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What to include in a Course Advice Session for Commencing Students

What to include in a Course Advice Session for Commencing Students. Associate Professor Michele Fleming Dean of Students Director Student Equity and Support Unit. Why the necessity to provide a good course advice session for students?.

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What to include in a Course Advice Session for Commencing Students

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  1. What to include in a Course Advice Session for Commencing Students Associate Professor Michele Fleming Dean of Students Director Student Equity and Support Unit

  2. Why the necessity to provide a good course advice session for students? • Students who make an early decision to leave University often do so because they have had trouble settling in (Keenan, 2008). • Good orientation and induction programmes have been identified as factors that contribute to students’ successful learning (Yorke & Thomas, 2003), and to retaining students (Pitkethly & Prosser, 2001). • A review of 10 years of research undertaken in Australia indicates that a good orientation is a key factor in student engagement and retention (Krause, Hartley, James, & McInnis, 2005). • A good course advice session is a key part of a good orientation! • Overleaf, please find a suggested “Course Advice Session:”

  3. WELCOME TO “COURSE” AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA Course Faculty Course Convener’s Name

  4. Is the student in the right place? • Make sure that students are in the right place! • Let them know who should be at your course advice session e.g. You have been invited to this session if you are commencing: 1. The Bachelor of “Course”, or 2. A double degree with “Course”

  5. Tell students who their Course Convener is • Introduce yourself and make it clear which course(s) you convene. If you are providing course advice on behalf of double/degree programmes, let students know if it is you or someone else who is their course convener for their double degree.

  6. Role of the Course Convener • Let students know just what they should contact you about e.g. • Main Reason: Course Advice • Other reasons might include: An application for cross-institutional study or an application for certain types of credit N.B. If you as a Course Convener are not sure of your roles, have a look at the Delegations Register: https://guard.canberra.edu.au/policy/policy.php?pol_id=3164

  7. Definition of Terms • Explain about the University’s faculty structure • Define terms for your students. • Words such as course, unit, major and minor may have meant quite different things at school or their previous institution. • If applicable, explain that they may undertake units/minors/majors in a faculty other than their home faculty.

  8. Definition of Terms (continued) • Definition examples: • Course – Your course is your degree programme, e.g., Bachelor of Science in Psychology. • Unit – Courses are made up of units, e.g., Psychology 101. Some units are required for a course, while others are open to choice. • Credit Points – Each unit has an assigned credit point value, usually three. Each course has a credit point requirement which you need to achieve to be eligible to graduate, e.g. Bachelor of Science in Psychology requires 72 credit points for completion – 39 credit points must be made up of the 13 core Psychology units.

  9. Definition of Terms: Examples (continued) • Major – a set of sequential or related units in a specified area, usually at least six units (18 credit points) with at least one unit (3 credit points) at level 3. “Course” students are recommend to undertake (e.g.) a 24 credit point Major (i.e., 8 x 3 credit point units). • Minor – a set of sequential or related units, usually four (12 credit points), in a specified area. • Open Elective – an opportunity within your course to choose a unit you would like to do. • Moodle - an online teaching and learning tool • Let students know what to expect on Moodle for your course and indeed that it is likely to vary from unit to unit within the course.

  10. Winter Term • Explain to students about the Winter Term and the benefits of the Winter Term. It may be helpful to put together a possible course structure using the Winter Term. • Further information about the Winter Term and the offerings available can be found at: http://www.canberra.edu.au/academic-calendar/winter-offerings

  11. Provide students with details of a “Typical Course Structure” (FULL-TIME) (Example below) Tell students what all this all means: What Majors? How do they find information on majors/minors/electives etc.

  12. Provide students with a “Possible Course Structure” (PART-TIME) (Example below)

  13. Timetable: Help students understand how to read a timetable • The timetable website is available at: http://www.canberra.edu.au/timetable/ • Students can print their timetable off as a list or a grid.

  14. Provide information that is specific to your course • Do students have to have a police check for your course? • Do they have to make any special purchases for your course? • Are there any faculty- or discipline-specific scholarships they might apply for? • Where do they get reading materials/textbooks? • What support is available through your faculty’s LRC? • Tell them a little about how wonderful your/their course is and what career options they might have if they successfully complete the course.

  15. International Students: Provide them with necessary information • There are certain conditions on international students’ student visa that must be adhered to during their course of study. These include: • International students must complete their studies within the period of their Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). • International students are required to update their local contact details on OSIS, and keep them current and accurate at all times. • International students should consult an International Student Advisor for further information.

  16. International Students: Provide them with necessary information (continued) • International Student Advisors are located in the Student Centre. • All semester 1/2010 commencing undergraduate international students will be allocated a Personal Adviser • if one of your students hasn’t been, they should contact Laurie Boal, Student Equity & Support Officer, Office of the Dean of Students, 6201 2333.

  17. Enrolment Processes: Are students sure what to do? • All new students were mailed an enrolment guide after accepting their offer. A PDF Version can be downloaded on the below link. • http://www.canberra.edu.au/orientation/enrolment-advice The Student Centre will be providing copies to the Faculties as well. • Students can enrol online. • Students can seek enrolment advice from The Student Centre • During O-Week, new students can get enrolment assistance from 9am - 6pm on Monday 1st to Friday 5th February in Building 11. Staff will be on hand to support students who need help with obtaining a password, organising their timetable, understanding fees, enrolling in units and obtaining an ID card. • Current Students will be assisted at the Student Centre in 1B150. • There are a number of important enrolment/withdrawal/ payment dates for students. The most important one is the Census Date. It’s good to remind students of this date and why it is important. • For S1 2010 the Census date is 5th of March http://www.canberra.edu.au/studenservices/fees/census_dates

  18. Student Centre • Let students know that the Student Centre is their 'one-stop-shop' for all general administrative needs and advice, including: • All enrolment information; OSIS help; payment of fees and charges; ID Card issue; examination timetable information; International Student Advisor; academic transcript requests; graduation information; scholarship advice and assistance; general information on how to apply for credit, cross-institutional study, late withdrawal etc; and much, much more.

  19. Contact details • Provide all your contact details: • Phone, email, room number, office hours, location of your mailbox etc. • Let students know whether they need to make an appointment to see you and how you prefer this to be done. • Let students know if there is an administrative support person in your area and, if so, what students might approach them about • Provide contact details for this person. • Tell students about any other relevant contacts in the faculty.

  20. O-Week and the Smart Study Passport • Please remind students of all the many things happening on campus during O-Week (1-5 February 2010): http://www.canberra.edu.au/orientation/home • Let students know about the Smart Study Passport (SSP) programme: http://www.canberra.edu.au/lasnet/smart-study-passport • The SSP Programme includes six activities: • A campus tour • Library introduction • Get to Know UC • Smart study @ UC • Smart assignments @ UC • Get online @ UC • Smart Study Passports can be collected at the Student Centre, the Library, or the ASP.

  21. Campus Maps: Make sure students have one or know where to get one Maps are available across campus during O-Week or at: http://www.canberra.edu.au/university/maps

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