Launching the university-wide transition mentoring scheme for new undergraduates

Monday, 16 March 2015

This week sees the launch of a campaign to recruit hundreds of students to be friendly faces and the voice of experience for next year’s new intake of undergraduates. The University’s new STaR (Supporting Transitions at Reading) programme will extend transition mentoring from four of five Schools to every School in the University.

The STaR mentors will use their own experience, topped up with a bit of extra training, to give friendly informal tips to new students studying their subject. They will help new students settle in, navigate the complexities of the University, signpost sources of advice and guidance and get involved in broader university life. They are not expected to be an expert or to take the place of a parent, personal tutor or professional counsellor, but simply to be the voice of someone who was in their position not so long ago and has survived.

The STaR programme emerges from recent sector-wide research on student success. It addresses several factors that are now well known in the education sector. Top of the list are that:

Developing a sense of belonging is crucial not only for student retention but also for student academic success
As the student population diversifies further then ever before, integration is more of a challenge for individuals and for institutions
Students will turn first to their peers for help

More details about STaR mentoring programme and how to apply can be found at http://blogs.reading.ac.uk/student-services-news/2015/03/10/star-mentors/ .

Please encourage your students to put themselves forward as STaR mentors. It is well known that mentors gain as much from mentoring as mentees do and they will be able to count it towards the RED Award. Why not point your personal tutees towards this great opportunity to enhance their CV while making a real difference to other students?

Paddy Woodman
Director of Student Development and Access