1. Principles of pre-arrival, university and course welcome and orientation, and induction to study

These three key stages support our corporate objective of welcoming, preparing, introducing and settling in our students, so they are able as quickly as possible to benefit from university life, take advantage of what is on offer, and succeed in their studies.

We recognise the critical role these first three stages in the study journey have in shaping student perceptions of what we offer and our commitment to delivering a high quality provision. We also recognise that they often form our students' first experience of our university.

This Policy identifies the principles of these three stages for all incoming students (at all levels). It is consistent with the commitments made in our Student Charter and our other corporate plans including our Institutional Equity strategy. They also are in line with our commitments to enhancing the quality of the total student experience, embedding all students into the University and their Schools, enabling them to engage with curricula and extra curricula activities, and for them to feel a sense of belonging with UEL.

This Policy is committed to ensuring continuous quality improvement. We will seek to evaluate, receive feedback and monitor the effectiveness of its implementation. Where required, adaptations will be made.

2. The principles and purpose outlined in each key stage

The main purpose of pre-arrival, university and course welcome and orientation, and induction to study is to welcome and introduce students joining our University, and that we can celebrate and value their choice to come and join our diverse and vibrant learning community. We wish to ensure that our students settle down as quickly as possible, are aware of the support and services available to them, feel a sense of belonging, and enter into a partnership with us to shape their learning courses and to gain the most out of life at the university.

We have adopted six themes for success from the Student Futures Manifesto to which UEL has signed up. The activities within these themes are included in each transition stage.

i. Support for students before they reach university.

ii. An introduction to university life for each year of study.

iii. Support for mental health and wellbeing.

iv. Clear advice of the teaching students will receive and the necessary tools to access it.

v. Activities inside and outside the curriculum that builds skills, networks and community.

vi. Clear pathway towards graduate outcomes.

Pre-arrival stage

The pre-arrival stage is when new students get ready to come to university and are introduced to the core information required to enable them to settle in. During the pre-arrival period, you will be able to access your dedicated pre-arrival course pages which contain a welcome from your course team, dates and rooms of when your university and course welcome and orientation is taking place, information on pre-arrival work to be undertaken, and links to information on advice and support. There are also two key events -Kickstarter and Pre-arrival-students are expected to attend online.

Kickstarter and Pre-arrival events

These two events are designed to provide you with the relevant support, information and advice you need to help you to prepare and navigate through the three key stages of pre-arrival, university and course welcome and orientation, and induction to study.

Kickstarter Online event

The UEL Recruitment Team host a week-long Kickstarter Programme a few weeks prior to the start of the course. This is an opportunity for you to virtually join us and learn about academic study and university life at UEL before arriving on campus. This programme covers the following sessions to help prepare students for study.

• How to set-up your student UEL account.
• Offer an enrolment session.
• Understanding academic integrity and approaches to learning at university.
• Accessing key study tools.
• Academic referencing and paraphrasing.
• Presentation skills.
• Structuring and planning academic reports.
• Consent and wellbeing plus overview of the importance of attending Course Induction week.

Pre-arrival Online event

During the pre-arrival period, you will start to get ready to come to university. This online event will give you the opportunity to hear directly from your school. You will receive advice on how to prepare for your studies ahead of arriving. This event will host the following:

• Enrolment session.
• School Specific Sessions.
• Student Experience Sessions.
• Arriving on Campus Sessions.
• A virtual expo booth.
• Information on support services available such as financial advice and support, Mental Wealth and Health Sessions (including the Wellness Video), The Hub and many more.

University and course welcome and orientation week stage

The university and course welcome and orientation period is when you arrive on campus, start to navigate their way around an institution, and settle into university life (up to 2 weeks). During the course orientation, students are introduced to their course with ‘Induction to study’ starting soon afterwards. If you are an international student, you will be invited to the International Orientation event.

The type of activities you will undertake will help you connect with your course leader and other students on your course. They include:

• Attending International Welcome (if applicable)
• A Course leader welcome and introduction.
• Meeting in-person students on your course.
• A welcome by your department head.
• A support and study success session hosted by your Head of Department or Dean of School.
• An introduction to wellness and success.
• Lunch on your first day (a range of dietary requirements will be catered for).
• Having fun attending university events such as The Student Union Fair and those put on by the Student Life Team.
• Getting ready for start of teaching, setting up the UEL system, and doing your IT induction and apps.

Induction to study stage

The induction to study stage is where you lay the foundations for successful study at all levels in your course by being equipped with the relevant study and research skills for the level of study you have entered. You will be provided with targeted information during this stage so not to overwhelm you. This stage takes place over the first term/semester enabling you to undertake an ‘academic’ cycle (semester) and understand what is required of you. The type of activities you will undertake will help you engage with your studies. They will include:

• Settling into your studies.
• Learning the campus.
• Connecting with other students and exploring what social, career, sport and volunteering activities are available.
• Starting to know where to go if you need support.
• Regularly checking your UEL email for course, uni and SU messages.
• Learning how to study at uni (e.g. accessing information undertaking coursework).
• Getting to know the Library.
• Ongoing information on our services and facilities, necessary regulatory information, the student hardship fund, residential services, student charter and complaints procedure.
• Establishing an effective opportunity for each student to engage with the necessary administrative procedures so that s/he/they are accurately and efficiently enrolled on the course of study and registered for appropriate modules.

