Welcome to Student Retention Unit (SRU) live broadcast

Sharonrose Sefora

Student Retention Unit (SRU)

19 June 2018

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Broadcast overview

• Who are we?

• The First Year Experience project (FYE)

• FYE Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)

• Introducing our presenters

• Student affairs services

• Q & A

• Was this broadcast useful survey

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Who are we?

Student Retention Unit (SRU)

The Student Retention Unit (SRU) is situated within the portfolio of the Department of Tuition Support

and Facilitation of Learning (DTSFL). The SRU is responsible for the implementation and coordination

of the First Year Experience (FYE) programme at the institution.

The First-Year Experience @ Unisa

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The First-Year Experience @ Unisa

We would like to partner with you during

your first year experience (FYE) as a

Unisa student…

The FYE aims to assist first-time

entering students to successfully

transition into Unisa

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The First Year Experience @ Unisa

We would like to help you navigate your new

study environment…

andintegrate the broad range of support services,

to ensure you receive timely and relevant

support

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What are we currently doing?

Weekly emails

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FYE Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)

• The purpose of FYE MOOC is to assist

first-time entering students to successfully

transition into an ODeL institution.

• We are currently busy with the MOOC pilot…

How to access FYE MOOC?

• mooc.unisa.ac.za

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Introducing our guest presenters

Ms L Le RouxManager: Student Social Development

Ms F MahloriStudent Health and Wellness Practitioner

Mr. Deenadayalan MoodleyARCSWiD

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Student Social Development

Lizette Le Roux

Student Social Development

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Focus of the Student Social Development

• Student Health and Wellness

• Student Welfare Services

• Integrated Work Experience : Placement of

Social work Internes in Student Social

Development

• Co Curriculum Development

• Gender based Violence and Sexual

Harassment

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Student Health and Wellness Core Elements

Fiona Mahlori

Student Health and Wellness

Practitioner

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Content

• Background of SHW

• The context of SHW

• The Model

• The Core Elements-Psychosocial support

-Physical Health

-Mental Health

-Gender and Sexuality

-Partnerships

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What is Student Health and Wellness?

• Definition- “Student”, “Health” and “Wellness”

Health and Wellness- Student Success

• Dean of Students: Student Development

Student Social Development

Student Health and Wellness13

The Context

• ODeL

-Distance

-Sparse age group

- High student numbers

-Outreach programmes

-Holistic approach with

potential for technology

use

• Contact Institution

- F2F Services

- Predictable age group

- Student numbers small

- Outreach and Health

Centre

- Holistic services

inclusive of counseling

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The Model

The Wellness Wheel Model15

The Core Elements…

• Based on priority behaviours among

University students.

- Risky behaviours

- Health Needs

- Core-dependent Health and Wellness factors

- Wellness wheel; adopted model by various

institutions of higher learning.

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The Core Elements…

• Psychosocial support

-Holistic psychosocial support

-Inclusive of;

Counselling

Life management (social, legal and financial)

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The Core Elements…

• Physical Health

-Nutrition

-Exercise

-Healthy lifestyle

-Chronic illness (HIV/AIDS)

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The Core Elements…

• Mental Health

-Psychosocial assessment

-Substance Abuse Intervention

-Mental health issues affecting students

-Management of mental health illness

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The Core Elements…

• Gender and Sexuality

-LGBTQI services

-Gender Based violence services

-Sexual Health

• Partnerships

-Internal and external stakeholders

-Modes of referral to partners

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How to contact student health and wellness

You can contact the Student Health and

Wellness practitioner for assistance as follows:

Tel: 012 429 6420

Email: studenthealth@unisa.ac.za

Address: Unisa Florida Campus

Phapha Building, 3rd Floor, Room 3-005

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Advocacy and Resource Centre for Students with

Disabilities (ARCSWiD)

Deenadayalan Moodley

ARCSWiD

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Definition of disability

• Disability results from the interaction between

persons with impairments and attitudinal and

environmental barriers that hinders their full and

effective participation in society on an equal basis

with others.

• Persons with disabilities include those who have

long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory

impairments which, in interaction with various

barriers, may hinder their full and effective

participation in society on an equal basis with others.

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Policy on Students with Disabilities

Objectives

• To create an enabling environment that would promote the full participation

and equalization of opportunities for students with disabilities.

• To allow all students who have a diverse range of learning needs to

proceed with learning, teaching and assessment through a common

curriculum framework.

• To develop mechanisms and capacities that would facilitate the integration

of students with disabilities.

• To identify and minimize/eliminate barriers to learning and development.

• To maximize the participation of students with disabilities in the teaching

and learning process.

• To optimize the use of ICT in order to enhance the active participation of

students with disabilities in the teaching and learning process.

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Underlying principles

• An inclusive approach:UNISA will strive to implement an inclusive approach to provide support

and service to students with disabilities.

• Barrier-free access:

A phased-in approach to ensure that the physical environment of the

university is developed to promote the independence and access of

students with disabilities.

• Acknowledgement of diversity:

The acknowledgement that students with disabilities have different, but

equally valued learning needs.

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Strategies

The following strategies have been identified:

1. Elevate the interests and concerns of persons with

disabilities in policy formulation, planning and

management practices.

2. Review infrastructural facilities, registration and

educational processes to ensure a barrier-free

environment.

3. Creating an enabling environment for students with

disabilities.

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TWO FOCUS AREAS

1. Student support and administration

• Registration of students with disabilities

• Producing study material in alternative formats

• Providing academic support interventions

• Transcribing assignments and exam scripts

• Providing sign language interpretation

services

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TWO FOCUS AREAS

2. Advocacy and Training

• Developing advocacy and awareness-raising

programmes.

• Implementing training and facilitation of

learning for students and staff.

• Implement community outreach programmes.

• Commissioning/conducting research

programmes.

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Establishment of Multipurpose computer laboratory for

students with disabilities in the regions

Purpose of the facilities

• To enable students with disabilities to access all services

provided by UNISA

• To enable staff in the regions to provide support to students

with disabilities and monitor their progress

• To assist in reducing the drop-out rate of students with

disabilities

• To enhance teaching and learning through access technology

• To create an enabling environment for students with

disabilities

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