Supporting Our New Students
3 February 2008
At a time when new students are preparing to start university, it is handy to know that one feature of the USC community that helps create a very supportive environment for new students is the various student mentor programs. In these, experienced students play a key role in the orientation process and beyond, providing a friendly and non-threatening interface with campus life. And yes there are mentors from across the age spectrum, cultural backgrounds, and from each faculty area.
While there is often a community perception that university is a fun place (and it is!), the transition from school, TAFE, the workplace, or perhaps study again after a long absence, can be very challenging. This is particularly true for the Sunshine Coast where around half the students are the first in their family to attend university. This means there isn’t a parent or sibling at home to offer advice on how to fit in, survive and thrive, let alone really enjoy the opportunity. It can be a lonely and isolating experience for some individuals, despite the excitement of actually making it to uni. Most students who don’t succeed at university lose their way during that critical first semester. Enter the student Mentors, Advisers and Buddies.
The University has well organised, and highly successful, orientation programs and specialist staff who are available to offer advice or help on virtually every aspect of university life. However, shadowing many of these functions are opportunities for students to be assisted by fellow students as well. The Student Guild also runs a range of support functions and activities that benefit the student body as a whole.
So from the time a student wants to enrol on-line, it might be a SOLAR-Buddy (Student OnLine Access and Registration) who assists, or when there are problems with a computer in the Library’s Information Commons it may be a fellow student at the Helpdesk. Another set of roles revolves around helping new students cope with university study and university life. Peer Mentors and Academic Advisers take on these roles.
The Mentor Program gives first year students a jump-start for meeting new people and navigating the University by linking them with an experienced student from their own faculty. Mentors ensure new students are aware of campus support services and how to access them. They are available to answer questions, provide support and guidance and share their experiences about the university. Peer Advisers assist other students, on an individual basis in learning support and study skills, including time management, exam preparation, note taking and oral presentations.
We have a fantastic student community and no shortage of individuals who have a passion for helping new-comers. In many cases, they are people who “almost didn’t make it” themselves and who realise from personal experience just what a difference a friendly face, and sound advice, can make. And the power in mentoring isn’t solely focussed on the recipients. The students who do fill mentor roles receive training and have opportunities to develop professionally and personally in areas of communication, leadership, facilitation and collaboration. These are attributes that are prized by employers and invariably, mentors talk about how much they have gained personally through involvement in these programs.
Professor Paul Thomas AM is Vice-Chancellor at the University of the Sunshine Coast.