Jump to Content

Media Release

February 18 2008

New students on campusO to U in change of events

U Week is replacing O Week at UniSA this year with a number of new social events set to complement UniSA’s evolving and ongoing approach to the academic orientation programs that start next week.

The new U Week, beginning March 3, will see the fun, festive and often mischievous side of orientation held in a separate week to the academic orientation sessions with a U Week Roadshow, U Party and ongoing U Thursdays throughout the year.

UniSA Student Association UniLife will take the U Roadshow to all metro UniSA campuses between March 3 and 6, with a bar, street performers and the new Party Transformer in tow - a purpose-built BBQ wok trailer complete with marquee, umbrella, food, drinks and music.

The Roadshow will also take the colour of orientation to country campuses a little earlier for the first time next week, hitting Whyalla and Mt Gambier campuses on Tuesday 26 and Thursday 28 February respectively.

As well as the initial orientation week of program information, lunches, campus tours and computer sessions, the highly successful peer mentoring program will expand from the Magill campus, where it was piloted last year, to include Mawson Lakes and City West campuses.

Coordinator of both the pilot and expanded mentoring programs, Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences Transition Coordinator Sophie Relf, said that knowing a mentor and having a whole team of peers ready to help in person and online can make all the difference.

“One of the fantastic things about the mentoring program is that student mentors are the peers of new students; they have been in the same position as the new students and know what their worries are and how to find answers to both the tough and easy questions.

“Each new undergraduate student is assigned a mentor, who will help new students online, via email, during drop-in time and in person at all three campuses.”

In another boost for new starters, there is a continuing focus on academic orientation so new students don’t feel they have to grasp it all in one week.

UniSA Acting Dean of Teaching, Learning and International and manager of the peer mentoring program, Dr Lynne Badger, said social activities like UWeek, and a comprehensive academic orientation were all vital to help new students overcome the lost, daunted and overwhelmed feelings that often accompany a new start at uni.

“A solid grounding academically and socially in the first year can give students confidence as they move on into the rest of their program and have an enormous impact on the life of a student, with consequences for their life-long learning and their careers,” said Dr Badger.

U week activities will wind up with the U Party – a new take on the orientation ball – on Friday March 7 at Rapture nightclub (Star Bar) on North Terrace.

Once the uni year kicks in, UniLife will hold U Thursdays each week during study periods, with activities ranging from on campus events, to a night of lawn bowls or even a few quiet drinks at a local.
 

Contacts for interview

Media contact

top^