1. What is an Off-Campus Students’ Project Coordinator?

2. The Off-Campus Student Project Coordinator Role
Partnership between the University and the Students’ Union
Focuses on Integrating and Improving Off-Campus Student Experiences
Encompasses: Living at Home Students, Mature Students, Student Parents and Carers
Role: the position was created a year ago (Sept 2014) as a result of research into off-campus students. The research echoed many concerns of staff about the experience of living at home students. The report finally arrived with the Director of Student Life, Dr Tim Westlake, who with the Senior Management Team agreed upon funding for enhancing the experience of off-campus students.
Focuses: concerns arise from retention rates (as off-campus students are 4x more likely to not complete their studies). So our focuses are about integrating and emphasising accessibility to university/union opportunities for all students and also creating communities for the living at home students to build support systems and friendships.
Encompasses:… (all with unique needs and experiences)
Living at Home students: are considered both an umbrella term and also more specific to year old students who remain living with their families or homes within Greater Manchester/ North West. Many have come the Manchester Access Programmes. Needs specifically revolve around travel issues, friendships.
Mature students: considered over 21. Needs may involve understanding newer technology, balancing jobs if doing course part-time.
Student parents: covers all with under 18 children. Needs concern timing with parental responsibilities, child care facilities (university nurseries exist, union crèche in welcome week).
Student carers: hard to identify as many carers don’t always identify themselves. Legally university has to identify from next year under Care Act 2014, hoping university will sign ‘Going Higher’ campaign to support Student Carers.
Also encompasses distant learners who have taken up courses from other countries, so in essence it’s about unconventional undergrads.

3. Living at Home Students
27% of students live at home (The Guardian 2013)
Due to family, religious
or economic reasons
Less likely to complete
studies or feel involved
in student community
Students who live at home, in Manchester, tend to be from widening participation backgrounds, most notably MAP (Manchester Access Programme)…growing area of concern. Suggests supporting off-campus students has an element of equal opportunity requirement. Economic concerns are making students consider alternative options of living at home.
Students may have family caring responsibilities, consider leaving their family home against religious practice, or be financially unable to leave home. However, all of these factors suggest the students do not have an immediate student community like those who enter student halls accommodation.

4. How Do They Engage With Living at Home Students?

5. Living at Home Residential
Before Welcome Week
Social Activities
University and Student Union Support Activities
65 students

6. Residential Feedback
“I’m really glad this event was held. Before it, I was really nervous about starting university but I went home not being able to wait till it started.”

7. Residential Feedback
“It made me feel a lot more confident about meeting people at university and participating in student life.”

8. Residential Feedback
94% agreed they felt more part of the Living at Home (the remaining 6% slightly agreed)
Similar figures for wider student community
Overwhelmingly emphasised the fantastic opportunity to make friends

9. Welcome Week Active Society: stalls, meet and greets, quizzes, meals
University Departmental Welcome Events
Home Away From Home
Newly established societies this year.
Events with Law, Nursing, Medicine.

10. Home Away From Home

11. Our Societies Living at Home Society Mature Student Society
Student Parents and Carers Group

12. Living at Home Society
Student led society which organises socials, trips, meals
Communicate with 400 member Facebook Group
Work with SU to bring Living at Home projects to life!

13. Living at Home Projects
Daytrippers
Transport Buddy
System
Student Train Campaign
Residential
We intend on running Day Tripper projects where local Living at Home Students can offer their unique insight into the community to create brilliant days out for students who may not otherwise gain such experiences. Whether it’s to a local low league football team, an out of city unique spot, or a community fair.
Transport buddy system, research found that many students take the bus in. If not a buddy system also thoughts of transport related campaigns for cheaper fares for students, particularly on tram.
Residential which we’ve just had, tons of informative sessions, fun activities and a chance to get to know other students in a similar position. Feedback shows the students who attended feel much more part of their student community which is perfect and what exactly what we’re trying to do!

14. Mature Students Society
Important to think about, diversify and tailor to different branches of ‘Living at Home’ students
500 member Facebook Group + Newsletter
Socials & Lunch Club
Careers
Peer Mentoring

15. Student Parents and Carers Group
Less than a month old but already 85 members in Facebook Group
PGR Parent Peer Support Group
Student Parent Advice Booklet
Family Friendly Activities
Working with Carers Trust,
Carers UK, Manchester Carers Centre
Supporting Going Higher Campaign
for Student Carers

16. Family Friendly Campus Tour Day

17. Back to Living at Home Students!

18. Beyond Engagement?
Engaging with Living at Home Students is predominantly facilitating social events… BUT … This needs to be sustainable with the long term interest of re-thinking the image of a stereotypical student
Knowing I won’t miss out on a Student Experience
Halls or Home
(different but equal)
Having my University understand ‘Living at Home’ needs

19. Establishing Living at Home
Working with University Support Staff and Widening Participation
Creating Long Term Thinking with University School Events (importance of academic routes)… e.g. Welcome Week, Follow Up Meets, Pre-Exam Well-Being Sessions, Post-Exam Celebrations
Appropriate Timetabling for Living at Home Students
Online Resources
Discussing Living at Home
with Prospective Students

20. Thinking about Living at Home Students
Bad Example
Lack of Consideration on Student Finance
Flyer

21. Thinking about Living at Home Students
Good Example
Included at Open Day next to Accommodation

22. Additional Support Working with Advice Developing FAQs
Raise Awareness of
Support
Temporary Solutions
to Long-Term Issues

23. To Conclude! Integrate and Improve!
Living at Home Students = Facilitate Social Events/ Social Spaces
Think About Tailoring to Different Students
Engaging with Wider University
Establishing the Presence of Living at Home Students