Weeks 1 to 2

It is advised that students are informed of the following items in weeks 1 - 2 of semester 1.

There are symbols next to each item which suggests methods by which students should be provided with the information. There is a key to the symbols below.

Key to symbols

HB - handbook
F2F - face-2-face
web - -website
PG - peer group meeting
AA - Academic Adviser
IC - in class
BB - Blackboard
TC - targeted communication
CG - Crucial Guide

Academic

Academic Adviser - Meeting with

(F2F)

Academic Advisers represent a vital relationship between students and the University and are often a source of independent advice for students who are having difficulties with their studies. It is vital that students are informed at an early stage who their Academic Adviser is, what their role is and how they will be assigned an Adviser.

The Faculty has an ‘Academic Advising’ web resource which provides links and signposts to sources of academic policy and procedure, and student support and services and is intended to provide a one-stop shop for Academic Advisers.
It is good practice:

for students to be allocated an Academic Adviser at the start of their programme of study
to indicate to students clear office hours and methods of contacting their Academic Adviser
to publish mechanisms for changing an Academic Adviser

Feedback (expectations)

(Hb, F2F, Web, AA, IC, BB)

Students need to be made aware of what constitutes feedback, how and when they will receive it and who to contact if they have any problems with the feedback provided.

There is a need to develop a greater understanding of students’ expectations of feedback, their perceptions of what feedback is and how they use the feedback they receive. Students should be made aware of what opportunities are available to them to ask further questions about the feedback received and their work.

The University’s Feedback Policy sets out the principles which will govern the development of mechanisms for providing feedback to students on their formative and summative work.

It is good practice to:

clearly articulate the assessment framework and mechanisms for feedback at the start of each unit
schedule a feedback session into the timetable (enabling students to have the time to ask for further clarification). This may help to enable them to build their understanding of the assessment criteria and would be of particular value to students in their first year at university
use an appropriate feedback cover sheet which states the learning outcomes for the assignment

Course Unit selection and External Course Unit selection

(Hb, F2F, Web, PG)

Provide students with more guidance before the deadline for changing course units.

Learning Support

Library

(Hb, F2F, Web)

Provide students with a reminder of the Library's services, lists etc.