FIRST YEAR MENTORING SCHEME
Background
Some first years find the transition from a highly structured learning environment in secondary school to the complex schedules and requirements of university very difficult and challenging to manage. Supporting first years is a high priority in the College of SEFS and the Mentoring Scheme is a demonstration of SEFS commitment to help improve the student experience. The Mentoring programme is a very important, integral and very valuable scheme for all first year students. In addition, most schools/departments in the College of SEFS hold staff/student liaison meetings throughout the academic year which provides a forum to raise and resolve issues of concern to students. Outlined below are the Mentoring Schemes in operation in the College of SEFS.
Schools of
Biochemistry & Cell Biology;
Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences;
Computer Science & Information Technology;
Mathematical Sciences;
Microbiology
Departments of
Chemistry;
Physics;
Anatomy;
Physiology
On entry to their degree programme (CK401, CK402, CK404, CK405, CK406, CK407 and CK408) each student is assigned to a Mentor (academic staff member). The Mentor is the first point of contact for students. This scheme is a non-academic mentoring scheme based on individual meetings and group meetings (6-8 students). It is different from any subject-based tutorials. The Mentor takes a personal interest in the progress of the first years assigned to them and tries to help or advise them, as necessary. Mentoring meetings are not just for helping with individual problems: topics such as study methods, approaches to examinations, etc. may also be covered. The small group sessions offer a friendly and supportive environment which empowers students to discuss academic related issues.
School of Engineering
Groups of Electrical & Electronic Engineering & Energy Engineering students are allocated to named staff members.
In Civil Engineering and Process Engineering a single First Year Advisor is assigned to the students in a whole year.
School of Food & Nutritional Sciences
All first year Food Science students take FS1001 coordinated by Dr. Eileen O’Neill. All first year Nutritional Sciences students take NT1001 coordinated by Professor Kevin Cashman. These modules facilitate an exchange of views on issues of concern to students which arise during the academic year.
Comments from students on the Mentoring Scheme
My Mentor was excellent. He always made plenty of time to listen to us and took our views seriously. He often acted as an intermediary between us and various departments. To feel that a member of staff knew who you were in such a big College was a comfort, especially at the beginning of the year. (Genetics student)
Re. Support sufficient for your needs – I’ve no complaints. I didn’t need it so in that sense it was sufficient. (Computer Science student)
The support we got made it much easier and it definitely was sufficient. (BiologicalChemical Sciences student)
Yes, we always knew there was somebody there to advise us if we had a problem. I think it is a very good Scheme, especially getting to meet the Mentor on the day of registration as it removed some of the fears I had before actually starting the term. (Physics & Astrophysics student)