Universities' First-Day Support: A Student's Guide To Help

The transition to university can be challenging for many students, with new academic and social expectations, unfamiliar faces, and geographic moves all contributing to a sense of intimidation. To help students navigate these challenges, universities have implemented various strategies and support systems to ensure a smooth start to their higher education journey. From comprehensive first-year orientation programs to targeted support for specific student populations, institutions are committed to helping students succeed from day one. This includes providing clear learning objectives and expectations, fostering community-building through clubs and events, offering financial assistance, and creating opportunities for meaningful interactions between students and faculty. Additionally, universities guide students in developing essential skills such as time management and study techniques, while also emphasising the importance of self-care and wellness. By prioritising these initiatives, universities empower students to take ownership of their educational journey, effectively navigate challenges, and reach their full potential.

Connect students with resources

Connecting students with resources is a crucial aspect of helping them navigate the challenges of the first year of college. Here are some ways universities can achieve this:

Offer Open Houses and Resource Fairs:

Host open houses for different offices and departments, especially those that deal with essential services like Financial Aid, the Counseling Centre, and Career Services. This allows students to familiarise themselves with these spaces and meet staff before they actually need to visit. Alternatively, a resource fair early in the semester can be a great way to introduce students to the various support services available on campus.

Enhance Onboarding with Resource Connections:

Start engaging new students early on by connecting them with important resources, information, and staff. Introduce them to a dedicated advisor they can reach out to and ensure they know about campus services and academic expectations. Onboarding events such as Meet & Greets, Scavenger Hunts, and Game Nights also help students develop strong bonds with members of the campus community.

Provide Financial Support and Guidance:

Be proactive in offering financial assistance and promoting financial literacy. Keep students informed about scholarships, on-campus job opportunities, and emergency financial aid. Offer guidance on managing finances and provide opportunities for first-year students to engage in financial literacy conversations, classes, or training.

Encourage Engagement with Campus Activities:

Inspire students to join clubs, participate in student government or media, and attend on-campus events. Make it easy for them to browse involvement opportunities by centralising and listing student organisations and events in a platform they can access at any time. This helps students feel welcome and develop a sense of belonging within the campus community.

Build Support Systems:

Understand that not all first-year students know how to navigate the challenges of college. Encourage them to make use of Office Hours and remind faculty members to be approachable and create a welcoming environment. Connect first-years with upperclassmen and student ambassadors, as peers may be more approachable for questions and advice. Include parents and family members by offering workshops to help them identify when a student is struggling and how they can help.

Facilitate Connections with Campus Activities:

Encourage students to connect with a variety of campus activities and groups. Alert them to events on campus and offer extra credit for attendance if relevant to their course. This helps students build meaningful relationships with their peers and the broader campus community.

Enhance onboarding

Enhancing the onboarding process is a great way to help new students feel welcomed and supported as they transition to university life. Here are some strategies to achieve this:

Start Early

Begin engaging with new students before they arrive on campus. Connect them with important resources, information, staff, faculty, and student ambassadors ahead of time. This will help to reduce anxiety and make them feel supported from the very beginning.

Orientation and First-Year Seminars

Offer a comprehensive orientation program that introduces students to campus resources, services, facilities, academic advising, and course registration. First-year seminars can also help students build social support networks, develop essential soft skills, and navigate college life.

Dedicated Advisor

Introduce each student to a dedicated advisor they can reach out to with questions or concerns. This provides a familiar point of contact and helps students feel more comfortable seeking help.

Virtual and In-Person Elements

Use a combination of virtual and in-person elements for onboarding. This can include events such as Meet & Greets, Scavenger Hunts, and Game Nights, which help students develop strong bonds with their peers and feel part of the campus community.

Learning Communities

Create learning communities or cohort classes that link students in the same entry cohort, degree program, or major. This provides academic support and helps students adjust socially by building a peer network.

Social Support Systems

Design programs or events specifically to help students build meaningful relationships with their peers and faculty members. This will contribute to a sense of belonging and help students navigate the social challenges of university life.

Clear Communication

Ensure that communication with students is clear and explicit. Express classroom norms, provide specific details on assignments, and offer frequent feedback. This will help reduce anxiety and allow students to understand what is expected of them.

