From Facebook To Freshers' - Derby Welcomes New Students
15 September 2010
New students attending one of the Icebreaker sessions.
A whole host of activities have been arranged to welcome students for the new semester...
”Alex Young, Communications and Promotions Coordinator, with the University of Derby Students' Union.
New students are reflecting the buzz of the forthcoming academic year through a series of events being organised by the University of Derby and on social media websites.
The University has been making its final arrangements to welcome new students through events such as Icebreakers and the Intake Weekend this coming Saturday and Sunday and via social networking channels.
Here's a lowdown on the recent activity:
Freshers' Fortnight
Around 4,000 students have already signed up to the Official UDSU page on Facebook - a record number of members for this page on the social media site.
The Facebook page will be further promoted during Freshers' Fortnight, which is organised by the University of Derby Students' Union and begins on Saturday 18 September and runs until Sunday 3 October.
Alex Young, Communications and Promotions Coordinator, within the University of Derby Students' Union, said: "A whole host of activities have been arranged to welcome students for the new semester including sports tournaments, BBQ's, comedy nights, bowling sessions, a beer festival, a visit to Alton Towers, a cinema screening at QUAD, as well as traditional favourites such as the Sadler Gate Street Party, The Freshers' Ball and of course the Freshers' Fortnight.
"The UDSU team has also been in close liaison with agencies including Derby City Council, Derbyshire Constabulary, the city centre management and security teams from local nightclubs to ensure party nights are as well organised as possible."
For more details about what is on offer visit the following websites: Derby: www.udsu.co.uk/derbyfreshers or Buxton: www.udsu.co.uk/buxtonfreshers
Icebreakers
More than 700 new students had an opportunity to make friends with this year's series of Icebreaker events organised by the University of Derby which have taken place in some of Derby's neighbouring cities and towns and in Derby itself at the University's Academy Bar at Kedleston Road.
The other events took place earlier this month at Sheffield United Football Club, The Custard Factory in Birmingham, Stockport County Football Club and Leicester Racecourse.
Icebreaker events are a chance for new students to meet staff and members of UDSU, ask questions before they start at the University, and make friends.
Get Ahead
All this week, Derby has been running an early induction week for students with disabilities to help them settle in to student life. The annual scheme, called Get Ahead, gives students who take part the opportunity to discuss support needs with staff and speak to existing students and members of the Students' Union about university life.
The event has proved popular with past students and this year about 60 students took part in the event organised the Support and Advisory Service and funded by Aimhigher at the Derby Campus. It featured a range of workshops and social activities.
Intake Weekend
Activities are being finalised for an Intake Weekend this Saturday and Sunday where more than 1,500 new students and their families will come to the University's Derby and Buxton campuses.
They will collect their keys to halls, register with the doctor and receive information and advice about the year ahead. It is also an opportunity for families and loved ones to wish the new students well and enjoy refreshments provided at both campuses.
The University's Marketing Department will be hosting a Family Area where refreshments will be served to the families of students while they wait.
Staff will encourage families to sign up to the Family Programme scheme where they will receive regular newsletter updates on life, news and developments at the University and the wider city and county. find out more: www.derby.ac.uk/family.
For more information contact Deputy Head of Corporate Relations Simon Redfern on 01332 591942 or 07748 920038 or email s.redfern@derby.ac.uk
