Living Black at University Commission Report 2022/23 Living Black at University Commission Report 2022/23 1.2 RECOMMENDATION 2 Improve acclimatisation and integration activities for all new students and extend the period over which these activities take place. Good practice tips Self-assessment questions Identi昀椀ed issues • The welcome period is typically two weeks • Induction materials for new students do not Rebecca O’Hare, Interim Deputy Director of Residential Does the diversity of your organisation’s Services at the University of Leeds: following arrival, which may not be long enough identify where students can 昀椀nd culturally welcome steering group re昀氀ect the diversity for new students – particularly international relevant services, such as haircare, mental health • Review arrival activities with a student working of the student body? students – to adjust to their new surroundings support and international supermarkets group that includes students’ union members, and make friends Are accommodation teams represented on your Residence Life Assistants, and members of relevant institution’s welcome steering group? • Opportunities to bring integration and Commission actions societies such as Afro Caribbean and faith groups acclimatisation e昀昀orts into student residences Does your institution’s welcome steering group can be missed as a result of accommodation • Develop and pilot a Black services guide resource • Use 昀椀ndings from the working group to create consider events shaped by and organised for in collaboration with Black students, to signpost teams being overlooked in university welcome action plans and build into annual objectives; this non-White and international students? steering groups to culturally relevant services in university cities will centre Black students and create a relationship Do your organisation’s induction materials consider • Create a toolkit to support the wider sector to use between students and sta昀昀 • University welcome steering groups are majority the Black services guide resource in their city the needs of students from di昀昀erent countries and White, meaning events aimed at non-White • Create content designed speci昀椀cally for Black cultures, including signposting to culturally relevant students may not be considered students, supporting them to navigate university life, services in your town/city? the campus and student accommodation, and share this through pre-arrival communications, printed Are your university’s international and/or ethnic guidance and student-led social media content societies in contact with your accommodation team, and does your accommodation team • Provide opportunities and budget for Black signpost students to these societies? students to lead activities of interest to them and their peers throughout the academic year Does your institution hold ‘refreshers’ events throughout the year, and for students in later years of study, to o昀昀er new touchpoints for making Sharon O’Donnell, Head of Customer Services friends and building a sense of community? & Residences Life at Newcastle University: Does your institution o昀昀er a good variety of events • University accommodation teams, student life without alcohol for students whose faith or cultural teams and the Students’ Union should work background may prohibit its consumption? collaboratively to create a joined-up, coherent induction experience • Prepare students for induction prior to arrival with a dedicated site, so that they can familiarise themselves with the university and city in advance • O昀昀er a hybrid induction, giving students the opportunity to engage with content both in-person and online • Continue to run events throughout the year that recognise a variety of culturally signi昀椀cant dates and festivals 14 15