By implementing these strategies, universities can enhance the onboarding process and create a smooth transition for new students, setting them up for success in their academic and social lives.

Support financial needs

The financial stress of attending university is a huge burden for many students, and this can be a barrier to them completing their studies. Universities can help students in a number of ways, from providing emergency grants and scholarships to food banks and employment opportunities.

Emergency grants and scholarships

Many universities offer emergency grants and scholarships to help students facing financial difficulties. These can be used to pay for tuition, housing, books, supplies and transportation. Some universities also offer short-term emergency loans.

Food banks

Food insecurity is a real problem for many students. Universities can help by providing food banks, food vouchers, free meal plans and access to SNAP benefits. Some food banks provide canned goods and microwavable meals, while others offer fresh produce and household items.

Housing assistance

Housing insecurity is another issue that universities can help with. Some universities set aside emergency residency rooms, while others can point students towards off-campus housing solutions, including short-term sublets, apartments, youth shelters or room shares.

Employment opportunities

Universities can provide stable, convenient employment opportunities for students. On-campus jobs offer many advantages, such as being able to pick up a few hours between classes with no commute. Campus employers are also mindful of not working students for too many hours, which would impact their studies.

Financial advice

Some universities provide financial advice services to help students manage their money. This can include helping students to apply for food stamps or other benefits, and providing advice on budgeting and money management.

Fundraising

Some universities raise funds to provide additional financial support for students. This might include donations from faculty, staff, parents and alumni.

Federal and state aid

In the US, federal and state financial aid is available to students. This includes federal student loans, grants and work-study programs. To apply for federal financial aid, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Encourage clubs and events

Joining clubs and participating in events are great ways for first-year students to feel welcome and develop a sense of belonging in the campus community. They can meet and build new lifelong connections with other like-minded classmates.

Universities can encourage students to get involved in clubs and events by making it easy for them to browse involvement opportunities. They can centralize and list student organizations and events in a centralized engagement platform that students can access at any time. Student leaders can also be invited to host booths during student involvement fairs at the beginning of each semester.

Additionally, universities can offer specialized support to first-year students who are also first-generation or international students. This can include hosting a big resource fair early in the semester, either in-person or virtual, where different offices and departments on campus set up booths to let students know how they can help them navigate challenges and reach their goals.

Universities can also facilitate connections between students by organizing them into groups or incorporating group assignments into classes, as first-generation students may struggle to make friends and connect with others. However, it is important to be thoughtful about students who may have limited time and money for activities outside of class. Group work can be organized to take place during class time.

Another way to encourage club and event participation is by including parents and family members as partners in the path to student success. Universities can offer workshops to communicate ways that parents can identify when a student is struggling and how they can help them.

Build support systems

Building support systems is a critical aspect of helping first-year students navigate the challenges of college life. Here are some strategies to achieve this:

Connect Students with Upperclassmen and Ambassadors

First-year students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, may feel unsure about whom to turn to for support. Connecting them with upperclassmen and student ambassadors can provide a valuable source of guidance. Upperclassmen can offer advice based on their shared experiences, and peers may be more approachable than staff members. This can be facilitated through a matching program.

Encourage Use of Office Hours

Instructors' office hours can be a great resource for students to seek help with assignments and have open-ended discussions. Remind faculty and teaching assistants to be approachable and create a fun, welcoming, and inclusive space during their office hours. This is especially important for first-year students, who may feel intimidated to demand resources.

Involve Parents and Family Members

Parents and family members can be included as partners in the path to student success. Offering workshops that help them identify when a student is struggling and how they can help can be beneficial. This involvement can provide additional support for first-year students and help them feel more connected to their families.

Strengthen Student-Professor Bonds

Implementing a "Take Your Professor to Lunch" program can foster communication and strengthen bonds between faculty and new students. This can help students feel more comfortable approaching their professors and seeking guidance when needed.

Facilitate Collaborative Learning

Integrating collaborative co-curricular activities into coursework can create a supportive environment for first-year students. Working in groups allows students to connect with their peers and develop a network of support. It also helps to foster a sense of community and can make seeking help feel less intimidating.

Provide Peer-to-Peer Advice

Encourage first-year students to share their experiences and advice with the next cohort by writing letters at the end of the school year. This can be a powerful way to build a sense of community and support among students who have gone through similar challenges.

Frequently asked questions