THE WARWICK STUDENT EXPERIENCE Kate Hughes – Director of Student Services Stuart Thomson – Students’ Union President

Just think….. There are c.300 million PowerPoint users in the world presenting c.30 million presentations each day About 1 million presentations are going on right now 50% of which are unbearable (conservative estimate!) 550,000 people are asleep right NOW during the middle of a PowerPoint presentation!

It was given land on the county border between Coventry and Warwickshire Warwick University was founded in 1965

The first intake of 450 students arrived in October 1965

The only real student services were located in the Rootes Social Building

The students soon decided that they needed a building of their own...However there was strong opposition within the University

In 1970 there was a breakthrough – the Union was given control over a temporary building called ‘The Balloon’

Warwick was becoming a hot-bed of student activism Its radical student politics earned it the nickname ‘ Red Warwick ’

The battle over the Union building carried on for several years and repeatedly spilled over into direct action

This incident led to the publication of the book ‘Warwick University Ltd’ edited by rebel academic EP Thompson

In 1974 the University relented and signed over what was intended as the 2 nd Rootes Social Building… …to the control of the Students’ Union

Despite once proclaiming that the SU would never have its own building, Jack Butterworth signed the papers which led to the birth of the Students’ Union we know today

The election of the Thatcher government heralded huge cuts for higher education Warwick was faced with a £1.4 million slash in its funding

Throughout the 80s therefore both the University and the Union had to begin developing other areas of activity to supplement their income

Determined not to be beaten by the Thatcher cutbacks the University started tapping into other income streams: conference business international students business and Industry links alumni donations

Firkin Bar (Cholo) Pugwash Lounge (Grumpy Johns) Elephants Nest (The Grad Club) The SU also developed commercial services to contribute towards its membership services Mandela’s (Graduate) Harvey’s (South Central)

The Union started to organise large-scale events such as the first One World Week

One World Week is now the worlds largest student run event. Warwick has more sports Clubs and societies than Any other Univeristy in The UK

What is the Student Experience?

It is about Everything! “The student experience is the totality of the experiences students have in all areas of university life – academic, social life, belonging and well being, personal security, housing, food and finance”

THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

S OME Q UESTIONS WORTH ASKING Is there a gap between student expectation and experience? If a gap does exist is it: acceptable, reasonable and inevitable? Four critical factors influencing success identified by Yorke and Longden in2004: Flawed decision-making about entering the programme Events that impact on students lives outside the institution; Failure to cope with the demands of the programme, and Students’ experience of the programme and of the institution

WHO PERSISTS AT UNIVERSITY W HAT DATA SHOWS Knowledgeable about the university before they arrive Knowledgeable about their subject area and demands before their course begins Ability to cope with the academic and social challenges of university life Recognise and acknowledge the support both academic and non academic which they receive The crucial nature of the first year university experience

THE WARWICK STUDENT EXPERIENCE What Makes It Distinctive? Campus Based University International Mix PG/UG Mix University and Students’ Union collaboration The Type of student that Warwick attracts - demanding

THE SU/UNIVERSITY RELATIONSHIP Critical Partners Trust, honesty and mutual confidence Intangible benefits from a strong SU Open Communications channels Reaching out to all the university Understand the role of your SU Universities and their Unions report 2006 The Warwick Way

THE UNIVERISTY SIDE OF THINGS Rich integrated network of support:  Senior Tutor & Personal Tutors  Residential Tutors & Wardens  Careers Centre  Centre for Student Development & Enterprise  Warwick Volunteers  Counselling Service  Disability Services  Mental Health Team  University Health Centre  Chaplaincy  Student Funding  International Office  Security  Nursery

THE STUDENTS’ UNION SIDE OF THINGS The Kit Kat Analogy

WHAT WE DO – WARWICK SU Clubs and Societies Events Welfare and Support Education – SSLC System and the QAA Representation International Issues Skills development Driving the University Agenda Communications Entertainment Democracy Commercial Services SE valued by some, not by others

SOME HEADLINES Lord Young – Minister For students “vital for this country and its future to improve the student experience” November 2008 QAA and HEFCE – Need to ensure students play a role in shaping their education Student Barometer (Summer Wave 2008) - satisfaction with student support 87.4% (5 th of 14) - ranked 1 st – clubs and societies, worship facilities - 2 nd – learning spaces, careers advice, opportunities to earn money, faith provision, graduate school; - 3 rd – course content, multicultural environment, sports facilities and student finance office International Student Barometer (Summer Wave 2008) - satisfaction with student support 86% (RG average 87%) - 1 st – faith provision, careers advice, quality of accommodation, opportunities for PhD students to teach

CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES Students as consumers – the “health club” Internationalisation Changing PG/UG balance Diversity of community Increasing parental involvement Access to resources and facilities – 24/7 Support services vs. self-help Re-definition of the “campus” Employment and employer expectations Increasing alumni engagement and support Global economic uncertainties - soft funds Expectations and aspirations – lifestyle Fees and part time work

WHAT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE THE WARWICK EXPERIENCE DISTINCTIVE? What will our students and stakeholders need, want and expect in the future? How can we make the most of the resources and facilities we have in challenging economic times? Over to you…..