Supporting the transition to university for mature and part-time students: An A2A transitions funding initiative

It has been argued that the experience of transition to university is more difficult for mature students as “they have made bigger leaps into the unknown than the younger students who have progressed straight from school or college” (Percy, 1985). As a result it has been suggested that mature students should be offered additional support in order to allow transition to university life (Wilson, 1997; Thomas, 2002). In addition, a recent UCLAN report (Students Experience Committee Report, May 2008) highlighted that the student experience of part-time students may not be as good as that of full-time with similar difficulties as those experienced by mature students. In order to assess and support the needs of these specific groups of students, an A2A initiative grant allowed the provision of weekly support meetings between staff and students. These meetings facilitated a support network during the first semester for mature/part-time students from both peers and staff. Feedback on the usefulness of the support meeting was assessed via a focus group and the results as well as observations from the staff members who took part are presented here.