Mentoring, recruitment initiative good for enrolment, community

Bianca Reynaud
Public relations assistant
Avondale College of Higher Education
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

An Avondale College of Higher Education mentoring and recruitment initiative is as its name suggests giving new students and their friends a helping hand.

An initiative of Marketing Services, Helping Hands encourages students to mentor those they introduce to Avondale by, among other things, helping them register, accompanying them to their first lectures and introducing them to life at Avondale. Mentors are rewarded with a free unit or $1000 off the cost of their accommodation and the satisfaction of helping a friend.

“She’s been tops,” says Breane Grange about her Helping Hand Monique Graf, a final-year Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching student. Breane enrolled in semester one this year and is studying a Bachelor of Education (Primary). Helping Hands eased her into her course “because there was one person [on which I could rely.] It just made everything so much easier and less scary.”

Monique eased into her role, too.“Just be someone who’s approachable. Encourage, listen. Your student [needs to feel like] someone is there for them.”

Helping Hands began in 2009 but improved its accountability requirements the following year. Students must now attend orientation with their recruited student, complete an activity log and attend a mentoring session.

“I’m studying teaching to be a mentor,” says Monique, “and the mentoring session reminded me what it’s all about—thinking of someone other than myself.” She adds that “it’s been cool to see Breane settle in and enjoy [her time at Avondale].”

According to marketing officer Alana Brown, at least 50 students register for Helping Hands each year. They recruit about 100 students. This win-win builds a stronger sense of community on campus. Says Breane, “We feel like we’re part of the community from the very first day.”

More accountability for mentoring, recruitment initiative

Helping Hands logo. Helping Hands is a mentoring and recruitment initiative of Avondale College. It encourages students to mentor those they introduce to Avondale by, among other things, helping them register and introducing them to life at Avondale. Director of advancement Lorin Bradford says Helping Hands has two major benefits. First, it helps new students better adjust to life at Avondale and, second, it rewards current students for promoting Avondale within their circle of friends.

“Get a free unit.*” Upon completion of a checklist, the student serving as the mentor can choose to receive a free unit or take $1000 off the cost of their accommodation.

“Avondale is changing the way we help you.” Helping Hands has worked best as a recruitment initiative. In semester one this past year, 74 students enrolled because 52 students registered to recruit them. The figures this year: 126 and 69. However, the students registering would, according to assistant marketing manager Jo-Anne Vint, do little else to mentor the new student once the student began their study.

“Terms and conditions.*” Students registering for Helping Hands must now complete a new five-step process and ensure their recruited student or students—there is no limit to the number of students a student can recruit—enrols for two consecutive semesters before receiving their reward. Students must now:

1. Register their prospective student or students before Friday, February 18, 2011.

2. Attend Registration Day with their prospective student or students and host a tour.

3. Log mentoring and recruitment activities.

4. Attend a mentoring session in March 2011.

5. Submit a declaration and the log to Student Finance before 12.00 PM on Friday, June 3, 2011.