The project, which is funded by the University and delivered in collaboration with the Student Engagement and Success Team, is a key intervention benefitting all students with a focus on targeted and timely support for specific student demographics.
Established in 2020-21 in response to the pandemic and pivot to online learning, the project delivers a peer-led check-in call for all undergraduate and postgraduate students ensuring they receive relevant support and feel part of the university community.
How the project works:
- We work with the Student Engagement and Success Team to prioritise students whose non-attendance has been flagged through the Student Engagement Policy.
- A team of trained student callers based at Avery Hill phone students Monday to Friday 10am-5pm.
- We ask students about their studies, interactions with Personal Tutors/supervisors, their sense of community, and pressures they might be facing, and we remind them of the services available to them. We record and code their responses to help build a picture of what’s going well and what can be improved.
- If students need specific support, we take their details and link them in with the appropriate GSU or University services.
If you would like to refer a student for a check-in call, please email gsu-retention@gre.ac.uk.
In 2021-22, the project made 53,994 calls to 21,404 individual students (92% of the student population). 34% of students called completed the check-in. 97% of students who completed the check-in call continued their studies in 2021-22.
The project has been shortlisted for the THE Award 2022 for Outstanding Support for Students.
For more information and last year’s project reports, please visit the GSU website.
