{"id":78,"date":"2021-08-25T12:57:21","date_gmt":"2021-08-25T11:57:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/academic-transitions\/?page_id=78"},"modified":"2025-09-08T16:14:42","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T15:14:42","slug":"guidance-and-resources-for-supporting-students-social-transition-to-university","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/academic-transitions\/guidance-and-resources-for-supporting-students-social-transition-to-university\/","title":{"rendered":"Supporting social transitions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Establishing a social network and experiencing a genuine sense of belonging contributes significantly to a smooth academic transition.<\/span> There are a wide range of initiatives students can get involved in to help meet like-minded <\/span>people<\/span> outside their programmes of study.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

STaR Mentors (Students Transitions at Reading)\"\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

Every new first-year undergraduate student is allocated a STaR Mentor<\/a>, a fellow student in their second or third year of study as a helping hand and someone who can offer reassurance, support and advice from a student point of view. They signpost mentees where necessary, but it is also comforting for new students<\/span> to be able to ask trivial questions they may be hesitant to approach staff members with. <\/span>STaR Mentors will contact their mentees at the start of the academic year to introduce themselves. If a student needs help accessing their STaR Mentor, you feel they would <\/span>benefit<\/span> from a Mentor to talk to<\/span>, <\/span>or if you have any questions please email: starmentors@reading.ac.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

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Looking After Yourself<\/h2>\n
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Student Well-being Services has a booklet:<\/a> Looking after yourself<\/a>,<\/strong> designed to provide students with key information to help them self-manage their transition to university. It is for all new and returning students. It also provides information on resources they can access during the academic year.<\/div>\n

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Life Tools programme<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

The\u00a0Life Tools programme<\/a>\u00a0is a psycho-educational training programme. It is part of the Student Wellbeing Services\u2019 proactive strategy to support students in managing their transition to university and throughout their studies. The aim is to provide the knowledge and skills contributing to students\u2019 ongoing personal, academic, and professional development. Students can access the\u00a0Life Tools blog,<\/a>\u00a0covering topics related to the talks\/webinars.\u00a0For a list of the topics covered in the programme, see the link on the\u00a0<\/em>Life Tools page on Essentials, <\/em><\/a>or click on the brochure to the right.<\/em><\/p>\n

This year, we will do talks during Welcome Week, and we will continue to provide our talks as webinars during the year. They are about 45 minutes long, including time for questions about the topic. Topics are related to doing well academically and keeping well, for example, preventing procrastination and productivity, sleep, managing pressure and building confidence.<\/p>\n

Life Tools programme (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n

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Get-Togethers<\/span> & <\/span>Socials for Under-Represented Student Groups<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

During Welcome, Reading SU host a variety of <\/span>student Get Togethers<\/span><\/a>. In addition, the Transition and Retention Team host socials for different under-represented groups. These give students a safe place to meet like-minded peers\u00a0 and form connections. Some socials <\/span>continue throughout the term<\/span> and initial sessions can be found on the <\/span>UoR Welcome App<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reading SU Get Togethers<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n