IMPROVING THE IMPORTANT FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE Presentation to 3 rd Annual Conference: Student Retention and Progression in Higher Education Thursday 27 March 2008 Barbican Centre, London Professor Bob Burgess Vice-Chancellor, University of Leicester Chair, HE Academy

The First Year Undergraduate  What Does a First Year Undergraduate Look Like?  18 Year-Old or Mature Student  Home/EU or International  On Campus  What is ‘The Student Experience’, remembering there is no such thing as a ‘Typical Student’?

EXPECTATIONS  Hearing the Student Voice  What are First Years’ Expectations?  Good Information about the Course and the Institution (before arrival).  Information available in the first week and an introduction to the city.  Impressive Facilities and Accommodation.  Excellence in Teaching and Learning.  High Quality Research.  Access to Relevant Material – sufficient number of books in the Library.  Good/plentiful facilities, eg swimming pool, cash machines, recycling, water machines, variety of catering outlets.  Union and other events need to be publicised well and ahead of time.  Things will be provided on time, as planned, on request, as appropriate.

EXPECTATIONS  Friendly and welcoming social areas, plenty of general places to sit as well as informal/group study areas.  CCTV, high quality bike locking/storage facilities. Warnings about safety and security.  Cleaning and maintenance needs to be kept on top of.  Plenty of computers and a list of locations.  Catering outlets open into the evening with a wide variety of products to suit all dietary requirements and it needs to be affordable.

TEACHING  Preparation for classes so everyone knows what to expect; it’s very different from school.  Mentoring system for all first years. Hold reading week later, start lectures straight away.  Well organised timetables so there are shorter gaps during the day and no bunching throughout the week. Keep changes to a minimum.  Work returned quickly, good feedback, assessment and tutorial support.  Consistent teaching and use made of Blackboard.  Early notification of exams.  Good organisation between departments in inter-disciplinary subjects.

LEARNING AND SUPPORT  Initial informal, non-assessed assignments to get people used to the system.  Essay subjects staggered between groups to reduce book demand.  More field trips.  Recognition that students need help in the Library. Need to have more core texts in library. Quiet patrols need to go on longer.  Advertising of jobs, improving careers service, more PDP lectures.

FACILITIES  More inter-hall events. Wide range of societies. Range of Clubs and Societies: the importance of the social side of Higher Education.  Sports, stationery, small grocery shops available.  More student parking.  Medical centre available within the Halls. Easy to get GP appointments. Pharmacy on campus.

ACCOMMODATION  Halls need to be warm and well provided for with large fridges, microwaves, plenty of bathrooms. Include a list of available equipment (which works) to save bringing it as well.  Possibility of staying in accommodation all year or ability to leave belongings.  Flexibility in meal times.  Better security for, and more, personal storage.  Fast, wireless internet connection.  Lots of free buses including those to supermarkets and particularly late at night.  Information about finding accommodation in the 2 nd year.

EXPECTATIONS OF THE STUDENTS’ UNION  Wide range of clubs and societies, eg debating, Teddy Bears’ Hospital.  Ability to participate in vocational work, eg student media.  Volunteering opportunities.  Opportunity to participate in sport through high quality sporting facilities, including gym, and a large number of teams, not just for those in the premier league.

SOME CHALLENGES  Quality of Learning, Teaching and Assessment.  Contact with Academic Staff.  Quality of Resources.  As Demand Rises, Universities need to Enhance Provisions - collaborations between SU and University.  Transparent and Accurate Information (before and during the course).  Internationalisation.