Much work has been completed and much is still ongoing to prepare both our new and continuing students for the start of their academic programmes in Academic Year (AY) 2020-21 (acknowledging that some students on non-standard programmes have already or will soon start their AY 20-21). The AY 20-21 Transitions Project is working alongside other groups and AY 20-21 Projects to ensure that students are provided with appropriate welcome and induction support, despite the uncertainties that COVID-19 has brought about. Project Co-Leads Shelley Parr (Director of the Centre for Higher Education Practice) and Caroline Willers (Associate Director of Student Services) are delighted to share a summary of the recent and upcoming activities below.
The University has been communicating with students regularly regarding their studies in 20-21.
Last Tuesday (11 August) the University launched the ‘Welcoming you back’ webpages to provide COVID-19 information for students and staff ahead of their return to campus.
On Thursday 13 August the updated Welcome Pages were published for our new incoming students; alongside these, a series of communications were sent to students as soon as A level results were released. The Welcome Pages support students through the logistical activities they need to undertake to complete their enrolment and prepare for arrival in Southampton.
By Friday 14 September a Welcome and Induction folder within the Faculty Blackboard Hubs will be made available for students which will provide them with generic resources and activities to support them in their induction to academic study at the University. This will include links to Unibuddy students with whom they can chat and ask questions relating to transition.
During the lead up to Welcome Week (week commencing 28 September), we are encouraging Programme-specific resources to be made available.
We are asking Programme Leads and Senior Tutors to share staff profile videos with students to help build the relationships and learning community that are so important to the University experience.
We have also encouraged Programme Leads to share key programme-specific induction information.
Professor Shelley Parr, Director of CHEP & Project Co-Lead said: “All recommendations are based upon the significant evidence base around successful transitions and emerging evidence around supporting transition during COVID, whilst also taking into account the significant impact on workload that COVID has had for many staff (both academic and professional services). There is much good practice already in place across the University, but with so much uncertainty and many students likely to be in quarantine, I would urge staff to consider providing more of this information and support pre-arrival if possible”.
During Welcome Week, centrally delivered activities from professional services and SUSU will be mostly online and any campus-based activities (such as international registration) will be bookable by students. This system will enable Faculty-led activities (such as programme talks) to be held on any day.
Faculties have been provided with recommendations and guidance for activities to undertake during Welcome Week and there is training available for the ‘Student Generated Induction’ approach we recommend.
The University Active Campus Group has also approved the implementation of a 45 point action plan to assess, progress and inform the return to campus of Postgraduate Research students, to decide where it is possible and on what basis. The work will be undertaken over the next month by Faculties in collaboration with the Doctoral College. Separate communications and SUSSED posts will be issued.
Visit AY 20/21 Transitions Project or contact [email protected] for more information.
If you would like to send out any comms to students then please contact the Student Communications team on [email protected] to enable the comms to be collated.
Kieron Broadhead, Executive Director of Student Experience and Project Sponsor said: “The process of transitioning to university is a critical part of the student experience for both students and the institution. This is the process through which we can engage with our students, establish realistic expectations of what it means to be a student and ensure they are ready to learn and succeed with us. COVID-19 brings significant challenges and opportunities for this process. The blended approach we need to take will enable us to make the improvements we already had planned, such as more online provision and pre-arrival induction materials.”
