Transition Support Scheme. 6.1 At the University In the context of this agreement, DMU already spends over £0.78m pa in student support relevant to students from underrepresented groups. This includes provision in Student Services such as disability advice and support, and includes a transitions support officer for students with disabilities as well as a transitions team and a money and welfare advice team. Through the Library there is extensive provision from the learning support centre and library service support. Income from variable fees enables us to continue to expand such facilities. The transitions team was introduced in Student Services in 2005/06 and is now part of mainstream provision in Student Services. Working with year 13 applicants who are ‘at risk’ the team aims to support successful transitions from FE to HE. This support continues through the first term at university. The Transition Support Worker for students with disabilities has worked with over 250 applicants to enable more effective entry and support whilst at the university. Our distribution of the Access to Learning Funds – at c£0.8m for 2007/08 – makes a significant impact on student retention.
Transition Support Scheme. A key component of the University’s strategy for Widening Participation is the transition support service offered to prospective DMU students in schools and colleges. The University wishes to make Higher Education and DMU a real option for students with little or no family participation in HE. Key features include: Transition support from HE guidance workers to develop skills and enable smooth transition to HE through increased awareness of the different learning styles required at this level. The scheme combines the ethos of widening participation from non-traditional groups with the concern for ensuring the quality of student intake. The guidance package also addresses the concern that students from non-traditional backgrounds may be less well-prepared for university and at an increased risk of withdrawal. We continue to evaluate the transition support model for its wider applicability to student support – particularly those activities concerned with transition, induction and retention. The cost of the scheme to cover student transition support over the three-year period is estimated at £100,000 per annum. In the context of this agreement, DMU already spends over £0.78 million per annum in student support relevant to students from underrepresented groups. This includes provision in Student Services such as Disability Advice and Support, and includes the Transitions Support Officer for Disabled Students as well as the Transitions Team and the Money and Welfare team. Through the Library there is extensive provision from the learning support centre and library service support. Income from variable fees enables us to continue to expand such facilities. The Transitions Team works with applicants who are ‘at risk’ of early withdrawal or non-completion due to not making a successful transition in Higher education study and the team aims to support successful transitions from FE to HE. This support continues in the form of mentoring through the first term at university working closely with the student and faculty colleagues to enable students to effectively settle into university life. The Transitions Support Officer for disabled students has worked with over 250 applicants to enable more effective entry and support whilst at the university. Our distribution of the Access to Learning Funds – at circa £0.6million for 2008/09 – makes a significant impact on student retention.
Transition Support Scheme. 7.1 At the University In the context of this agreement, DMU already spends over £0.78m pa in student support relevant to students from underrepresented groups. This includes such provision as our disability support unit, the money and welfare team, the learning support centre and library service support. Income from variable fees will enable us to continue to expand such facilities. The transitions support team was introduced in Student Services in 2005/06, and the support also included an innovatory mentoring scheme. A further innovation was the introduction of a Transition Support Worker for disabled students, to enable more effective entry to the university. Our distribution of the Access to Learning Funds – currently at c£0.8m for 2007/08 – makes a significant impact on student retention.
