New Students Should Adapt and Seek Support
12 February 2005
For the whole of next week there is an 'Orientation Program' for
commencing students at the University. The 'Program' organised by
University staff and the Student Guild becomes more comprehensive
and helpful with each year.
Entering university for most students is not just an extension
of school, and adjusting to different ways of working can be very
demanding and confusing.
'O' week is designed to reduce the confusion, provide some
guidance, and allow the Guild to provide a number of social
functions, as well as help with mentoring schemes.
There will be an official welcome to students on Monday and they
will be given information about the current campus and the actions
being taken to develop it further.
There will also be introductions to the faculties and guidance
on how to get the best out of the library and computer
laboratories.
There is little doubt that the first few months of university
are the toughest. It's the time when many students make premature
decisions to withdraw because they believe for one reason or
another they've made the wrong decision. It's the worst possible
time to make such a decision and we do everything we can to help
students weigh their circumstances and their career prospects in a
balanced way. An informed decision can only really be made after a
routine has been established, and not whilst in transition to a
completely new environment which require unique ways of
working.
University students have to be more independent than they have
ever been, both in making sense out of their study patterns, and
also their social lives. Balancing those two dimensions is critical
for success.
But being an independent learner is not about isolation, or
being left to sink or swim. Help is provided via academic skills
advisers, program advisers, counsellors, language advisers, careers
and employment personnel, student mentors, transition programs, and
enabling courses.
There is no longer any reason why a student who has qualified to
enter university and who enrols should then feel that they are on
their own. The help and support structures are in place and
students should seek help without feeling any sense of guilt or
weakness.
The wastage rates of qualified students from universities
world-wide remains too high, and that is why we put so much effort
into getting 'O' week and the first year of study right. There is a
First Year Experience Officer and resources have been directed to
develop the first year experience so that it is a positive one for
as many students as possible.
We continue to refine ways of linking with schools and there is
a range of programs to introduce students to university life
successfully. But the majority of our students are not involved in
those, and can potentially suffer 'culture shock', as I did when I
first went to university and nearly dropped out. It took months for
me to settle.
For the majority who do settle, stick at their studies through
the ups and downs of undergraduate life, develop study habits for a
lifetime, learn new ways of interacting positively with people,
University life still, as it has always done, provides the best
platform for a satisfying and rewarding personal life and career
enhancement - unless of course you have massive inherited wealth or
win a big Lotto payout! - but even they have their own inherent
problems.
I look forward to seeing another 2000 new students next
week.
Professor Paul Thomas is Vice-Chancellor of University of
the Sunshine Coast