THE FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE
Supporting Your Student
Through the Transition to University

OBJECTIVES
 Give you an idea what your student’s first year will look
like
 Address concerns and misconceptions
 Provide you information to help your student succeed

PRESENTATION OUTLINE
 Student Development Theory
 Student Transition
 Myth Or Fact
 Questions

Student Development Theory
A f r a m e w o r k d e s ig n e d t o u n d e r s t a n d y o u r
s t u d e n t ’ s b e h a v io u r

CHICKERING’S THEORY OF
STUDENT DEVELOPMENT
 Provides for a better understanding of the development of
a traditional university student
 Serves as a guide for parents and academic partners on
how to best support an individual student
 Chickering & Reisser (1993) focused on seven
developmental areas

SEVEN VECTORS OF
DEVELOPMENT
 Vector 1: Developing Competence
 Vector 2: Managing Emotions
 Vector 3: Moving through Autonomy to Interdependence
 Vector 4: Developing Mature Interpersonal Relationships
 Vector 5: Establishing Identity
 Vector 6: Developing Purpose
 Vector 7: Developing Integrity

First Year Transition
C o m m o n t r a n s it io n s e n c o u n t e r e d b y
s t u d e n t s t h r o u g h o u t t h e ir f ir s t y e a r o f s t u d y
in h ig h e r e d u c a t io n

TRANSITIONS
 Your student will face adjustments and transitions in the
following areas:
– Academic
– Social
– Personal

SEPTEMBER
 New environment
 Orienting themselves (academic, social, personal)
 New academic expectations
 Time management
 Homesickness
 Making new friends

OCTOBER
 Keeping up with school
 Balancing
 Roommate differences
 Thanksgiving
 Relationships
 A gentle reminder that these experiences are a normal
part of life can go a long way at reassuring your student at
this point in the semester

NOVEMBER
 Changes in eating and sleeping habits
 Colds and flu are common
 Looking forward to going home
 Academic feedback is received
 Changing majors
 Encourage your student to make use of the facilities and
resources on campus that can assist them in developing a
healthy, rewarding lifestyle

DECEMBER
 Balancing academic and other responsibilities intensifies
 Money
 Increased independence leads to a change in family
dynamics
 Burn out

JANUARY
 Time of reflection, adjustment, renewed enthusiasm
 Comfortable with surroundings
 Academic expectations
 Lack of physical activity and time outdoors
 Adapting back to study mode
 This is a good time to seek out academic support from
various services on campus

FEBRUARY
 Volunteer recruiting and summer job workshops
 Reading week is actually for reading
 Money
 Students should start thinking about next year’s living
arrangements

MARCH
 Preparing for final exams
 Major exams and essays
 Finding niche on campus
 Pressure to improve grades
 Start applying for summer jobs
 Start looking for jobs on campus for next year

APRIL
 High stake exams
 Closure for residence floor
 Not wanting to study in good weather
 Anxiety
 Living arrangements
 Think about summer courses

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Myth Or Fact
S h e d d i n g S o m e L ig h t o n U n iv e r s it y M y t h s

Laptops and printers are not
mandatory at university.
 FACT:
– 583 desktops and 100+ laptops available for student
use
– Computers are available in 10 different campus
buildings
– Over 80 software applications
– Access to private file storage
– Wireless internet across campus
– Pay printing available at most labs
– E-kiosks available in many buildings
 If you are buying a computer, visit www.carleton.ca/ccs

In order to take classes, students
need not be on campus.
 FACT:
– Alternatives to coming to campus
– CUTV broadcasts on TV, online
– E-kiosks available in many buildings
– Over 60 credit courses each year
 For more information, visit www.cutv.carleton.ca

Since university is so large, I am on
my own academically.
 FACT:
– Office hours are held by faculty and teaching assistants
– Lab instructors are available
– Writing Tutorial Centre, Math Tutorial Centre, Science
Student Success Centre
– PASS, Tutor Referral Service
– Learning Support Services

In University, students are only a
number.
 FACT:
– Hundreds of ways to get involved on campus!
– Clubs & Societies (160+)
– Intramural sports, competitive club teams, varsity
programs
– Campus Wide Lectures, Speakers & Events
– Student Politics
– Employment Opportunities

Students only have 15 hours of class
per week, and therefore, only 15
hours of schoolwork.
 FACT:
– 2:1 ratio means that students should spend two hours
preparing for every one hour of class
– Arts, Public Affairs and Business programs: 15 hours of
class + 30 hours of prep = 45 hours
– Science, Math and Engineering programs: 15 hours of
class + 30 hours of prep + 15 hours of labs = 60 hours

Carleton is an island.
 FACT:
– Carleton is connected to the Ottawa community by
four bus routes and the O-Train
– Free shuttle bus to University of Ottawa
– Carleton has everything a small town would have
– Carleton is self-contained so there is no through traffic
– South Keys plaza is ten minutes away by O-Train and
has a movie theatre, restaurants, a grocery store and
other stores

There is nothing to do in Ottawa.
 FACT:
– Museums, art galleries and other attractions
– Festivals and concerts
– Live theatre
– Different shopping districts
– Outdoor activities – bike trails, the canal, skiing

The Parents Campaign

THE PARENTS CAMPAIGN
 It is an annual initiative
 Invitations to lectures hosted by Carleton Alumni in cities
across Canada
 E-newsletter distributed by the Student Experience Office
 Fundraising support

PARENTS MAKE THINGS HAPPEN
 In 2008, parents gave 7% of all gifts to Carleton University
Gifts - 2008
Student Aid
13% 2%
Academics &
Research
56% Infrastructure
29%
Special Projects

PRIORTY PROJECT
 Student Services is the priority project for this year’s
Parents Campaign
 Student Services provides additional funding for projects
like:
– Community Service Learning
– The Leadership Development Program
– The Writing/Math Tutorial Service and
– Learning Support Services

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Questions?