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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>To all faculty and staff<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>A group of faculty and staff formed the ‘first seven weeks’
project task force last November to discuss ways in which we could make sure
that the early experience of our newest students is as positive and coherent as
possible. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The task force was set up in response to the following range of issues:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=listparagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face=Cambria><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>a)<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Student attendance at lectures and
tutorials has been falling. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>b)<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Despite
positive experiences students report about the orientation process, early
students often remain overwhelmed during the early weeks of their time at UL<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>c)<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Many
new students are not aware of the supports and facilities available to them,
and early arrivals are exactly the students who could benefit most from these
supports<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>d)<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Establishing
good habits and orientations at the start will reap many benefits individually
and among cohorts of students<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:blue'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>e)<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Getting
early low-stakes feedback and advice helps students to improve their engagement
and performance within their programme of study<font color=blue><span
style='color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>These are the issues that the task force has been discussing over the
last few months, and the following are some of the ways in which we are
planning to mobilise our existing resources and expertise within UL to provide
a ‘first seven weeks’ experience that will enhance the short term
and longer term experiences of our students:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=listparagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face=Cambria><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Introduce a new award for faculty
teaching new students, and advisors focusing particularly on retention,
engagement and feedback and showcasing early interventions that can enhance the
student experience.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Focus
on a series of weekly themes that raise awareness and engagement by students
and provide information and help develop positive student orientations. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Increase
and enhance communication to early students – e.g. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:72.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>a.<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>introduce
a daily blog to highlight key themes and issues that they need to consider, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:72.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>b.<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>improve
signage, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:72.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>c.<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>hold
weekly study forums for early students to attend.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>4.<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Engage
existing students to help new students adjust to and get to know the campus.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>5.<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Highlight
existing learner supports and help students to appreciate how and when these
supports are most likely to be of use to them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>6.<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Help
students to see the benefits of attendance from the very start.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:blue'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>7.<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Ensure
we avail of opportunities to make the UL campus and culture as positive,
welcoming and supportive to new students as possible.<font color=blue><span
style='color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The first seven weeks task force will continue to meet regularly with a
view to piloting these ideas for the incoming cohort of students this autumn. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>We also know that there are many more specific ideas that could work at
a more local level to enhance the early experience of students in certain
disciplines or on certain programmes.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>If you have ideas that could support the first seven weeks project from
your perspective, or you would like to get involved, please don’t
hesitate to make contact. Send your emails to Karen McGrath at the Centre for
Teaching and Learning. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>We will be sending regular updates and holding briefing meetings over
the coming months, and look forward to your inputs and participation.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Best wishes<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Prof Sarah Moore<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Associate VP, Academic<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>On behalf of the first seven weeks project team:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Aoife.Geraghty; <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Bernadette.Walsh</st1:PersonName>;
Derek.Daly; Fiona.Farr; George.Hayes; John.Heneghan; Karen McGrath; <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">Liz.Kingston</st1:PersonName>; <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Maura.Murphy</st1:PersonName>;
Neasa.O'Donnell; Pat.McMahon; <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Roger.Santer</st1:PersonName>;
Sandra.Joyce; Sean.Reidy<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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