Update on Welcome 2021

10 Sep 2021

A message from Professor April McMahon, Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students

As we head ever closer to the start of the next academic year, I wanted to update you on our plans to welcome students to our University in September and October.

The start of the year is always a special time on our campus, as we welcome new and returning students to campus for a truly unforgettable Manchester Welcome.

This year’s Welcome period will run from 13 September – 24 September for UG and PGT students and will include both online and on campus activity. These weeks give students the opportunity to meet and connect, explore our campus and get to know the city they’ll be calling home.

Our new Welcome website is now live with all the key information about starting at Manchester, from how to register and become a student to safety guidance on campus, the help and support available, and the Welcome programme. From the beginning of this week, students can also book onto events to build their welcome weeks, and download a Welcome Guide available containing essential Welcome information.

As usual, Schools and Programmes are organising specific Welcome and Induction activities for their students locally. The content of the Welcome programme delivered centrally will be relevant to students from all disciplines and relevant to PGT as well as UG students.

We have shared with Schools a new resource called Jumpstart University, and encouraged them to add relevant sections to Blackboard to be shared with students. The resource is a range of online materials which will help students prepare for university with confidence. It includes courses to help with study skills, wellbeing and mental health, as well as subject-specific courses. Content suitable for all students has been embedded in the relevant sections of the Welcome website.

Welcome programme

W/C 13September: Week 1 will be mostly online, asynchronous content and live sessions including Library drop-ins, Careers workshops, Virtual volunteering taster sessions, International Orientation information talks, Sports classes, Sustainability Challenge, UCIL Taster Units. Societies and Peer Support teams will also schedule opportunities for students to connect online during this week. On-campus activity will also start from the middle of this week, which will include our Campus Tours and AskMe points.
W/C 20September: The bulk of campus events begin in Week 2, including School social events (stretch tent next to AGLC), Distinguished Lectures, cinema screenings, Food Market, University Services showcases (the huts next to University Place), Campus Tours, Postgrad Networking events, and AskMe points. Wellbeing Wednesday will host a ‘Six Ways to Wellbeing’ showcase in the Huts and a Wellfest event in the stretch tent. The Students’ Union and Residences are also organising full programmes of on-campus/in-person events.

For students not able to make it to campus for Welcome, online provision will include continued asynchronous content as above, together with repeated and additional live sessions.

AskMe

Across the two welcome weeks, we will be expanding the AskMe provision to enhance our on-campus presence during this transition period. We’ve increased the number of designated AskMe points and ambassadors, and we’ll be introducing a virtual AskMe desk operated by a Live Chat system.

Staff who are on campus will be asked to wear their Ask Me badges, and you can find more information on how to sign up and collect a badge.

Supporting Welcome 2021

There are plenty of opportunities to support the events and activities planned for Welcome 2021. You may be approached by your own teams to get involved with specific on campus contributions. If you wish to offer your support for any additional events or activities, please contact: anna.lomas@manchester.ac.uk. We and our new students would very much appreciate your help and support so please do get in touch!

Professor April McMahon

Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students