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Internation FYE Conference July 2012 Llewellyn LM Macmaster Internation 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 Task 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 universities in South Africa • 28 193 students (2011) – 35.62% Postgraduate students • 3 583 First-time 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 Faculties: • Science • AgriSciences • Theology • Arts and Social Sciences • Economic and Management Sciences • Education • Military Sciences • Medicine and Health Sciences • Engineering Internation 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 0.4 0.4LANGUAGE RSA RSA 0.3 SU 0.3 SU 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0 0 Internation 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 Orientation (so-called Hazing ˝ontgroening˝ or ˝doop˝ (= baptism, Afrikaans) Internation FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 6 July 2012 University, South Africa Dominance of negative Orientation practices in Residences • Strong Hierarchical structures • Humiliation of new First-year students (“They must be broken down”) • Residence identity and culture over-emphasized • Infringed on academic orientation • Strong competition between Residences • RAG (Reach out and Give) activities given priority over academic orientation Internation 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 conversations with every House Committee • Preparation for WP • Student monitors Internation FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 8 July 2012 University, South Africa Creating Res-Ed Clusters A Day in life of a student in Res A Day in life of a commuting student A Day in life of a commutin g student in a Internation FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch Cluster 9 July 2012 University, South Africa Advantages of Res-Ed Clusters Commuting student - Unknown: Known in smaller Res-Ed Cluster 1 out of a total of 3 583 first-time First-years group; also connected with 1 out of a total of 17 051 undergraduate students students in Res within Cluster Internation FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 10 July 2012 University, South Africa Advantages of Res-Ed Clusters • Students in Residences and commuting students are brought together • Structure for more contact, conversation, interaction, • and support (study and mentor groups, also tutorial groups) • Change from mono- to multi-cultural exposure • Res-Ed hubs Internation FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 11 July 2012 University, South Africa AmaMaties • Equité (Private Students’ Organisation, PSO) • Erica (Female) • Helderberg (Male) • Libertas (PSO, M) • Nemesia (F) • Serruria (F) • VALUES: Empowerment, Diversity, Friendship, Balance Internation FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 12 July 2012 University, South Africa First Hub (2012) Internation FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 13 July 2012 University, South Africa First-year Academy • The FYA is a comprehensive University initiative to improve the success rate of first-year students by implementing or facilitating a variety of research actions, programmes and projects. The FYA was implemented for the first time in 2007 and the entire University community is involved in this very important initiative. The FYA's success will lie in everyone accepting a collective responsibility. • http://stbweb02.stb.sun.ac.za/ctl/fya.html Internation FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 14 July 2012 University, South Africa FYA initiatives • Early Assessment • Teaching and Learning Coordination points in Faculties • Provision for Tutorial Programmes • ResEd programmes • The Rector’s Dinner for Top-Performing Students • Electronic support and monitoring • The First-year Student Blog (PLakker) Internation 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 priorities – A systemic-holistic and student-centred approach – Cognisance of best practices; benchmarking • Modus operandi: – 2 working groups; literature overview; deliberations; conclusions; report and recommendations Internation FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 16 July 2012 University, South Africa Characteristics of a WP i. Intentionality ii. Coherence iii. Well-founded theories of knowledge, learning and human development iv. Suitability to the development levels and demographic profile of student population v. Responsiveness to the needs of individuals, special groups and communities vi. A process addressing relevant transition measures, issues and needs with pre- and post-enrolment interventions (Dean, L.A. (Ed). 2006. CAS Professional Standards for Higher Education, Sixth Edition) Internation FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 17 July 2012 University, South Africa Deficiencies identified • Too many silos; lacking coherence and integration • Programme too busy/overloaded (info and activities) • 7 working days insufficient • Importance of out-of-class experiences has long been ignored and underestimated Internation FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 18 July 2012 University, South Africa Research on student success points out … Move from compartmentalised Organize systemically Think systemically and think collaboratively (Terenzini en Internation FYEorganisation, Conference to: Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 19 July 2012 University, South Africa Pascarella, 2004) Recommendations 1. Emphasis on learning (journey) and student success 2. Holistic, integrated and coordinated approach – “de-silofication” and Total Learning Experience: focus on “institution-wide” approach to ensure the “seamlessness” of student experience 3. Greater focus on Pre- and post- Welcoming phase, not just 7 days 4. MyMatie camps be instituted 5. Decrease activities during Welcoming Week 6. Appoint a full-time Welcoming Programme Coordinator 7. Appoint Student Support Staff member in each Faculty 8. Strengthen Mentor programme Internation FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 20 July 2012 University, South Africa Welcoming Programme • The Welcoming Programme for all incoming first-year students aims to facilitate the (seamless) transition from school to university by providing for a range of activities that will introduce the student to university life in its totality. Although the focus of the Welcoming Programme is on the first few weeks at university, several of the initiatives stretch into the first semester so that all students have ample opportunity to get to know one another, the campus and the university as a whole. Faculties, academic support and student affairs staff collaborate in the planning and presentation 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 Verwelkomingsmatie (WelcomingMatie). Information can also be retrieved at http://www.mymaties.com. • [http://stbweb02.stb.sun.ac.za/ctl/fya.html#welcoming] Internation 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! • http://www.maties.com/ Internation FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 23 July 2012 University, South Africa The Learning Journey: Access (Arrival)and success “Learning is a complex, holistic, multi-centric Activity that occurs throughout and across the college experience” (Keeling (Ed), 2004) Internation FYE Conference Llewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 24 July 2012 University, South Africa A Learning Journey @ First-YearSU student (Eerstejaar 2012) thinks (‘cinga’) with an enquiring mind and interacts (‘sebenzisana’) as an engaged citizen, making links, growing into a dynamic professional (‘ingcali enamandla’), applying learning to be a well- rounded individual (‘afgeronde individu’) that successfully Internationgraduate FYE Conference from universityLlewellyn LM MacMaster, Stellenbosch 25 July 2012 University, South Africa Welcome WELCOME TO ARISTEA! You are about to become a part of something greater than just your academic record at Stellenbosch University and we look
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