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The First Year Experience is now a year long and cyclical program that occupies
the entire life of the first time entering student, taking them through the many
paths. Students are trained on taking those that lead to success, trained on
how to avoid those that lead to danger and trained on how to tell them apart.
The First Year Experience student induction event commences shortly after registration
of first year students so that it is not hindered by the registration of returning students.
It is preceded by the training of peer helpers, a special group of senior students who are
deployed to assist with the registration of first years and their subsequent induction.
As early as when they first come through the gates therefore the First Year Experience
offers to first time entering students that invaluable hand to take them through.
The First Year Experience then brings in all institutional stakeholders who will have an
impact on the life of the first time entering student to speak to them in turns; the deans
from the academic enterprise, academic support services such as library and
information, teaching and learning support and research support, general support
services such as campus health, security, administration and transport.
The first year experience then goes into a year long program that is carefully designed to
achieve institution specific objectives to focus on first time entering student retention,
academic achievement as well as belonging, surviving and otherwise thriving.