Hello and welcome to the Autumn edition of the UCD Access Centre News. This September sees the second intake into UCD of students from the national HEAR and DARE schemes. There has been a 45% increase in HEAR offers and a 40% increase in DARE offers.

I am delighted to introduce the UCD Access Centre’s new Disability Adviser, Julie Tonge. Julie started in the role of Disability Adviser in June. Some of our students and colleagues may already know Julie from her previous role of Access Librarian. Julie will have specific responsibility for devising and implementing a cohesive post entry student support strategy for students with a disability in UCD.

Julie has hit the ground running this summer and in collaboration with the HEAR Student Adviser Jenny Murphy, they have successfully introduced an orientation programme for incoming HEAR and DARE students which was rolled out from 27th – 31st August.

The 9th of June saw the culmination of two years work when UCD Registrar Dr. Philip Nolan launched UCD Access and Lifelong Learning’s “Opening Worlds, UCD Strategy to 2014, Mainstreaming Equality of Access & Lifelong Learning”.

‘It provides the university roadmap for increasing diversity and widening participation and aspires to develop an inclusive educational environment; the twin pillars of which are institutional readiness and community engagement’. Anna Kelly, Director of Access & Lifelong learning

The full report is available on the UCD Access & Lifelong Learning website www.ucd.ie/openingworlds

The UCD Access Centre team has been very busy in developing a new website and it too was launched on the 9th of June. It will provide all the up to date information on the activities of the UCD Access Centre. Please check it out at www.ucd.ie/openingworlds/ucdaccesscentre

In this edition Laura Connaughton gives us a fascinating insight into being a mature student in UCD. Staff member Róisín Ryan lets us know about the work she does in the Access Centre.

As you will see the summer has been a very busy one in the Access Centre. Read on to find out about our three summer schools, the launching the Opening Worlds Strategy and the launch of the Access and Lifelong Learning website!

Fiona Sweeney, Access Centre Manager

UCD Access Centre NewsAutumn 2011

UNI4U54 2nd Year secondary school students participated in the week long UNI4U Summer School programme. Their week kicked off with team building games and a campus tour. Thought provoking taster talks in commerce, the philosophy of music, archaeology and medicine took place over the week and gave students an idea of what classes are like for a college student. Throughout the week participants took part in project work exploring themes based on college life. Students learned about the factors that help in progressing on to college in team based activities and workshops. Sports activities included archery, trampoline, boxercise, lacrosse and climbing. The UNI4U Summer School finished off with a presentation of certificates and a closing ceremony

5th Year Summer SchoolOver 77 5th Year second level students attended the 5th Year Summer School programme. The programme is a residential summer school taking place over two weeks with students staying in on-campus accommodation. All attendants to this summer school are potential HEAR (Higher Education Access Route) and/or DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) applicants. Each morning started off with Leaving Certificate classes and peer learning. Afternoons were taken up with a variety of workshops including Veterinary Medicine, Architecture, Commerce, Arts, Science, and Engineering (to name but a few). In the evening social events such as karaoke, debating with the Literary & Historical Society, comedy, films and karaoke helped the group to bond and get to know each other. Overall the two week programme gave participants a real sense of what college life is all about.

Take 5 Summer SchoolThe Take 5 Summer School is a joint initiative between the access programmes of DCU, DIT, NUIM, TCD and UCD. This year there were 18 students from UCD Access Centre link schools participated. Over the five days of the programme participants spent time in each of the five colleges and learnt about a variety of topics from rocket explosions in NUIM to CPR and blood pressure recording in UCD. In conjunction with this, participants undertook projects in music, marketing, photography and drama. This culminated in an amazing closing ceremony which displayed the hard work and dedication of each project group to an audience filled with fellow participants and family members.

UCD Access Centre Summer Schools 2011

Our annual summer school programmes, the 5th Year Summer School, UNI4U Summer School and Take 5 Summer School took place over the start of June 2011. It was a fun-filled and activity packed two weeks enjoyed by 149 students from UCD New ERA link schools. We hope to welcome all our summer school participants back to UCD as students in the future!

“I had such a great time, learnt a lot and

have made a lot of friends. It really has

been life changing.”

“I’ve realised that I need to study more!”

“It made me consider Commerce and Engineering when before I was only thinking of Arts or Law.”

“I got an even better view of college, can’t wait to go to college now!”

“The summer school is an invaluable

experience, and I’ll be suggesting to my

younger friends to take part.”

Mature undergraduate degree students are well represented every March when UCD publically and formally recognises students who are academically at the top of their subject field. Laura Connaughton is one such student and she has gained recognition for her studies by earning one of UCD’s Scholarships for Outstanding Academic Achievement.

Laura was raised in Athlone, County Westmeath and is the first of her family to enter university. She entered NUIG out of secondary school but her chosen subject, how she viewed the university environment and the particular time period of her life did not a match make. Laura left university and worked for a few years in an on-line customer service environment where

she excelled. The company relocated and Laura took voluntary redundancy, but made the most of her

time by earning a Diploma in Media Production and was recognised as student of the year

for her academic achievements.

Laura then went to work for Enterprise Ireland for eighteen months before moving to London and working with the BBC in television sales to the Asia Pacific market and getting quickly promoted. Although her work and ability in her different jobs proved that she was extremely capable, Laura felt that she should have a university degree if she wanted to advance her career.

In 2008 Laura returned to Ireland with her future husband and

found herself unemployed for a year. She made

a leap of faith and applied to UCD. While Laura was excited and a bit

nervous, some friends looked at her with disbelief that she would attempt a degree at her age (late 20s). But Laura had a lot of support from her husband and family so she accepted her place on the degree programme.

