Student support

Sonnekus, I, Louw, W & Wilson, H. 2004. Emergent Learner Support at Unisa: An Informal Report. Journal of Open Praxis (OU UK Journal). ICDE: Hong Kong. [Non-accredited conference proceedings]

by Hentie Wilson

The article was based on the Expert Panel Report at the ICDE conference in Hong Kong (February 2004) which was... more The article was based on the Expert Panel Report at the ICDE conference in Hong Kong (February 2004) which was presented by Prof Inge P Sonnekus. Subsequently, collaboration with Dr Willa Louw and Mrs Hentie Wilson of the Bureau for Learning Development, extended the notion of learner support at UNISA.

The highlights in red emphasize the activities to which the College Committee for Learner Support and Academic Development should pay attention.

Case Study of a Countywide Aimhigher Programme: Aimhigher Research Report

by Katy Vigurs

This report draws on data collected using the following research
methods:
o Interviews (nine) with key... more This report draws on data collected using the following research
methods:
o Interviews (nine) with key stakeholders including representatives at a strategic and operational level
o Visits to 2 schools in the area: an 11-18 school situated in the
coastal strip in Lincolnshire, a deprived area with very little long
term employment and an 11-16 school with a shared sixth form,
situated in an urban area. At both schools individual interviews
were held with the following: senior members of staff (4),
Aimhigher coordinators (2) and support staff (2). Group
interviews were also conducted with male and female pupils who
had taken part in Aimhigher activities: Year 10 (3), 11 (9), 12 (9),
13 (4)
o Telephone interviews (13) with parents of pupils involved in
Aimhigher activities at the 2 schools of whom were subsequently
interviewed.

The evaluation also draws on research conducted by the IAS with a further 3 secondary schools and one Pupil Referral Unit involved in the Peer Mentoring and Robot Competition initiatives. Members of the research team visited these institutions and interviews were conducted with staff members and pupils involved. Telephone interviews were also conducted with project team members involved in the Robot Competition initiative.

Due to budget constraints the case studies were restricted to 2 of the 37 schools involved in Aimhigher activities. However, it should be emphasised, that the qualitative approach used has allowed the research team to collect more in-depth and richer data from this small sample. Additional interviews with key stakeholders, as identified above, have allowed different perspectives on the programme to be explored. As a final point, it should be noted that the case studies were conducted in March 2006, and as a result some pupils would not yet have experienced all the activities.

Case study of a Student Mentoring Scheme: Aimhigher Research Report

by Katy Vigurs

This case study analysis of the one Further Education College's  Student Mentoring Scheme, prepared by the... more This case study analysis of the one Further Education College's  Student Mentoring Scheme, prepared by the Institute for Access Studies, Staffordshire University, presents an analysis of data drawn from focus group interviews with first and second year students on academic and vocational courses during the academic years 2006/2007 and 2007/2008.

Studying With Special Needs: Some Personal Narratives

by Karen McAulay

Written for special issue on disabilities and special needs.

Purpose – The aim of this article is to interview three academic library users with different special needs, one of... more Purpose – The aim of this article is to interview three academic library users with different special needs, one of whom is a current undergraduate, whilst the others graduated two and five years ago. Acknowledging that disabled people in earlier generations have often been barred from the student experience, it was hoped that the interview process would serve to identify ways in which our modern, up-to-date libraries now made it possible for users with special needs to use our facilities with a better level of parity, and thus to achieve academic success.

Design/methodology/approach – A descriptive account based on conversations and emails with three volunteers.

Findings – Our more modern, up-to-date libraries do now make it possible for users with special needs to use our facilities with a better level of parity, and thus to achieve academic success.

Research limitations/implications – Whilst the in-depth interviews with three volunteers yielded interesting and informative results, a wider survey would be required to achieve a representative over-view.

Practical implications – The paper examines the measures that libraries can take to improve the learning experience for users with special needs.

Originality/value – The paper is written from the academic user's perspective, and demonstrates the importance of the staff-user interface, as much as of specific assistive technology.

Recommendations for Teaching In a Distributed Learning Environment: The Students' Perspective

by Geraldine Lefoe

Kredyty studenckie w Polsce

by Piotr Kowzan

A short article analysing the system of student loans in Poland.

Stop Smoking within USAMV Cluj-Napoca and All Romanian University campuses and Anywhere in the World – for a Sustainable Romania and Development – The Human and His Decisions is the Most Contaminating Aggregate (Romanian language article with English abstract)

by Adrian Toader-Williams

Author: Adrian Toader-Williams
Keywords: Stop smoking, university campus, Romania, economy, ecology, sustainable development, public health, world economy, personal health, efficiency, academic performance, public policy, law, terms conditions, human mind, bureaucracy, interests, education, life sciences, research, tobacco, natural resources, campaign, Global impact, 31 may, WHO, World Health Organization, OMS, Organizaţia Mondială a Sănătăţii, FĂ FIECARE ZI  ZIUA MONDIALĂ FĂRĂ TUTUN, Make Every Day World No Tobacco Day, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, USAMV Cluj-Napoca,

