FYE Project Report - uq.edu.au

1 OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR (ACADEMIC) The First Year Experience Project Report September 2006 Written and Prepared by Lynn Burnett First Year Experience Project Coordinator with assistance from Acknowledgements There are many people who have contributed to the success of the Project and I am personally grateful to each and every one. A student-centred Project requires student-centred people who are willing to collaborate. Everyone who has contributed to the Project , particularly within the last twelve months, has played a significant role in helping to move this Project forward. In particular I would like to acknowledge the continued support of The Deputy-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor Michael Keniger, the commitment and dedication of academic and support staff within the Faculties (particularly the Faculty Directors of Studies and First Year Experience Student Coordinators), Student Support Services, Library and Student Centre, and earlier contributions and encouragement by Margaret Lavery, Dr Helen Byers, A/Prof Peter Jamieson, Nick Baker and Dr Felicity Coffey.

2 1 Contents Executive Summary 5 1. Background 11 2. Methodology and Project Structure 12 3. Faculties and their Projects 18 ARTS Faculty 18 Biological and Chemical Sciences (BACS) Faculty 20 Business, Economics and Law (BEL) Faculty 23 Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture (EPSA) Faculty 25 HEALTH SCIENCES Faculty 27 Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science (NRAVS) Faculty 29 Social and Behavioural Sciences (SBS) Faculty 31 Support Services 36 4. Additional Project Activities 36 First Year Experience Project Web Site 37 First Year Experience university of Queensland Network 37 First Year Experience Queensland Network 38 Project Related Presentations and Conferences 38 Summary of Major Project Achievements 41 First Year Experience Project Activities Planned for 2007 41 5. First Year Experience Activities at Other Australian Universities 42 The Group of Eight Universities 42 The university of Adelaide 42 The Australian National university 43 The university of Melbourne 44 Monash university 45 The university of New South Wales 46 The university of Sydney 47 The university of Western Australia 48 Queensland Universities 52 Central Queensland university 52 Griffith university 53 James Cook university 54 Queensland university of Technology 55 The university of the Sunshine Coast 55 The university of Southern Queensland 56 6.

3 The university of Queensland First Year Experience Model 59 Pre-transition or Beginning to Think About university 61 Transition or Preparing for university 62 Orientation Week 63 Faculty-based Induction Programs 64 7. Recommendations 65 8. Concluding Statement 67 9. References 69 3 Tables and Diagrams Tables Innovative First Year Practice in the Faculty of ARTS 20 Innovative First Year Practice in the Faculty of Biological and Chemical Sciences (BACS) 23 St Lucia Faculty Level Induction Workshops 24 Innovative First Year Practice in the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law (BEL) 25 Innovative First Year Practice in the Faculty of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture (EPSA) 26 Innovative First Year Practice in the Faculty of HEALTH SCIENCES 28 Innovative First Year Practice in the Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science (NRAVS) 31 Innovative First Year Practice in the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (SBS)

4 35 Innovative First Year Practice Within the Support Units 36 First Year Experience Project Related Presentations and Conferences 39 Summary of First Year Experience Activities Within The Group of Eight (G8) Universities 50 Summary of First Year Experience Activities Within Queensland Universities 57 4 Diagrams Project Research Cycle 14 6. The university of Queensland First Year Experience Model 60 Pre-transition or Beginning to Think About university 61 Transition or Preparing for university 62 Orientation Week 63 Faculty-based Induction Programs 64 5 Executive Summary The First Year Experience (FYE) Project at The university of Queensland has been ongoing since 2003.

5 The overarching aim of the Project is to implement specific, student-centred initiatives to create a learning environment which will improve first year students experiences at the university . The focus for the Project in 2006 has been the implementation and evaluation of Faculty-based Induction programs. As all of the Induction programs have been locally developed and driven they each have an individual character. Nonetheless, there are four (4) common elements which run across each of the Faculty-based programs, 1. Building a sense of community and connection within the university context; 2. Making connections with a range of possible employment opportunities; 3. Addressing academic skill needs and improving communication between staff and students; and 4. Hosting social activities to enable students to meet one another and form friendship/support networks. Stronger links and communication between the Faculties, Student Support Services, the Student Centre, the Orientation Working Party, Library, and the Student Union have also been encouraged and developed.

6 A model of the UQ First Year Experience has been developed to identify current sites of activity and innovative practice. The role of the university s First Year Experience Project Coordinator has been not only to provide assistance to each of the Faculties to enhance their Induction programs and first year initiatives but also to develop innovative ways of working and researching within the area of First Year Experience. Two examples include the instigation of two innovative professional networks. The first is a First Year Experience Network within the university (FYE UQ Network) and the second is a First Year Experience Queensland university wide Network (FYE QLD Network) with First Year Experience Project Coordinators, Learning Advisors or academic Teaching and Learning Chairs from The university of Queensland, Queensland university of Technology, Griffith university , university of the Sunshine Coast, university of Southern Queensland, Central Queensland university , and James Cook university .

