Commuter students: Supporting, advising and improving retention
When:
—
Venue:
Online
31% of UK 18-year-old applicants now intend to live at home. In recent years this part of the student body has had more attention, including through Access and Participation Plans and with the OfS EORR (Equality of Risk Register). As commuters are frequently part of other underrepresented groups in HE, existing barriers are exacerbated by travel, financial implications, logistical challenges, and alienation. ‘Sense of belonging’ is known to impact student retention, and commuter students are less likely to feel they fit in.
This complex and changing picture, and the challenge of identifying and defining the commuter student, will be discussed at our upcoming CPD Spotlight webinar. We will explore ways of supporting college students to make informed decisions about commuting to university, as well as finding out what policies and facilities have a positive impact at university and what still might need to be addressed at our own institutions. After hearing from our speakers from New City College, Plymouth University and a London HEI (TBC), we will have around half an hour for discussion, with the following prompts:
How do our current expectations of students unintentionally disadvantage commuters? (attendance, timetabling, and use of campus spaces)
What is your HE institution doing to foster a sense of belonging for students in varied circumstances, including those who do not live in student accommodation?
From a university perspective, what more could colleges be doing at the application stage when supporting potential commuter students?
From a college point of view, do universities need to change their provision for commuters or is it a case of raising awareness of the facilities and flexibility that are already available?
Register here for our CPD webinar: Commuter students: Supporting, advising and improving retention and please share with colleagues in teaching, support, careers, and outreach who may be interested in joining.
Contact name: Ruby Runnalls Palmer
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