Laura attended the Mature Student Orientation Day and got a good feeling regarding not being the only mature student on campus. She did get a bit of a shock when in some first year lectures she found she was the only mature student in the classroom. Finding yourself in a minority can be a bit head-wrecking but the rigour of academia soon overcomes difference as everyone is focused on learning and achieving a good result.

Laura joined the Mature Student Society, became its Communications Officer and met other ‘older’ students like herself, some of whom have become fast friends. She availed of many student supports on campus including the Mature Student Adviser who provides academic and personal welfare of mature students in UCD and she attended office hours held by her lecturers to get a deeper understanding of her subjects and for feedback on her work.

Laura attributes her stellar academic achievement to the fact that returning to study as a mature student means that a person wants to be here. She believes mature students are focused, willing to work, are willing to make mistakes and want feedback.

Laura does think that her brain operates differently as she gets older because it relates her life experience to her academic work thus enriching her understanding of her chosen field. She feels she understands the work at a deeper level and wants to be top of her class so she competes with herself to do well.

As Laura says ‘once you get past any fears or nervousness you might have, the fact is that returning to university as a mature student is very rewarding and opens new worlds.’

Mature Students/Academic Scholars

The new website for UCD Access and Lifelong Learning – www.ucd.ie/openingworlds - was launched on June 9th 2011. The website incorporates information on the UCD Access Centre and also the UCD Adult Education Centre. As well as being a great resource for information on each of these offices, it is also the place to go to for general news and details of upcoming events. After having had a look at the website, if you have any questions or comments, please e-mail us at accesscentre@ucd.ie – we would love to hear from you.

New Website

www.ucd.ie/openingworlds

Thank YouThe UCD Access Centre could not operate without the support of private donors and State funders. Your contribution to it ensures that we can provide a high quality service to our linked schools, as well as effective supports and financial assistance to our undergraduate students.

The UCD Access Centre receives significant State funding through the Higher Education Authority and the NDP/ESF Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities.

A number of key private donors also contribute. They include:

ARUP Consulting Engineers •

UCD Alumni (UCD/AIB Affinity Credit Card Scheme)•

Citibank International (Citigroup Foundation) •

Women Graduates’ Association •

Boylan Sisters Limited •

AIB Bank •

Irish Life and Permanent •

UCD Alumni Arts and Science Scholarships •

Phyllis Purcell (A scholarship in the name of her parents)•

Bank of Ireland for the Bank of Ireland | UCD New Irish •Communities Scholarship

The Google Inc. Charitable Giving Fund of Tides •Foundation

If you would like to support any element of the UCD Access Centre, please contact Fiona Sweeney, Access Centre Manager, at 01 716 1658.

I have been working in New ERA since 1998. I studied Arts in UCD after completing my Leaving Certificate and, while still working in New ERA, I completed a Higher Diploma in Education Studies and a Masters in Education also in UCD. I am based in Room 103 in the Tierney Building. I am involved in a variety of projects including:

Voluntary Student Tutoring Scheme I co-ordinate this scheme in Semester One. UCD students volunteer to tutor second level pupils in their own school for two hours, once a week for eight weeks. We are always looking for UCD volunteers so please sign up if you are interested.

Shadowing Scheme I co-organise this scheme in Semester Two. 5th Year school pupils from our link schools ‘shadow’ a First Year UCD student for the day to get a realistic impression of what college life is really like. It is an enjoyable and fun scheme to participate in, so don’t be shy and get involved!

Receipts All students are required to provide receipts for the HEAR/ESF grant. I complete the expenditure returns for each academic year. If you have any questions about what receipts are needed please contact me.

HEAR I assist in financially screening applicants who apply to the HEAR Scheme and answer general phone queries from applicants.

Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) ALL Boardroom Bookings I co-ordinate bookings of the Access & Lifelong Learning (ALL) Boardroom for PAL mentoring. Call in or e-mail me to check room availability and make bookings.

Summer Schools & Orientation Programme I organise the room bookings, accommodation lists and social calendar for summer schools in June. I organise the food and social bookings for the Orientation Programme in August/September. Any suggestions or feedback for future events are welcome.

Access Centre Website If you have any comments on our current Access Centre website or would like to see something included please contact me.

I continue to enjoy the varied and rewarding nature of working in a student-focused environment such as the Access Centre. If you have any queries regarding the UCD Access Centre please feel free to contact me.

UCD Access Centre Room 103, Tierney Building Tel: 01 716 1611 Email: roisin.ryan@ucd.ie

Staff Profile – RÓisin RyanACCess CeNtre exeCUtIve AssIstANt

Current & Upcoming EventsDARE ORIENTATION REVIEW (for participants of Orientation 2011)October 3rd - 7th, 12pm-1pm each day, Student Centre Room 1

VOLUNTARY TUTORING SCHEMETuesday evenings for 8 weeks beginning the 4th of October

CLOSING DATE FOR REGISTRATION WITH ACCESS CENTRE FOR ALTERNATE EXAM ARRANGEMENTS 17th of October. (Please contact Disability Support at 716 7565 or dss@ucd.ie to register)

LEAVING CERTIFICATE SATURDAY WORKSHOPS12th of November, 26th of November, 10th of December

APPLICATIONS TO CAO, HEAR & DAREApplications open in November 2011. Please check www.cao.ie for the exact date

Credits: Anne Lavelle, Margaret MacDonagh & Julie Tonge

If you would like to view this document in an alternative format, please contact any member of the Access Centre team.