Pilot project gives students helping hand

First-year journalism students are being given a helping hand in a pilot project which may become University-wide.
Journalism Department tutorial co-ordinator Desley Bartlett said the volunteer mentor program, based on the 'enthusiasm of second and third-year students', had already proved a success.
'Second and third-year students were invited to apply for positions as mentors and after a selection process they were given training,' she said.
'This included topics such as library use, how to access an email account, tips on finding stories and timetabling hints.
'They were also told what not to cover, including personal problems, legal advice and social arrangements.'
Ms Bartlett said the mentors were given kits which included information on courses, housing, transport, student services and first-year journalism course outlines.
The first meeting in March was co-ordinated with the Journalism Students Association barbecue where each first-year student interested in the program selected a mentor.
'The 32 mentors have all been very committed and have turned up to every session. They have real empathy for what the first-year students are going through,' Ms Bartlett said.
'And for them it is a chance to develop a professional rapport with their lecturers and focus on their careers by becoming more involved with their studies. They will receive a letter outlining their involvement in the program which points out the skills - listening, time management and the management of group dynamics - they have gained. All of these are a real asset to a career as a journalist.'
Peer Assisted Student Study (PASS) co-ordinator and lecturer Barbara Kelly of the University's Teaching and Educational Development Institute (TEDI) said she would like to see the pilot project expanded.
'These mentor students have a lot to offer from pragmatic advice on courses to how to write an essay from a journalism perspective,' she said.
'And where PASS mentors are paid for their involvement, these journalism students are volunteers.'
Ms Kelly said evaluation of the project would be carried out on a number of levels including through TEVAL, and from mentors and students.
For information contact Ms Kelly (telephone 3365 2788) or Ms Bartlett (telephone 3365 3088).