Can students join a networking program after the introduction activity?
This is a judgment call local Coordinators need to make. However, experience shows that, students who do not attend the introduction activity miss out on valuable relationship building exercises, both with the mentor and with other students, in both small and large group activities. if a student misses the dynamics of that initial contact then the student is unlikely to be able to effectively join with the program students. Some students have been invited to social activities after having missed the introduction activity but it is usually difficult for them to mix well in the larger group unless they have a very extrovert personality. If a mentor can organise a small group meeting to introduce a new member in the early days following the introduction activity there is a better chance of bonding taking place with the new member. New students will rarely respond to mentor emails unless they have first met the mentor face to face.
