This session overviews an Australian University institutional response to widening participation and increased student diversity by implementing a holistic whole-of-institution multiple-campus course to provide commencing students with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed at university and beyond. This mandatory face-to-face course is grounded in the discipline of communication but designed to enable students to apply communication concepts and theory to their specific field. The course systematically embeds inter-departmental student support initiatives into curriculum and integrates a professional development program for casual teaching staff. These strategies develop staff and student social capital and facilitate belonging to the wider University community.
