Winter Orientation for Mature Students

1
Winter Orientation for Mature Students

• Brian Poser,
• Associate Director,
• Atkinson Centre for Mature and Part-time Students
  

2
Session Outline

• Registration 530 p.m.
• Welcome and Introductions 600 p.m.
• Top Tips for Transition and QA 630 p.m.
• Networking 715 p.m.
• Tour 730 p.m.

3
Welcome and Introductions

• Atkinson Centre for Mature and Part-time Students
  (ACMAPS)
• Norma Sue Fisher-Stitt, Director
• Brian Poser, Associate Director
• Your University Mature Students Organization
  (YUMSO)
• Edward Fenner, Founder Past President
• Suzanne Edwards, Interim President
• Hilary Moore, Interim VP

4
Top Tips for Transition

• Assess your skills and access the available
  services and resources early for support
• ACMAPS Mature Student Success Programs
• Learning Skills Program
• Advising Offices
• Centre for Academic Writing
• Atkinson Writing Programs
• Learning Commons
• YU Learn web site
• Colleges
• Counselling and Development Centre
• Health Education and Promotion
• YU Card Office

5
Top Tips for Transition

• Manage your time and commitments to create as
  balanced and healthy a schedule as possible.
• Approximately half our 168 hours each week goes
  to sleeping, eating, commuting and personal care
• For each hour inside the classroom, plan 2 hours
  for self-directed learning outside the classroom
• Dont forget to schedule exercise, rest, and
  family time
• Talk to your family members about your time
  requirements

6
Top Tips for Transition

• Attend classes regularly and develop
  relationships with your instructors, teaching
  assistants and peers.
• University learning is about joining the
  discourse in your area of study
• Taking advantage of opportunities to dialogue
  with your instructors and classmates is means of
  developing intellectual and social supports
• Office hours and study groups provide added time
  on task, a significant predictor of academic
  success

7
Top Tips for Transition

• Set up a dedicated study space/ learning
  environment to maximize your learning outside the
  classroom.
• Work to build the kind of environment that
  supports your best concentration lighting,
  seating, desk space, learning tools etc.
• Where possible, make this a permanent, rather
  than transient, location where papers and books
  wont be disturbed.

8
Top Tips for Transition

• Stay informed about whats happening on campus
  via the following
• York University web site
• University Calendars
• ACMAPS and YUMSO list-servs
• Student portal
• YLife student newsletter

9
Top Tips for Transition

• Get involved on campus as a means to strong
  social and academic supports
• ACMAPS
• YUMSO/GMSO
• Colleges
• Campus Events
• SCLD

10
What I wish Id known when I started

• Suzanne Edwards, Interim President, YUMSO
• On extending the hand of friendship to others.

11
What I wish Id known when I started

• Hilary Moore, Interim VP, YUMSO
• On establishing when and where to study best

12
What I wish Id known when I started

• Demaris Smith
• On the importance of connecting with whats
  around you.

13
What I wish Id known when I started

• Vanessa Vance
• On attending sessions and accepting help

14
What I wish Id known when I started

• Sherry Stein
• On choosing courses you really enjoy.
• On a practical note - I have found over the years
  that the notes I take in class are often the most
  important part of the curriculum. But, I have
  also learned it is not the end of the world if
  you miss a class.
• Take courses you REALLY enjoy, not the ones you
  hear are easy courses that offer high marks. It
  is much more fun to attend school when you like
  what you are learning.
• And, more philosophically, only when you learn to
  put your enjoyment of the journey ahead of your
  concern about marks can you fully appreciate how
  special your opportunity to attend university
  really is.

15
What I wish Id known when I started

• Leigh Sanger
• On finances, friendship, and (ahem) clean
  washrooms
• I wish I knew where the clean washrooms were.
• I wish I knew there were mature student entrance
  awards.
• I wish I knew another mature student that lived
  in my area. (I'm still looking for this.)
• I wish I knew that YUMSO existed.

16
What I wish Id known when I started

• Edward Fenner,
• Founder and Past President, YUMSO
• on the road that lies ahead and pushing your own
  envelope of experience

17
QA

• What are your questions?

18
Networking and Tour

• Please take a moment to complete and submit the
  ACMAPS information questionnaire card in your
  kits.
• We have reserved some time for informal
  networking.
• Following the networking period, well conduct a
  short tour that includes the YUMSO and ACMAPS
  offices.

19
Thanks

• A copy of this presentation will be made
  available on www.yorku.ca/acmaps/events.html
• We appreciate you attending this workshop and
  invite you to share this information with your
  classmates.
• Comments to acmaps_at_yorku.ca