Frequently Asked Questions

Second year students on the same course as you who have volunteered and received intensive training to help you to support each other and learn to solve your problems.

If PASS is available on your course it will appear on your timetable.

PASS is only available to first year students. If PASS is available, it will appear on your timetable.

Check your timetable for the day, time and location of your next PASS session.

PASS is intended to provide a safe, friendly and supportive environment to help first year students:

• adjust quickly to third level;
• acquire a clear view of course direction and expectations;
• develop their independent learning and study skills to meet the requirements of higher education;
• enhance their understanding of the subject matter of their programme through collaborative group discussion;
• prepare better for assessed work and examinations;
• increase cohesion of the student group;
• increase confidence.

Come along with ALL your lecture notes, handouts and books as you will be using them during your sessions.

Think about the questions you already have about your lectures, bring these as well because your PASS Leader will be asking YOU what YOU want to focus on in PASS.

Your questions can relate to academic work or settling into college in general as Leaders may cover topics such as study skills, referencing, time management, orientation, college tours, etc.

PASS Leaders are instructed NOT to directly address or answer assessment or tutorial questions. However, they can discuss topics generally related to assessments or tutorial problems.

PASS is NOT:

• teaching by students.
• targeted at weak or problem students – all participants should benefit.
• a means of reducing lecturer-student contact class time.
• an environment for social chatting.

We monitor attendance so we can accurately report on the effects of the PASS programme. Individual attendance is not examined, we use them to report trends in attendance.

The PASS online application process opens in November. You should apply to become a Leader while you are still in your first year.

Before you apply for the programme you should ensure that you are available for mandatory training in the beginning of September.

Applications open in the first week of semester two.

• Plan and manage one PASS session each week – 8 weeks in total.
• Encourage students in your group to learn by sharing ideas and supporting each other.
• Facilitate small group discussions and feedback.
• Keep in touch with your group between PASS sessions via email, Moodle, MS Teams, Facebook or other means.
• Be enthusiastic, supportive, approachable and able to pass on advice based upon your experience of first year.
• NOTE: Leaders will have to complete a final piece of reflective work for assessment as part of an overall journal (1,000 words to be submitted during semester two).

• Complete the online PASS application form available here
• Complete all activities on Moodle before and after training.
• Attend on campus training.

PASS Leader rewards include:

• Development of personal and professional skills such as leadership, improved confidence, team working, organising, time management, listening, interpersonal communication, facilitation and presentation skills.
• Increased confidence in speaking.
• Provides valuable experience to enhance CVs.
• Provides an opportunity to gain credits or accreditation for activities.
• PASS Leader hoody.
• €10 print credit per semester.

Aoife Walsh and Caroline Doyle coordinate the PASS Programme across TUS. You can email them directly or email PASS@TUS.ie for further information.

As with any correspondence with the college, you should always use your TUS email account and begin the email by stating your:

• Full Name
• Student Number, e.g. A00XXXXXX or K00XXXXXX
• Contact phone number

Without these details, we may not be able to deal with your enquiry.

Second year students facilitate weekly timetabled PASS sessions with first year students where they work collaboratively to solve their problems. Second year students – PASS Leaders – have been put through rigorous training in order to prepare them for their role. After the first session, first year students are encouraged to suggest the topics for subsequent sessions.

Please encourage all of your first year students to attend weekly PASS sessions.

Please engage with your PASS Leaders as often as you like on any issue relating to your first year class.

Don’t worry, PASS Leaders don’t teach!!! They do not give answers in sessions; instead they encourage first year students to come to a consensus on the answers (and where they can’t, they encourage first year students to return to their lecturer with the problem). They use techniques such as think-pair-share, KWL and jigsaw to help students work collaboratively to solve their problems.

• PASS helps first year students transition to TUS, no matter where they’ve come from (secondary school, FETAC, mature students, international students).
• PASS is a break from lectures.
• PASS Leaders use icebreakers to help students to get to know each other.
• PASS Leaders can answer questions first year students have about Athlone, TUS, their course or their modules.
• PASS Leaders use fun group activities to help first years work collaboratively to solve their problems.
• PASS Leaders help students to learn new skills to help them succeed through fun activities.

• Update them about changes in the course, e.g. areas which have changed between their first year and the current first year.
• Accept feedback from their first year group, e.g. areas they may be finding difficult. You can then liaise with other members of the teaching team and communicate any specific issues of concern.
• Help by creating, providing or suggesting activities for them to use in PASS sessions, e.g. multiple choice quiz, case study, problem-based exercise, worksheet, additional reading or problem. These can help students consolidate course material or pre-prepare for some upcoming activity.
• Advise on course matters – whether specific to the subject matter of the course or the workings of the course (e.g. appeals procedure).
• Pass on suggestions from other members of staff regarding work or issues to be discussed in PASS.

PASS staff Moodle page

Follow us on Instagram @TUS_PASS

Second year students facilitate weekly timetabled PASS sessions with first year students where they work collaboratively to solve their problems. Second year students – PASS Leaders – have been put through rigorous training in order to prepare them for their role. After the first session, first year students are encouraged to suggest the topics for subsequent sessions.

Typically, PASS only runs during semester one for the first 6-8 weeks. The aim is to help first year students transition to TUS.

Please encourage all first year students to attend weekly PASS sessions.

Once PASS sessions have ceased, please encourage first year students to apply to be PASS Leaders, to help pay it forward.

PASS staff Moodle page

Follow us on Instagram @TUS_PASS

Yes, we’d love to have more input from staff. If you’d like to get more involved please email PASS@TUS.ie with some further information. How would you like to help? Choose from the list below:

• Recruitment
• Training
• Observations
• Celebrating PASS Leader success
• Evaluation
• Research and/or publication
• Conference attendance/presentation
• SI-PASS training (held by the European Centre for SI/PASS)
• Promoting PASS