As well as finishing his double degree this year, UQ Business School (UQBS) student John Cornick is working as a coordinator for the School’s Peer Mentoring programs and tutoring first year accounting students at the Ipswich campus.
The Mentoring in Class (MIC) and Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) programs are run by the UQ Business School at Ipswich under the direction of senior lecturer Dr Marie Kavanagh.
The programs involve second and third year students who are trained to assist with academic and mentoring support to first year students in selected courses.
Dr Kavanagh said the programs were introduced to create a non-threatening learning environment for first-year accounting students, in addition to lectures and tutorials.
“We found some students were unwilling to raise questions in the big lectures and even in tutorials but would happily ask one of their peers,” she said.
“Traditionally, students involved in the mentoring in class program are selected to train as leaders of the Peer Assisted Study Sessions programs. In John Cornick’s case, we also offered him a tutoring position.”
Dr Kavanagh said she identified John Cornick as leadership material in 2003 and recruited him in second year as a mentor and PASS Leader. Mr Cornick continued as a PASS Leader until this year when he was promoted to assist with both programs and to tutor in first year accounting.
In 2004 Mr Cornick became involved in the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) program at UQ Ipswich. He competed in the SIFE Nationals in Melbourne in 2004 and was elected CEO of the group.
Also active in the UQ branch of the Financial Management Association of Australia (FMAA), he successfully applied for vacation work with accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Shortly after completing his vacation contract, Mr Cornick was offered a full-time job with the Big 4 firm and is due to start as soon as he completes his remaining law and e-commerce subjects.
The University of Queensland is offering mid-year places at its three campuses for commencement in second semester 2005.
UQ Pro Vice-Chancellor (Ipswich) Professor Alan Rix said 2005 was an excellent year to consider mid-year study as OP cut-off scores were not as tough as they had been in recent years.
“There are many exciting programs on offer at UQ Ipswich, UQ Gatton and at the St Lucia campus,” Professor Rix said. “This year, we are also pleased to offer a limited number of special mid-year entry scholarships – the Gibbins Scholarships – at UQ Ipswich.”
UQ Ipswich combines high tech and heritage, offering contemporary courses with the latest technology in teaching, course delivery and research infrastructure.
Professor Rix said mid-year entry students ranged from people who may have completed Year 12 in 2004 and had taken some time to decide what they wanted to study, to mature-age students who were resuming their studies or taking up tertiary study for the first time.
A list of available courses and the cut-off scores which applied at the start of 2005 are listed on the UQ website visit www.uq.edu.au/study/mid-year. Students can apply via the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) website - www.qtac.edu.au.
QTAC applications close on May 27. The Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre will make first round offers on June 16, with the final round scheduled for July 13.
For more information about UQ courses, contact the University’s Admissions section, telephone 07 3365 2203.
Media: For more information contact
John Cornick
Phone (07) 5593 1242
Mobile 0414 701 670
Dr Marie Kavanach
Senior Lecturer in Accounting
Phone (07)
Mobile
Cathy Stacey
Marketing Development Manager
Phone (07) 3365 6179
Mobile 0438 339 538
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