1. CIT Access Service Deirdre Creedon Access Officer

2. CIT Access Mature Students
Students from socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds
Ethnic minorities including the Traveller Community
Students with Disabilities

3. CIT Access Initiatives
‘Access’ is understood to encompass not only entry to Higher Education, but also retention and successful completion.
Pre-entry support
Entry
Post entry support
Pre-entry initiatives are organised for City DEIS Schools at primary and second level
Post entry supports are available to all students who are socio-economically disadvantaged irrespective of what school they have attended

4. Pre-Entry Supports
The aim of the Science for Life Programme is to encourage, support and motivate students to study science at junior and senior cycle level at post primary and to consider studying science at third level
Junior Cycle Reactions Workshops – Iodine Snake – Chemical Reactions
Plastics (Chemicals) workshop
Acids and Bases Workshop
Health and Hygiene Workshop
Senior Cycle Field Trips
Electronics Workshops
Careers Workshops
Lab Practicals
Science Teacher Information Workshops
Easter Worskshops and Revision Days

5. Schools Completion Programme
6 sessions with junior cycle students
to encourage and motivate students to stay in school
and complete the Leaving Certificate
Graffiti Theatre Programme –
‘You get what you give’
Nine Schools take part in this programme where Transition Year students are forced to realise that they are responsible for their own futures.
Traveller Mentoring Programme – CIT, UCC and Cork City Partnership
To promote attendance, increase retention and raise academic attainment and aspirations amongst the cohort of Travellers in the 6 schools
“If you are afraid of what your parents or family might think don’t be, at the end of the day if it is what you want to do then no one else’s opinion should matter, but of course to have everyone on your side is always best. This is also where teachers can help in explaining that further education is always in everyone’s best interest and the benefits that come with 3rd level education. Good and helpful teachers in my opinion are the key to many of the well and truly locked doors that face all travellers..” – CIT Student
Access to Education, Bridge to Employment Programme
CIT, UCC, J&J Companies Cork, 3 Second Level Schools

6. The aim of the programme is to deliver a cross institutional and cross sectoral strategy to enhance accessibility and widen participation for learners at the Primary and Second level stages of the educational lifecycle.
Home School Family Links
Assistive Technology Strand
Science and Technology Strand
Connections Strand – Research
The HSF Links strand aims at improving access and progression routes for students who for socio-economic reasons have not traditionally availed of third level education. The Community Access Coordinator works closely with the Access staff from CIT and UCC to coordinate Access initiatives for DEIS Secondary Schools and within designated communities in the Cork city area.

7. Primary School Pre-entry
Early identification and intervention are necessary at the primary school level if progress is to be made in increasing the proportion of under-represented groups seeking eligibility for access at the tertiary level.
BNY Mellon provided sponsorship to run a Summer Programme in 2010.
Science, Art Therapy and BNY Volunteer Session
Number of Participants
Number of Children
Number of Parents
Number of Teachers
Total Number of Participants 339

8. Progression Scheme for Linked Schools
The Progression Scheme is a supplementary admissions scheme to CIT for school leavers from 9 Cork City Schools. CIT has had links with these schools through the CIT Access Office for over 15 years.
Piloted in
Total Applicants 56
Applicants Assessed 35
Progression Scheme Offers 8
College Place on own merit 9
Attending other colleges 8
No College Offers 8
Offered a college place but not attending 2
Review taking place with the participating schools next week.

9. Post Entry Supports Induction & Orientation Programme
Financial Assistance
Student Assistance Fund - over 200 students in receipt of financial assistance
Cork Chamber Science and Engineering Bursaries – Eli Lilly, RPS Engineering, Carbon Group, Bord Gais.
Mature Student Support Network
Orientation programme,
preparatory maths programme,
study skills, writing skills workshops,
money management,
personal one to one support

10. Post-entry support programme
Funded through Dormant Accounts
Supports for students coming from linked schools
Orientation Programme
Study Skills
Academic Supports
Financial Support
Mentoring Support

11. Access Award Programme
Volunteer Programme for CIT Students
Up to 20 hours of their time to work on Access Initiatives
Training received
Literacy/numeracy initiatives
Campus guides
Mentors
Parchment received for their contribution to CIT Access initiatives

12. Access Team Deirdre Creedon, Access Officer
Laura O’Rourke, Disability Support Officer
Louise Bermingham, Projects Officer
Dr. Sharon Lawton, ‘Science for Life’ Coordinator
Elaine Dennehy, Community Based Access Officer
Sinead O’Neill, Mature Student Project Officer
Margaret Buckley, Administrator

13. Contact Deirdre Creedon Access Officer Cork Institute of Technology
Bishopstown
Cork
Phone: