ORIENTATION EXERCISES FOR NEW STUDENTS T o acclimatize new students to this seminal journey in their lives, the pursuit of a university education, the UWI Mona coordinates an Orientation Programme across Faculties and Departments. The General Orientation is accessible and inclusive, purposefully catering to family members of new students, new regional and international students, and new undergraduate and graduate students. General Orientation for new undergraduate students was held under the theme, Welcome Home: Reconnect. Reintegrate and Experience the Power of Community. Students were exposed to issues relating to transitioning from high school to university, financing their education through scholarships, bursaries, and other financing opportunities such as student loans. Eighty (80) internal and external entities occupied booth spaces within the Orientation Village. Some of the external booth holders were sponsors of the event and made contributions in either cash or kind. The sponsors included: LYNK, Jamaican National, Nestle, Digicel, H & L Rapid True Value, Edu-Comm Cooperative Credit Union, National Commercial Bank, S.W.A.T. International, Rocketship Courier Services, and Monster Energy Drink.
Improving mental health and building mental resilience
The abrupt shift to online education brought on by the coronavirus disease highlighted issues such as digital connectivity and access to resources, which have direct implications for students’ overall health and wellness. As social anxieties, amplified in the aftermath of COVID-19, came to the fore even as the fear of the Covid infection dissipated, UWI, Mona hosted several events focusing on students’ wellness and mental health. In acknowledgment of the urgent need for psychosocial support among our student and staff populations, voiced through surveys, Faculties rolled out initiatives to address this need. Of note is the Faculty of Science and Technology’s expansion of its Roll-With-It-Programme which seeks to improve mental wellbeing and build mental resilience, playing a crucial role in student retention in degree programmes. Topics included: A Week of Sleep – a 5-day sleep series highlighting the importance of being well-rested, Building Mental Resilience , November Fest: A 4-Week Challenge on Changing your Mindset whereby mental training challenges and activities were disseminated to improve dedication and commitment to personal goals, Stress and Overwhelm Survey of First Year Students , Enhancing Teaching
SUPPORTING STUDENTS 03.
The abrupt shift to online education brought on by the coronavirus disease highlighted issues such as digital connectivity and access to resources, which have direct implications for students’ overall health and wellness.
47 UWI MONA ANNUAL REPORT 2022/2023
46 UWI MONA ANNUAL REPORT 2022/2023
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