Enhancing the first year student experience through academic and professional staff collegiality. A Practice Report

Abstract

Collegiality among academic and professional university staff is a vital component in any effective initiative in the First Year Experience. Development of a new First Year Advisor Network at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia created some challenges in how best to communicate and collaborate with existing university staff, in order to achieve the common goal of how best to support student transition and retention. This Practice Report describes the initiatives undertaken by the First Year Advisors at Murdoch University in order to improve communication between staff, enhance collegiality and to ensure successful enhancements in the First Year Experience.