Hi

My name is Nicki and I’m the Student Engagement Co-ordinator for DEC.  There are six of us across the university and we are all recent graduates of BU.  Our job is to help you settle into uni life and be there for you if and when you have any problems or questions.  For example, there may be times when you feel really homesick and just want someone to talk to; maybe you’re not sure about your feedback that you got for an assignment and you’d like someone to go through it with you and help prepare some questions; perhaps you would like some support in approaching one of your lecturers…. Basically no problem is too small and no question is too silly.  We’ve been where you are and understand that sometimes uni can be a bit scary or overwhelming in all kinds of ways at different times. 

I love the fact that there are rarely two days the same in this job.  Much of my time is spent in talking to students and staff because it’s important to keep up to date with what’s happening across the university, within support services and schools.  This means that if I don’t know the answer to your question or between us we feel you need more support, I will know who to introduce you to. 

This semester there have been a LOT of students who have felt homesick or overwhelmed.  When I did some anonymous polls during induction, in some groups over 50% of students felt this way.  So if you start to feel this way when you come back after Christmas talk to someone about it – the likelihood is if they’re a student they will be feeling/have felt the same – keep busy. 

After Christmas many of you will have exams looming.  Don’t panic!  Remember the Academic Skills tab on MyBU and the library staff who run workshops or answer questions. Try and plan your revision to allow for some fun too – if you want to go to that party adapt your plan to allow for it!  And of course, you can always talk to your Student Engagement Co-ordinator about any worries you have about anything.