The article is in Romanian language and it marks the beginning of Stop Smoking campaign within the University campuses... more The article is in Romanian language and it marks the beginning of Stop Smoking campaign within the University campuses in Romania, starting with the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. It encourages students and professors to stop smoking on the campus and anywhere. The essential purpose of an educational institution, of a university is to prepare professionals. USAMV Cluj-Napoca being a Life Sciences University has a more accentuated obligation not to only research Life Sciences but also to protect Human Life and its Human Condition. Healthy professionals are a better, sustainable investment. Stopping smoking assures public health, reduces public expenditures and wasted natural resources. Therefore, smoking has a huge negative impact upon the Global Ecological and Economical problems given the inter-dependence of resources and of the negative outcomes of tobacco consumption. The article is also an invitation to observe 31-st of May as the „Make Every Day World No Tobacco Day” initiated recently by the World Health Organization (WHO). The article calls for initiating in Romania such campaign and the 31-st of May to be a day to celebrate the success. Lots of resistance / opposition / arguments have been met from the newspaper’s staff in order to have the article published in the USAMV Newsletter. It was called as being a campaign and the paper’s policy does not support any campaign and concentrates on informative articles. Ironically, on the cover of the same paper (issue nr. 21, February 2011) the administration published a campaign for „Mărţişor”. Several other conflicting and non-sense arguments were sent to me. To mention sadly, it is very difficult to lunch an initiative in Romania. The article in essence, using Romanian language says: Recent, Organizaţia Mondială a Sănătăţii (WHO),  a declarat 31 Mai a fi ziua Mondială împotriva fumatului. Numită „FĂ FIECARE ZI  ZIUA MONDIALĂ FĂRĂ TUTUN,.”  USAMV Cluj-Napoca poate pre-întâmpina ziua de 31 mai dând un exemplu în rândul universităţilor din România.
The electronic version as PDF (see page 15) has been hardly sent to me by papers staff and here I made it available to you for download. I invite readers to take a stand and send to the University a paper letter via regular /registered mail and express your point of view. It is a beginning of a major project and I need any possible support from allover the World and from Romania as well. It is not a domestic concern; it is not a national concern. It has a Global Impact as the borders that divide us are just symbolic. Thank you.

Griffiths, M.D. (2011). Publishing undergraduate and postgraduate student work: Some guidelines and protocols, Psychology Teaching Review, 17(1), 78-80.

by Mark Griffiths

Throughout my academic career, I have always encouraged undergraduate and postgraduate students who produce... more Throughout my academic career, I have always encouraged undergraduate and postgraduate students who produce outstanding work to disseminate their findings more formally and have written up accounts of how to go about this for such bodies as the Higher Education Academy (see Griffiths, 2006). However, much less has been written on the protocols and guidelines of how authorship is assigned in the case of student work. Most of the literature in this area concentrates on authorship between colleagues and peers, and reference to undergraduate or postgraduate work is usually given cursory coverage (Costa & Gatz, 1992; Fine & Kurdek, 1993; British Psychological Society, 2004). In this article I briefly present my own protocols that guide me in the publication of student work and assigning of authorship in both undergraduate and postgraduate work.

Foubert, J. D. (1996). Cults on campus: Perspectives from the literature. Synthesis: Law and Policy in Higher Education, 8, 588-589, 595, 597-598.

by John Foubert

Foubert, J. D., Boss, K. E., Ginther, A. M., & Komives, S. R. (2000). Students living in substance free housing: Attitudes toward their residential experience and predictors of their satisfaction. The Journal of College and University Student Housing, 29 (1), 15-21.

by John Foubert

A study looking at the attitudes and satisfaction of students who choose to live in alcohol and smoke free residence... more A study looking at the attitudes and satisfaction of students who choose to live in alcohol and smoke free residence halls in college.

Foubert, J. D., Nixon, M., Sisson, V. S., & Barnes, A. C. (2005). A longitudinal study of Chickering and Reisser’s vectors: Exploring gender differences and implications for refining the theory. Journal of College Student Development, 46, 461-471.

by John Foubert

A racially mixed random sample of 247 students
at a midsized public university in the Southeast
completed... more A racially mixed random sample of 247 students
at a midsized public university in the Southeast
completed the Student Development Task and
Lifestyle Inventory at the beginning of their first
year, beginning of their sophomore year, and end
of their senior year (Winston, Miller & Prince,
1987). Results showed partial support of
Chickering and Reisser’s theory of development
in that students progressed in their development
along three measured vectors throughout their
college career. Results contradicted the assumption
that developing purpose is a vector experienced
only toward the end of one’s college career.
Important gender differences also emerged,
particularly regarding issues of tolerance. Results
are discussed in light of reconsideration of the
theory and implications for student affairs
practice.

Garner, D. G. & Foubert, J. D. (2007). Sexual assault survivors’ perceptions of campus judicial systems. Illinois Counseling Association Journal, 155, 3-18.

by John Foubert

This article details the experiences of several women who brought their sexual assault cases before on campus hearing... more This article details the experiences of several women who brought their sexual assault cases before on campus hearing boards, most of whom had bad experiences with the process.