Mature

Students

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An Introduction to

Supporting

Mature Students

Introduction

This guide is intended as a brief introduction for anyone interested in working with or for mature students, whether you are a union officer or a mature student

of a society wishing to widen participation in your events. However, although this suggests some of the ways in which your union can become more inclusive,

there is no better way than to ask the mature students in your college for feedback – after all, they are best placed to understand their own needs.

Communication

Mature students are often more difficult to contact then more traditional students because many full-time students live off campus and a large proportion

will be part-time, so that their time in college or use of union facilities will be limited. Therefore, posters and notices may not be the best method of attracting

their attention.

If there is no mature students’ society then one way would be to try and obtain a list of mature students from the college registry, or from department or faculty

secretaries and then try to contact the students directly. Alternatively, you could try and compile your own list via a stall in fresher’s week or by attending the

colleges introductory talk for new students. There is often an orientation event or talk specifically for mature students.

If you cannot obtain or compile your own list you may have to resort to posters, but try and place them where they are most likely to be seen by mature students

e.g. at bus stops, in the car park, at the crèche, daytime coffee bars etc….

Setting up a Mature Students Society

How you set up a society will be determined by the restraints within your union constitution, you will probably need to attract a specific number of members at

the start to obtain funding, but this will give you a base to build up the membership and it is a good idea to have an ‘ice breaker’ or other social event already

organised. You will probably need to find or write a society constitution but most unions will have a standard one for this purpose. You will need at least a

President, Secretary and Treasurer, and you may also want to create more specific posts e.g. social secretary, publicity officer, etc. Before you start, it would be a

good idea to consult your union steering committee that should be able to help and give guidance on your union’s rules.

For further help, ask the MSU for details of their ‘Society Start-up Pack’.