The Plus Programme’s decade of success has paved the way for the new Student Success Centre at the University of Leeds. The Centre unites several dedicated specialist teams focused on enabling student success through various initiatives, offering support both physically and virtually across campus and within faculties and schools.
10 years of Plus Programme success
The Plus Programme at the University of Leeds has been a cornerstone of support for underrepresented student groups for the past decade. Their mission to enhance student success has laid a strong foundation for the University’s broader commitment to student achievement. A dedication which has culminated in the establishment of the new Student Success Centre (SSC).
The SSC embodies Leeds’ expanded efforts to foster an inclusive and supportive learning environment. The Plus Programme’s legacy and ongoing initiatives will be integral to the SSC’s operations, ensuring that its proven strategies continue to benefit students.
What is the Student Success Centre?
The Student Success Centre is made up of several specialist teams dedicated to enabling student success throughout the student lifecycle. Support is offered both in person and online, including in the designated Ziff Welcome space, various pop-up locations across campus, and within faculties and schools.
The Centre’s work currently focusses on three main streams:
- Get Your Grades: Provides academic support to help students succeed in their studies.
- Focus on Your Finances: Offers guidance and resources for managing finances effectively.
- Find Your People: Creates opportunities for students from underrepresented groups to build networks and learn about exclusive opportunities.
As part of the Student Success Centre, the Plus Programme will contribute to all three themes, enhancing its current activities by:
- Running one-to-one appointments and drop-ins providing personalised support and guidance to students in dedicated space in the Marjory and Arnold Ziff Building.
- Manning pop-up stands across campus to make resources and information easily accessible to all students.
- Holding additional workshops and events that offer skill-building and networking opportunities.
This integration ensures that the SSC not only builds on the Plus Programme’s success but also amplifies its impact, reaching more students and elevating their university experience.
Increasing personalised support and guidance
Financial issues are a common topic, especially with the current cost of living crisis. We guide students on how to apply for financial assistance and support them through the process.”
The Plus Programme’s drop-in appointments began in Semester 1 of the 2024/25 academic year. These sessions aim to raise awareness of the Plus Programme, highlight upcoming activities, and provide information and signposting about the wider university offerings. They also offer a supportive space for students to discuss and address any issues they may face.
In-person appointments are available in a dedicated campus space, each lasting 25 minutes. Students can book one of eight weekly slots or drop in for an ad-hoc session. This consistent schedule ensures students always know when and where to find a Plus Programme staff member for a chat.
Students are encouraged to prepare questions in advance to make the most of their time. After each session, staff follow up to thank students for attending and provide additional information on the points discussed. Follow-up chats are also offered, either in-person or via Teams.
Steven, who manages the appointments, shares his experience: “There’s a clear difference between bookable appointments and drop-ins. For bookable appointments, we encourage students to communicate with us beforehand to prepare and make the conversation more productive. Drop-ins, on the other hand, are more spontaneous, so we never quite know what to expect. Initially, we focused on promoting the Plus Programme and encouraging students to learn more about us. Conversations often start with explaining who we are and what we offer. Financial issues are a common topic, especially with the current cost of living crisis. We guide students on how to apply for financial assistance and support them through the process.”
“We’ve received positive feedback from students who found the Plus Programme useful. Evaluating the impact on students is challenging, especially for issues like mental health. Success might be seen in students managing their situations better. We will look to use one-on-one interviews or focus groups to get more direct feedback.”
Looking to the future
The Plus Programme is set to grow even more within the new Student Success Centre. They plan to host additional workshops and events to offer specialised support, focusing on valuable skill-building and networking opportunities for students. Additionally, regular pop-up stands across campus will enhance the programme’s visibility, ensuring all students who could benefit from the Plus Programme are aware of and can access its resources.
If you would like to find out more about the new Student Success Centre here at Leeds, please email the Student Success Team: studentsuccess@leeds.ac.uk.