New program gives students a smooth start

Equity

Starting university has become a lot smoother for students across the State, thanks to a new University of Adelaide program.

SmoothStart is a pilot program run by the university's Central Student Support Services for the first semester of 2005, and is one of only two programs of its type in the country.

It aims to support students from groups, such as all students from rural areas and those from city schools underrepresented in enrolments, who may face specific barriers in making the transition to university and ongoing study.

"The pilot is quite unique in that it provides support on a non-faculty basis and involves the use of peer mentors. It is also unique because it focuses on the social, personal and academic aspects of starting uni for a specific group of students," SmoothStart project officer Ms Karen Steinwedel said.

"The program has 10 peer mentors and is run by two Project Officers. Fifty students were invited to join SmoothStart, with each student allocated an experienced and trained student as a peer mentor for the first semester. Peer mentors remain in contact with their mentees on a regular basis."

Jennifer Sanders, a first-year Bachelor of Arts student at the University of Adelaide said she has benefited immensely from joining the SmoothStart Program.

"I completed Year 12 at a rural school, Willunga High," she said. "Out of the 60 Year 12 students in my school, 25 graduated, and only four are currently enrolled at the University of Adelaide," Jennifer said.

"Coming from the country, the city scared me. The SmoothStart Program and the mentors really helped with my transition into university life.

"The mentors are quite diverse and easy to get along with. My mentor helped me buy books and find my way around the library. I sometimes discuss my progress with her over a cup of coffee."

Throughout the semester SmoothStart provides a regular newsletter, social events like Easter Brunch, as well as events organised by the peer mentors for their students. In addition, the Centre for Learning and Professional Development provides an exam preparation workshop for SmoothStarters only.

Jennifer found out about SmoothStart through the information brochures send by the University of Adelaide to her school.

"I was really keen to meet people and find out about uni beforehand," Jennifer said. "If I hadn't been part of the Smooth Start program, university life would have been much harder for me." For more information, visit: www.adelaide.edu.au/smoothstart

Story by Sukhmani Khorana