Working Group on Student Academic Transition

This academic year has been a rollercoaster of experiences and uncertainties – for staff, for current students and those new students we will welcome next year. As an institution we are planning ways to support our students in 2021/22 through the pastoral, social, academic and other challenges they may face.

The University Board for Teaching, Learning and Student Experience (UBTLSE) has set up a Student Academic Transition (SAT) Working Group to explore what we can do together to support the academic needs of new students, who have had very different Level 3 teaching and assessment experiences this year, as well as those continuing on degree programmes in 2021/22. We will also be considering specific support for international students, incoming PGT students, and those with other particular needs.

The SAT Working Group, chaired by Teaching & Learning Dean Clare Furneaux, and supported by Cindy Isherwood (CQSD) and Kat Bilikova (VC’s Office), comprises colleagues representing a range of roles and functions: Student Services (the Student Success & Engagement Team, and Support Centres); School Directors of Academic Tutoring (SDATs) and of Teaching  &Learning (SDTLs); RUSU; Global Recruitment & Admissions; Study Advice and Maths Support; ISLI; and Academic Development & Enhancement (in CQSD). We also have a strong group of volunteers from our community of University Teaching Fellows (UTFs) who will contribute to this work.

The working group aims to identify student needs and how to expand our central academic support. We will provide guidance and promote dissemination of good practice across Schools. It will explore:

• what is happening in schools and colleges;
• what is happening in the HE sector; 
• what our students think;
• our current central provision (e.g. online courses, such as Study Smart, and Welcome activities)
• our current Schools/programme provision (eg Welcome/Welcome back sessions, on-going study support).

If you know of any examples of good practice (here or elsewhere) - or just have a good idea! - academic colleagues: please email your SDTL or SDAT. Other colleagues:  please email Clare Furneaux at: c.l.furneaux@reading.ac.uk with the message title: ‘Suggestion for SAT Working Group’.