7 A number of referred and by-invitation presentations (individual, roundtables and symposiums) have also been given throughout the last twelve months both within the university and at a National functions and conferences. Other Australian Universities Key components of First Year Experience/Transition strategies at other Australian universities, particularly The Group of Eight (G8) Universities, are identified and summarised in the following table: buttheydoemployafull-timeStudentInformat ionandGuidanceNetworkCoordinator(mentori ngprogram)G-TransitionTeamhasastaffoffou r(4) (academic,researchandsupportroles)G-Proj ectrelatedcontractpositionG-Multipleposi tionsplusProjectrelatedacademicpositionG -TheFirstYearExperienceProgramemploysafu lltimestaffofthree(FirstYearCoordinator, FirstYearAdvisor,andaFirstYearProjectOff icer).G-TransitionSupportProgramemployst hreefull-timestaffmembers(AcademicProgra mCoordinator,ProjectOfficer,andanAdminis trativeAssistant)G-Multipleotherposition sacrosstheuniversity(eg,UniMentorScheme, etc)7 TheUniversityofAdelaideTheAustralianNati onalUniversityTheUniversityofMelbourneMo nashUniversityTheUniversityofNewSouthWal esTheUniversityofQueenslandTheUniversity ofSydneyTheUniversityofWesternAustraliaP eerMentoringProgramG-SmoothStartprogram( yearlongprogram)G-StudentInformationandG uidanceNetwork(runsforthefirst6to8weekso feverysemester)GRecommendedbutdoesnotapp eartobeacentrallyorganisedprogramG-PeerM entoringProjectG-InmanyFacultiesG-Implem entationcurrentlyinprogressascampuswidei nitiativeacrossIpswichG-InmanyFacultiesb utdoesnotappeartobeacentrallyorganisedpr ogramG-UniMentorScheme(yearlongprogram)

8 OWeekActivitiesGGGGGGGGFYE/TransitionAct ivitiesBeyondOWeekAppearstobefocusedonOW eekandonlineresources-G-Faculty-basedG-O nlinestudentblogAppearstobefocusedonOWee kandonlineresourcesGG-2006wasthefirstcyc leofFaculty-basedInductionProgramsG-Stud entWelcomeOrientationandTransitionTeamGF YE/TransitionActivitiesandConnectionswit hSecondarySchoolsG-Seriesofforumsforscho olcounsellorsandyear12studentsX buttrialcollaborativeprogram(ANUS econdaryCollege Dec,2005toTerm4,2007) (printedbooklet)--G-ParentGuide(printedb ooklet)-G-IpswichCampusG-ParentsofNewStu dentsinformationpageaspartoftheNewtoUQwe bsiteisunderconstruction--The First Year Experience Project Report September 2006 8 Summary of Major Project Achievements university wide change process has begun in a practical sense (Every Faculty has made changes and implemented Faculty-based Induction programs) With the development of the FYE UQ Network and the FYE QLD Network, The university of Queensland is now seen as a key contributor and stake holder in the area of First Year in Higher Education AUniversity of Queensland First Year Experience Model has been developed as a result of the First Year Experience Project Increased links and communication between and within the Faculties and Support Units.

9 First Year Experience Project Activities Planned for 2007 A number of key related First Year Experience Project activities have already been planned for 2007. These include, Implementation of the 2nd cycle of Faculty-based Induction programs (Aim of the second cycle is to consolidate and embed initiatives for first year students as everyday practice in a cohesive manner within the Faculties). Continue to develop FYE UQ Network Continue to develop FYE QLD Network Plans for a book to be written in conjunction with the FYE QLD Network. Proposed FYE QLD Network presentation at 10th First Year in Higher Education Conference (4th 6th July, 2007) Proposed individual presentation at 10th First Year in Higher Education Conference (4th 6th July, 2007) Write Project application for UQ Awards. Identify and begin applying for external research funding for the Project . Develop and present three (3) Project related workshops.

10 Extend existing First Year Experience web site (add information and links to innovative practices and sites of activity within the Faculties and Support units). Investigate developing an on-line first year experience survey, complete with a feedback section on student responses and outcomes/changes as a result of feedback (see The university of Western Australia as an example and online survey packages like Survey Monkey, ). Develop a university wide statement of expectations for first year students and staff. The First Year Experience Project Report September 2006 9 Recommendations The following recommendations have been developed as a result of extensive communication with each of the seven (7) Faculties and Support units within The university of Queensland. The recommendations have also been informed by practices in other key tertiary institutions and research literature in the area of First Year Experience.