Residence Support- not just a job, a way of ( student) life!

Residence Support - not just a job, a way of [student] life!

This coming Academic year sees some key developments to the way in which support is delivered within Halls of  Residence at Keele. These developments  present ALL of our students, current and incoming with a real opportunity to 1) get involved and 2) receive amazing support from our team of fantastic Residence Support Assistants

Living in Halls, particularly at a campus University can lead to some really special memories being forged - it is the place where friendships are made, relationships start and in some cases finish, where students leave doors open to ensure they don't miss the gossip (in spite of the fire hazards that can cause), where parties causes elation (and tension) and where communities are created.

Most of these things occur naturally....it is, though really important that a structure exists which can provide students with the support required, the assurance needed and the response requested in order that all those living within the community get the most from the experience.

At Keele for 2012/13, the Residence Support team will be working hard to ensure that all students living within Residence have a positve experience that they carry throughout there time at Keele and way beyond...

To support the team in fulfilling this goal, Residence Support Assistants; Student Volunteers, who are committed to supporting others, who are confident and who want to make a difference will be recruited. It is a great opportunity for a student to join a team of established as well as new Assistants and to make the biggest difference to the lives of those living within our Halls.

For those wanting to find out more and to apply, the details can be found at the following address: www.keele.ac.uk/vacancies/professionaltechnicalandsupportvacancies

Keele Mentors; something to really blog about!

After a rather lengthy hiatus, (virtually speaking) the associated guilt, fused with a colleague recently asking how the blog is going (which led to me having to admit that I had slammed into the blogging equivalent of the 19 mile wall - the reality being that I was only metres beyond the start line - shameful!) I have put finger to tablet, to again  record my thoughts and feelings with regard to life within the Student Affairs profession and to ensure that the amazing work undertaken by colleagues and students at Keele, to enhance the student experience is documented and celebrated.

It's actually a great time to reconnect. After months of work behind the scenes in gauging student reaction, meeting with colleagues, benchmarking great work across the sector, taking the constructive and welcoming the encouragement to commit and follow through we find ourselves taking some brave first steps towards establishing a Pan-University peer mentoring scheme - Keele Mentors http://bit.ly/xUwKSV will kick off this upcoming academic year by providing students in a number of Academic Schools as well as all international and mature students with the opportunity to connect with a current Keele student - someone who has been there, done it and who is very likely to have the Keele Hoodie!

We never underestimate just how varied the student experience, particularly in the first few days and weeks can be. As such, whether our new students are excited, nervous, intrepid, anxious, relaxed or unphased as they approach September and their start to life as a Keele student, our Keele Mentors will play an important role in ensuring that this important transition is supported and that new students  are provided with all the information, advice and support they need to make their Keele student experience a great one.

Thanks in advance to all of our Keele Mentors; we know you'll be amazing pioneers as we embark on this first year of the scheme  - we hope in a few years that mentoring at Keele is just something that you do; because it's the right thing to do.