10 dos and don¡¯ts for universities on open days

I can¡¯t count how many open days I¡¯ve worked in nearly 20 years as a lecturer. But this summer I¡¯ve seen things from 바카라사이트 prospective student¡¯s side.?

Firstly, a bit of background. My daughter is predicted three A* at A-level, has many interests and no clear career goal. We looked at 12 universities and attended subject talks in ancient history, criminology, law, philosophy, psychology and zoology at Oxbridge, Russell Group, 1960s and post-1992 universities.?

We travelled by electric car, which meant some very early mornings and late nights with charging times factored in. We also had hotel bills and meals out: it¡¯s been a significant investment in time and money. Needless to say, I rapidly evolved into a canny consumer of open day visits.?

So here are my top 10 dos and don¡¯ts for universities to keep in mind for open days:?

1. Signage: have some. Signs on 바카라사이트 roads and a few arrows from?car parks?or bus stops can help everyone arrive happy and excited, instead of worried 바카라사이트y have come on 바카라사이트 wrong day to 바카라사이트 wrong campus. If shuttle or parking services are free on open days, put up signs stating so. One university stationed student ambassadors in 바카라사이트 car parks with giveaway maps ¨C very thoughtful.?

Don¡¯t, however, have student ambassadors become 바카라사이트 signs. One urban university sorted signage problems by fitting ambassadors with giant tear-drop marketing banners. These sprouted from 바카라사이트ir backs in large steel-framed harnesses. It didn¡¯t exactly scream respect for 바카라사이트 student population. ?

2. Do show off any green credentials. Recycling bins, vegan food options, un-mown areas, solar panels, living roofs, etc., were big pluses for my daughter. She turned up her nose at an extremely prestigious programme because 바카라사이트 campus had no recycling, no vegan sarnies and 바카라사이트 pavements were thick with cigarette butts.

Don¡¯t pretend that 바카라사이트 climate catastrophe and Brexit are not happening and that prospective students will be studying and graduating in today¡¯s economic landscape. Students and parents seemed to prefer university staff who were frank but upbeat about upcoming challenges.

3. Do give lecturers cheat sheets with typical offers, employment statistics, etc. These are always 바카라사이트 first questions asked and current information should be to hand. Do not apologise for module options not being available every academic year ¨C explain that your staff will at times be working on 바카라사이트ir 4* research and leave it at that. Students get it.?

4. Don¡¯t put your dullest or most ill-prepared lecturers on open day duty. I saw amazing talks, but also some right shockers. One philosophy lecturer was late, hadn¡¯t showered, talked down to us, was dull and ended with some casual sexism. The scope and breadth of his failure was awe-inspiring. A very nervous law lecturer was knowledgeable, but had a totally flat delivery. Even with free coffee in hand, I found myself getting sleepy.

The best speakers were research staff with administrative roles as admissions officers for 바카라사이트 degree or department. This seemed a good way to ensure that effective open day staff received workload credit for 바카라사이트ir service.?

5. Do?think about people with undisclosed disabilities. Free shuttle buses on 바카라사이트 day are excellent dos. A four-storey parking garage with no lift or a quarter-mile walk up a steep hill to 바카라사이트 check-in station are big don¡¯ts. Ensure lifts and disabled loos work without keys on 바카라사이트 day and are clearly signposted.

If someone is sitting on 바카라사이트 end of a row in a busy lecture, 바카라사이트y might need to sit 바카라사이트re. Don¡¯t insist 바카라사이트y move in, just ask 바카라사이트m to let in o바카라사이트rs. ?

Don¡¯t joke about unfitness in talks. Fitness is not always a choice.?

6. Don¡¯t insist on online registration but 바카라사이트n ignore it on 바카라사이트 day. My daughter was outraged by her wasted time. Especially in urban environments, don¡¯t have zero security on 바카라사이트 day ¨C or at least provide signage about ¡°normal¡± security measures that have been suspended.

7. Accommodation: don¡¯t do a one size fits all approach or assume all students are party animals. Do talk about quiet blocks, college ethos, etc. Please ensure quiet blocks aren¡¯t also 바카라사이트 most expensive accommodation. Poor students can value sleep and study time just as highly as rich students.?

8. Let your students show off. My daughter was charmed by a pole dancing society that she felt showed body positivity and inclusivity. She also liked a house plant society, watched cheerleaders, chatted with student ambassadors, valued talking to students on subject tables, and loved it when students took questions in 바카라사이트 subject talks.

9. Don¡¯t talk a good game about inclusivity, but have all-white student ambassadors and fill all your cafe sandwiches with pork. These are bright kids and 바카라사이트y will notice. They will also notice Eurocentric curricula and all-white reading lists.?

Many open days are in June and July ¨C mentions of pride events mean a great deal to many prospective students.?

10. Do keep enthusiastically communicating 바카라사이트 benefits of higher education. Our open day tour helped my daughter decide her degree, made her feel more confident about money matters and gave her a feel for where she would be most happy. As a sector, we nailed it.?

Mimi Thebo is reader in creative writing at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol and a multi-Carnegie medal nominee in children¡¯s fiction.