Building the Environment Academic Mentors and enhanced communication to support transition and improve retention Michaela Keenan, Associate Dean (Education) Faculty of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment mp.keenan@ulster.ac.uk

The Framework – Why Retention? Student Factors Non-submission of coursework Reducing attendance Piecemeal studies advice Unknown reasons for early exits (attrition) Institutional/ School Factors Core metrics were a significant issue many of these relate to first year first year setting foundations of university journey Course Directors, often: solely dealt with metrics issues Often lacking wider team buy-in Did induction on their own Wider staff body often lacking in understanding of metrics, their importance etc

A Whole School Approach How can the School of the Built Environment improve the first year student experience, build (early) belonging, support transition & improve retention? Shared accommodation Our Students Shared transportation to campus Communicate!!!!! Live beside each other Shared modules ……. If we were to be effective we needed to: Give a consistent message to all first year students Look at the student experience throughout the first year (including pre-entry and transition) not solely the 3 days of induction.

HOW? Package of Measures – one Goal Academic Mentor Improving Metrics & ‘Appearance’ of Built Environment Pre-induction Contact First Year Retention & Success Plan Supporting Course Directors/Succession planning & Staff buy-in First Impressions School L&T Escalation System Building Collegiality & Teams ‘At Risk Indicators’ - Attendance & Assessment Marie – this slide should really help you navigate around all of the initiatives and show how they ink via commucnation. If you want to talk about Pre-ignition, at risk indicators and school L&T escalation here – then rest slides focus on mentors and also varying medium – the week 2 first impressions’ survey

The Academic Mentor: Educator at the Centre of Retention Pre-induction Contact Ongoing Mentoring ‘At Risk’ Indicator Monitoring First Impressions Survey & Follow-Up School Learning & Teaching Escalation System Working with Course Director, Module Coordinators etc

Communicate for Success IMPACT & BENEFITS Communicate for Success . Retention Staff awareness the many rather than the few Success Across semester Within modules Staff satisfaction More students on the right courses (sometimes surprisingly) Team working & collegiality Through & between Course Directors refocusing of time Built Environment ‘appearance’ changing

Every day is a school day … Lessons … Every day is a school day … Academics are important to belonging Plan B: integration of students who did not or could not attend induction. Never assume! email addresses by week 6 students in a class know all of their classmates by name. Be patient … and then you have the stats!