their main induction lecture and do a stand-up/introduce/sit-down “this is who we are” five minutes – a complete waste of time, particularly at the end of an extremely long (often) lecture in a cramped, stuffy room.
Challenges
- Ensuring students receive consistent messages and to provide valuable messages in a memorable way, particularly in a week when there is complete information overload.
- Trying to make sure that induction programmes are interesting and fun (particularly when trying to get students to complete essential, often “dull” administrative tasks).
- We are often trying to give students too much information at a time when they don’t yet need it (for example, a tour of the Library is useful, but do students really need to know how to research resources in week one?).
- To get the message across that there is plenty of help available and that what a new student is feeling is completely normal – they are not alone.
- Giving students time and opportunity to make friends.
- Getting staff to remember that we only have one chance to make a good first impression.
How UniSmart Helped
- The main benefits that we have experienced from Unismart is that because it is delivered in a fun and interesting way, but giving serious information, students remember the messages, particularly about the additional support that is available to them, that they what they are experiencing is normal and that they are not alone.
- Students come out of the “lecture” with a fresh buzz and are keen to share experiences.
- We hold a Unismart session for each of our Schools so the students attending will have the opportunity to make friends with others on their course rather than someone who they won’t see again.
- Unismart give the “Wow” factor.
- Unismart is now seen as an essential part of our induction programmes.
True Story
One student attending in September 2010 was sitting alone at the start of the Thursday Unismart session, looking quite miserable. After the session he had moved and was sitting with 3 others, all laughing and joking and thoroughly enjoying themselves.
When I spoke to this student at the end he admitted that he had rung his mother that morning saying that he was hating his time here and that he wanted to leave – he was living in halls but was shy and afraid to make first contact with anyone.
As a result of the Unismart session he had spoken to the first people on his course and was ready to give it another go. He realised that he was “normal” and not the only one feeling so desperate.
I saw him several weeks later with the same friends and he was loving his time here. He has already signed up to be a student volunteer for September 2011 so that he can help others settle in quickly and he will be recommending Unismart from day 1.