STaRS CoP

The 2021 Transition and Retention Plan may be found at this link

Research has consistently shown that during orientation sessions new students appreciate hearing from - and having the opportunity to meet and talk to - current students in the course they are about to begin.  Senior students are asked to help out at orientation by giving a five minute talk on their transition to uni, answer questions in the Q&A session, and lead a campus tour.

Evidence is growing that new students 'take in' much of what is being spoken by their peers, and it is not lost to the danger of 'information overload'.  Furthermore, more reserved new students are much more comfortable asking questions of peers - questions that would have gone unanswered otherwise.

While part of the Standard Orientation Template for Orientation, STaRS coordinated the program across Western, with the aim to have at least one volunteer for every session.

These slides are designed to be shown in identified core first year subjects and across Schools to deliver just in time messages, tailored and focused over the first four weeks of session.  A few minutes are spent discussing these brief, key and holistic transition messages that are relevant and important to all students commencing students.

A Transition Message Guide for Staff ( PDF, 315.01 KB) (opens in a new window) provides provides tips for staff teaching in the identified core subject. The aim of this pack is to provide teaching staff a guide on how they can best support their students in the first few weeks of university and ensure that they receive timely and digestible information to assist their transition.

It is suggested that each week, tutors spend about 10 minutes discussing with their students on how the students feel they are progressing.

For the current STARS Slides, please see the the STARS Tips slides website.

The 2021 Transition and Retention Plan may be found at this link

Research has consistently shown that during orientation sessions new students appreciate hearing from - and having the opportunity to meet and talk to - current students in the course they are about to begin.  Senior students are asked to help out at orientation by giving a five minute talk on their transition to uni, answer questions in the Q&A session, and lead a campus tour.

Evidence is growing that new students 'take in' much of what is being spoken by their peers, and it is not lost to the danger of 'information overload'.  Furthermore, more reserved new students are much more comfortable asking questions of peers - questions that would have gone unanswered otherwise.

While part of the Standard Orientation Template for Orientation, STaRS coordinated the program across Western, with the aim to have at least one volunteer for every session.

These slides are designed to be shown in identified core first year units and across Schools to deliver just in time messages, tailored and focused over the first four weeks of session.  A few minutes are spent discussing these brief, key and holistic transition messages that are relevant and important to all students commencing students.

A Transition Message Guide for Staff ( PDF, 315.01 KB) (opens in a new window) provides provides tips for staff teaching in the identified core unit. The aim of this pack is to provide teaching staff a guide on how they can best support their students in the first few weeks of university and ensure that they receive timely and digestible information to assist their transition.

It is suggested that each week, tutors spend about 10 minutes discussing with their students on how the students feel they are progressing.

For the current STARS Slides, please see the the STARS Tips slides website.