Wednesday 10-10-2018 - 10:24

Freshers 2018 was an all-round massive hit! In all, we welcomed an estimated 4,000 incoming students to our beautiful campus and helped ensure they were ready to settle into their studies. As a Full Time Officer team, we attended 13 Induction talks across the three main academic schools and INTO GCU. We also attended the Freshers address where our Student President, Rachel Simpson, gave a speech to around 1,500 incoming students.

The team spent the first two days engaging with the new students and encouraging them to explore the Freshers Fayre, the Students’ Association Building, and the University. The rest of the week was spent attending Induction Talks, speaking to new students, and attending events put on by our student groups.

On the Wednesday, I opened up the GCU Big Gig where The Lafontaines and Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 performed great sets and both bands gave their 100% to get the audience singing and dancing along with them.

 

Here are some of the things we accomplished during Freshers 2018-

• Devised, created, collated and sold 200 Welcome Packs (wristbands).
• Revised the Student Handbook and printed 7000 copies.
• Redesigned the Freshers Flyer and printed 7000 copies.
• Posted out 4000+ flyers and Student Handbooks to new students.
• Created a FB with a 1000+ people joining.
• Organised 30 sports come and try session (double last year).
• Organised 30 society tasters (double last year).
• Maintained our induction workshop/ talks and freshers volunteer involvement.
• 92 stalls at the Freshers Fayre (our biggest ever) and a redesign of the layout.
• 20 outdoor market stalls.
• Attended all scheduled induction talks.
• I attended The Edit’s event.
• I spoke at WES Freshers event.
• I spoke at Pathways induction.
• I organised Postgraduate Welcome event with VP SHLS and secured prizes/funding (£300) from university.
• VP SHLS hosted the International Welcome Quiz in Re:Union Bar.

I thoroughly enjoyed being the policy lead for Freshers this year and I think the week (although some bad weather) went wonderfully. I hope everyone (both staff and students) enjoyed just as much as I did and I am wishing all the new students the best of luck in their studies!