Students

Expectations

The University has set forth expectations for both staff and students.

First point of contact

An undergraduate student's first point of contact for academic care is their Personal Tutor.
An undergraduate student's first point of contact for pastoral care is their Student Support Coordinator.
A postgraduate’s first point of contact for pastoral care is the Programme Secretary and the Programme Director for academic issues.

A Personal Tutor or Programme Director should:

welcome new students, and to follow the academic progression of all their students
guide the students in their course choices and advise them on study difficulties
meet with students once a semester individually and in their degree group focused on academic skills and employability (undergraduates only)
refer the student where appropriate to more specialist sources of information and guidance, for example the Student Support Coordinator
provide an academic reference for a future employer or programme of study
respond promptly (normally within three working days) to a request for contact. where this is not feasible (annual leave, conference or field work attendance), the PT/PD should provide an alternative contact
should the case arise (normally the Student Support Coordinator) , advise and support the student in Special Circumstances, disciplinary or appeal matters

A Student Support Coordinator should:

provide pastoral care for undergraduate students including personal and health issues and accommodation problems
provide guidance on degree regulations and requirements, degree transfers, study abroad, course work submission deadlines and extensions
should the case arise, advise and support the student in Special Circumstances, disciplinary or appeal matters
UK Border Agency or other visa issues including the School level census (where applicable)
provide requests for reference to confirm student status
respond promptly (normally within three working days) to a request for contact where this is not feasible (annual leave), the Student Support Coordintor should provide an alternative contact
consider requests to change Personal Tutors

Students should:

check their University email account regularly for communication from their Personal Tutor/PD or Student Support Coordinator, and to respond promptly to request for information (normally within three working days)
ensure their details are up-to-date on MyEd. This includes updating contact details (Registry), and notifying the Student Support Coordinator of any discrepancies in course details
attend individual meetings with their Personal Tutor each semester
attend and participate in the group meeting facilitated by their Personal Tutor and linked to their degree of study
complete any tasks assigned by your Personal Tutor linked to the individual and group meetings
inform their Student Support Coordinator or Programme Director in good time of any problem affecting their studies, and so enable effective support to be offered
provide the Student Support Coordinator, Personal Tutor/PD with background information s/he needs to (for example) advise on Special Circumstances or to write an academic reference
take due account of advice or information given
make themselves aware of regulations and procedures relevant to their studies, and to seek advice where they are unsure what is required

This article was published on Aug 27, 2012