3. Responsibility

3.1 Through the various institutional activities, all new students will be personally welcomed by the Vice-Chancellor, the Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Heads of School or other members of the Corporate Management Team.

3.2 The Recruitment Team have overall responsibility for ensuring adequate planning, allocation of resources, and working with schools and central services, coordinating and delivering the Kickstarter and Pre-arrival events.

3.3 Heads of School have overall responsibility for ensuring adequate planning, allocation of resources and implementation of the course welcome and orientation week and induction to study stages within their Schools.

3.4 Each School will be responsible for assessing the quality and effectiveness of their delivery across the three stages and its support/tutorial arrangements.

3.5 Academic Advisers will play a role in providing regular academic reviews which identify and monitor student progress, barriers to effective learning and provide academic and personal support, which may include referring students to appropriate internal services, such as Student Services, Learning Resources Centres, Facilities (for residential, security and catering services) and the Students' Union. Different approaches have been adopted in each school to meet the discipline requirements.

3.6 The Dean of Students has responsibility for collating and facilitating the content of the three stages for all students, for disseminating good practice, and making arrangements for appropriate central services to be available to contribute to the content of the three stages.

3.7 All university staff will be expected to treat new students as well as continuing students with courtesy and professionalism.

3.8 The Students' Union will play a key role in welcoming and introducing students to the range of extra-curricular, representational and support services available through the Union.

3.9 Schools (and the departments within them) are responsible for:

• Planning and organising programmes for course welcome and orientation, and induction to study.
• To work with recruitment to provide school input into the Pre-arrival event.
• Updating the course welcome and orientation week programmes to new students via their dedicated course pre-arrival pages.
• Verifying that the student has met the conditions of the offer - including checking achievement of qualifications
• Registering UDS students on units of study
• Where appropriate, checking students' ability to meet the demands of the course, particularly in respect of English Language proficiency and numeracy

3.10 The Registry Team are responsible for enrolment and ensuring the following activities are undertaken in a timely manner:

• enrolling students
• confirming student identities
• issuing ID cards
• collecting the first instalment of fees
• collecting information for HESA (on nationality, ethnic origin, disability and special needs, term-time accommodation, educational background, next of kin)

3.11 The Student Life Team is responsible for the institution-wide international student welcome day programme and associated events.

3.12 The Student Money and Advice Team is responsible for giving advice on matters concerned with student financial support.

3.13 Information Technology Services are responsible for the allocation of network log-in codes.

4. Monitoring of the Policy

4.1 Implementation of the policy across the university will be monitored by the Start of Year Working Group and Committee. (NEW for 2023)

4.2 The cross-institutional Start of Year Working Group will review the success of the three stages for each major intake and make recommendations mid-way through each semester for implementation in the next intake.

4.3 The Students Union will be invited to assess the effectiveness of the three stages, and feedback from students through evaluation forms, focus groups and individual responses will be sought.

4.4 The Start of Year Committee will receive the overview reports for each intake.

5. Minimum Components

The following components will be found in all course welcome and orientation week and induction to study programmes:

Welcome and orientation and induction to study

• Welcome and congratulations on choosing UEL
• Ice-breaker and bonding activities
• Social event with teaching staff (distance learning courses to supply information on staff)
• Meeting other students (distance learning - via conferencing)
• Student Union activities - Fayre
• Advice on accommodation, money-management, time-management
• Introduction to social events, the Students' Union and subject-based and other clubs and societies
• Information about sports and recreational facilities and spiritual services
• Essential information about the University
• Tour of the campus
• Library tour and introduction to information sharing such as the online catalogue
• Introduction to using IT facilities
• Introduction to counselling and health services
• Introduction to careers advice
• Introduction to the wellness spheres to support wellbeing
• Location of programme of study, campus map(s)
• UEL Regulations
• Student Charter
• Student Complaints and Appeals Procedure
• Introduction to and information about service areas
• Transport links to and between campuses (where appropriate)

Academic

• Aims and objectives of course of study
• Opportunity to discuss aims of the course
• Assignment of named member of staff to each student
• Meeting with named member of staff to discuss course construction
• Academic Calendar/Academic Framework/course timetable
• Course structure - core, options
• Discussion about expectations of higher education
• Diagnostic testing for English and numeracy
• Self-assessment of key skills
• Discussion about referencing and plagiarism
• Introduction to Study Skills Handbook
• Assessment methods and assessment criteria
• Credit accumulation, AP(E)L
• English language threshold requirements - referral opportunities
• Advice on study skills - identify support available
• Use and availability of ICT
• Reading lists and guidance on private study
• Identification of special needs - referral (where appropriate) to Disability and Dyslexia services
• Health and Safety regulations - particularly for laboratory and studio-based courses

Registration and Enrolment

• Unit registration for UDS students
• Advice on completing enrolment and other forms
• Attendance at enrolment centres as agreed with the enrolment operation
• Payment of fees
• Availability of loans and other forms of financial support/assistance
• Issue of ID card
• Notification of network log-in code.