Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 1 July 2012 University, South Africa
The Learning Journey to success starts right here: Stellenbosch University’s Welcoming for First-Year students Llewellyn LM MacMaster Dean of Students
Overview 1. Quick facts about Stellenbosch University (SU) 2. From Orientation Programme (OP) to Welcoming Programme (WP) 3. BACKGROUND: . Dominance of negative practices in residences . A new value-driven approach . Res-Ed Clusters . The First-Year Academy 4. Re-thinking the WP @ SU: the process and recommendations by T ask team 5. A Learning Journey 6. New initiatives for 2012 7. The Role of student leaders 8. Continuous monitoring and evaluation 9. Concluding remarks 3
Stellenbosch University: Quick Facts • Established in 1915 with 500 students • One of the top three research universitjes in South Africa • 28 193 students (2011) – 35.62% Postgraduate students • 3 583 First-tjme entry First-year students • 1 237 (26.45%) Black (African, Coloured and Indian students • 4 361 (25.58%) of Under-graduate students, and 48.61 of Post-graduate students • Four Campuses • Law • Ten Facultjes: • Science • AgriSciences • Theology • Arts and Social Sciences • Economic and Management Sciences • Educatjon • Medicine and Health Sciences • Military Sciences • Engineering Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 4 July 2012 University, South Africa
RSA and SU Comparison RACE 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 LANGUAGE 0.4 0.4 RSA RSA SU 0.3 0.3 SU 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0 0 Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 5 July 2012 University, South Africa
From OP to ˝Welcoming ˝ Programme • 1997: Decision to rename OP • Death of First-year student during Residence Orientatj tjon (so-called Hazing ˝ontgroening˝ or ˝doop˝ (= baptjsm, Afrikaans) Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 6 July 2012 University, South Africa
Dominance of negatj tjve Orientatj tjon practj tjces in Residences • Strong Hierarchical structures • Humiliatjon of new First-year students (“They must be broken down”) • Residence identj tjty and culture over-emphasized • Infringed on academic orientatjon • Strong competjtjon between Residences • RAG (Reach out and Give) actjvitjes given priority over academic orientatjon Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 7 July 2012 University, South Africa
New Value-driven Approach • the generic values of hospitality, friendliness and human dignity. • Each Residence determine own set of values • Two-hour conversatjons with every House Commituee • Preparatjon for WP • Student monitors Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 8 July 2012 University, South Africa
Creatj tjng Res-Ed Clusters A Day in life of a student in Res A Day in life of a commutj tjng student A Day in life of a commutj tjn g student in a Cluster Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 9 July 2012 University, South Africa
Advantages of Res-Ed Clusters Commutj tjng student - Unknown: Known in smaller Res-Ed Cluster 1 out of a total of 3 583 fj fjrst-tj tjme First-years group; also connected with 1 out of a total of 17 051 undergraduate students students in Res within Cluster Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 10 July 2012 University, South Africa
Advantages of Res-Ed Clusters • Students in Residences and commutjng students are brought together • Structure for more contact, conversatjon, interactjon, • and support (study and mentor groups, also tutorial groups) • Change from mono- to multj-cultural exposure • Res-Ed hubs Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 11 July 2012 University, South Africa
AmaMatj tjes • Equité (Private Students’ Organisatjon, PSO) • Erica (Female) • Helderberg (Male) • Libertas (PSO, M) • Nemesia (F) • Serruria (F) • VALUES: Empowerment, Diversity, Friendship, Balance Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 12 July 2012 University, South Africa
First Hub (2012) Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 13 July 2012 University, South Africa
First-year Academy • The FYA is a comprehensive University initjatjve to improve the success rate of fjrst-year students by implementjng or facilitatjng a variety of research actjons, programmes and projects. The FYA was implemented for the fjrst tjme in 2007 and the entjre University community is involved in this very important initjatjve. The FYA's success will lie in everyone acceptjng a collectjve responsibility. • htup://stbweb02.stb.sun.ac.za/ctl/fya.html Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 14 July 2012 University, South Africa
FYA initj tjatj tjves • Early Assessment • Teaching and Learning Coordinatjon points in Facultjes • Provision for Tutorial Programmes • ResEd programmes • The Rector’s Dinner for Top-Performing Students • Electronic support and monitoring • The First-year Student Blog (PLakker) Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 15 July 2012 University, South Africa
Rethinking the Welcoming Programme @ SU • Task team appointed by Vice-Rector in 2009 • Points of departure: – University’s vision, mission and overarching strategic prioritjes – A systemic-holistjc and student-centred approach – Cognisance of best practjces; benchmarking • Modus operandi: – 2 working groups; literature overview; deliberatjons; conclusions; report and recommendatjons Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 16 July 2012 University, South Africa
Characteristj tjcs of a WP i. Intentjonality ii. Coherence iii. Well-founded theories of knowledge, learning and human development iv. Suitability to the development levels and demographic profjle of student populatjon v. Responsiveness to the needs of individuals, special groups and communitjes vi. A process addressing relevant transitjon measures, issues and needs with pre- and post-enrolment interventjons (Dean, L.A. (Ed). 2006. CAS Professional Standards for Higher Educatjon , Sixth Editjon) Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 17 July 2012 University, South Africa
Defj fjciencies identj tjfj fjed • Too many silos; lacking coherence and integratjon • Programme too busy/overloaded (info and actjvitjes) • 7 working days insuffjcient • Importance of out-of-class experiences has long been ignored and underestjmated Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 18 July 2012 University, South Africa
Research on student success points out … Organize systemically Move from compartmentalised organisatjon, to: Think systemically and think collaboratjvely (Terenzini en Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch Pascarella, 2004) 19 July 2012 University, South Africa
Recommendatj tjons 1. Emphasis on learning (journey) and student success 2. Holistjc, integrated and coordinated approach – “de-silofjcatjon” and Total Learning Experience: focus on “instjtutjon-wide” approach to ensure the “seamlessness” of student experience 3. Greater focus on Pre- and post- Welcoming phase, not just 7 days 4. MyMatje camps be instjtuted 5. Decrease actjvitjes during Welcoming Week 6. Appoint a full-tjme Welcoming Programme Coordinator 7. Appoint Student Support Stafg member in each Faculty 8. Strengthen Mentor programme Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 20 July 2012 University, South Africa
Welcoming Programme • The Welcoming Programme for all incoming fjrst-year students aims to facilitate the (seamless) transitjon from school to university by providing for a range of actjvitjes that will introduce the student to university life in its totality. Although the focus of the Welcoming Programme is on the fjrst few weeks at university, several of the initjatjves stretch into the fjrst semester so that all students have ample opportunity to get to know one another, the campus and the university as a whole. Facultjes, academic support and student afgairs stafg collaborate in the planning and presentatjon of the Welcoming Programme. Preliminary details of the Programme are sent to students prior to their arrival at university, with full details being made available on arrival via Die Verwelkomingsmatje (WelcomingMatje). Informatjon can also be retrieved at htup://www.mymatjes.com. • [htup://stbweb02.stb.sun.ac.za/ctl/fya.html#welcoming] Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 21 July 2012 University, South Africa
Student and Academic Support (SAS) at SU
I’ve applied! My learning journey has started! • htup://www.matjes.com/ Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 23 July 2012 University, South Africa
The Learning Journey: Access (Arrival)and success “Learning is a complex, holistjc, multj-centric Actjvity that occurs throughout and across the college experience” (Keeling (Ed), 2004) Internatjon FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 24 July 2012 University, South Africa
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