Supporting First Year Students in their Transition and Maintaining Student Retention – Sept 19
One of York’s priorities is ensuring that all students have a successful first year experience that continues through their upper years. The process of transitioning to university is a life-changing event for students, which extends beyond academic adjustments. Knowing our first year students and the particular challenges they experience (such as being the first in their family to go to university, holding additional commitments outside of school, and facing long commutes), will help you to support your students in their transition to university. As a teaching assistant, you are often the first point of contact for students, so you will have a major impact on their university experiences, and you can help make their first year at university an enjoyable one.
This workshop will examine the potential needs of first year students, focusing purposefully on five areas of need or “senses of success” according to Lizzio (2006). These include the senses of capability, connectedness, purpose, resourcefulness, and academic culture. Participants will engage with one another to discuss and brainstorm best practices for supporting students in the classroom. Participants will also be provided with university resources to support first year students and maintain retention.
