The National Audit Office (2007 46) report into student retention commented that whilst students withdraw for a range of reasons one of those is the 'difficulty in fitting in socially'. As a result of several student experience projects at the case study university it became apparent that many students continue to attach significant importance to the social side of their university experience. One project that provided data on students' views was 'Early Days'. This was an online learner support tool designed to encourage students to self assess their orientation and transition into university. Whilst it was interesting to note that students continued to attach importance to their social experience more intriguing was that the results of Early Days highlighted that students were not attaining this social experience through traditionally expected ways.
