Newsletter 4 (1st Years)
29 September 2025
Dr. Claire Bohan, Dean of Students
Message from Claire
Dear Students,
The weeks are flying by already and hopefully you are now in the swing of things. Remember to reach out for help if you are still struggling in any way, there is lots of support out there, so go find it! A good first step is to email student.support@dcu.ie and meet a Student Advisor.
Hope you have a great week!
Claire,
Dr. Claire Bohan, Dean of Students
Focus this week
Skills Development
Skills Self-Assessment
This may be a good time to pause and reflect on how your transition to university is going. The Discover Series includes a Self Assessment Tool to help you check in with your skills and confidence level; it takes approximately five minutes to complete. At the end you will receive a feedback report with areas you may wish to work on, and tips on how the Discover Series can help.
Access the Self-Assessment questionnaire by logging into Loop with your DCU credentials.
Essentials: Active Learning
Our focus this week is on helping you build the active learning skills you'll need to thrive at university. The micro-courses in Discover Active Learning provide tips and proven techniques in the following key areas:
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Note Taking and Effective Reading helps you make the most of your lectures and readings.
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Assignment Writing guides you through the basics of academic writing and a seven-step process to tackle any assignment.
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Groupwork provides advice on working with others and project-management tips to distribute the work (check out also our online workshop in the Events section below!)
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Assessment Success covers the active learning strategies we recommend to help you study more effectively and retain more information.
You can access the Discover Series by logging into Loop with your DCU credentials.
Health & Wellbeing
Walktober is here!
Walktober is a fun team Step Challenge which takes place during October each year. The Step Challenge is open to all DCU staff and students, with prizes on offer for participants throughout the course of the challenge.
This Smarter Travel step challenge is a great way to connect with friends and colleagues and to make new friends. There are also lots of prizes to be won.
You can sign up for Walktober here on the Active Travel Logger!
To participate, all you need is a team of 3-6 friends/colleagues from within DCU (staff or students), select a team captain and team name, and all sign up to the Active Travel Logger website. There are instructions there if you are having any difficulties. If you have signed up from previous challenges, then you can use the same login details.
You do NOT have to walk together in your team, but you can! All steps can be counted using phone/pedometer/smart watch etc. from Monday to Sunday! Wheelchair users can use an odometer - see Walktober website for more info including participant guide.
Find us on:
Website: dcu.ie/healthy and follow us on Instagram @dcuhealthy and TikTok @dcu_healthy
What's on
Monday 29 September to Friday 3 October
Global Connect Café SPC: Storytelling Night (register)
Monday, 29/09/2025 17:00 - 19:00
SPC.E301
Pathways to Success Week 2 (register)
Tuesday, 30/09/2025 08:00 - 09:00
(Virtual)
Global Connect Café SPC: PG Morning Coffee Catch-up (ISSO) (register)
Tuesday, 30/09/2025 13:00 - 14:00
SPC.FG09
Ethnic Minority Mental Health Support Group (register or drop in)
Tuesday, 30/09/2025 16:00 - 18:00
GLA.KA201A (Main Room, Skills Development Centre, U Building)
Writing Centre: Mastering the Literature Review (register)
Wednesday, 01/10/2025 18:00 - 18:45
Virtual
Writing Centre: [International Students] Establishing your Assignment Writing Process (register)
Wednesday, 01/10/2025 13:00 - 14:00
GLA.KA201A (Main Room, Skills Development Centre, U Building)
Mindful Making: Somatic Awareness & Bookmark Art (register)
Wednesday, 01/10/2025 14:00 - 16:00
GLA.KA201A (Main Room, Skills Development Centre, U Building)
Writing Centre: Groupwork Success Tools (register)
Thursday, 02/10/2025 12:00 - 12:45
Virtual
Navigating the Discover Series on Loop (Clinic) (register)
Thursday, 2/10/2025 13:00 - 13:30
Virtual
Meditation: Cultivate Calmness, Clarity and Emotional Positivity (drop in)
Thursdays, 13:15 - 13:45
Interfaith Centre, Glasnevin Campus
Thursday, 02/10/2025 14:00 - 15:00
GLA
Crafternoon Tea: Express your Creativity and Make New Friends (drop in)
Thursdays, 14:00 - 16:00
Interfaith Centre, Glasnevin Campus
Mindfulness Training (MIEA Mindfulness for Emerging Adults Program) (register)
4 Fridays in October (participants must attend all four sessions - places are limited)
Begins Friday 3/10/2025 - 13:30
SPC.B103
Contact us
