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SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY | 1
Introducing your university.
YOUR LEARNING, YOUR FUTURE
—help is at hand
When you are a student of the University of
Cumbria, you get a great package of support. We
know that you want to get the most out of your
course, make the best use of your time and
get that career you always dreamed of.
We are here to help you to achieve your objectives,
but only you can do it! So we want you to be as
independent as possible.
To achieve this, we recommend that you take full
advantage of the wide range of opportunities on
offer. We also want you to have the best possible
university experience.
Guardian University League Tables 2015 graphics
We are the
TOP
Ranking
up
10
new university
(post-1992)
in the North
West for
educating
health
professionals.*
or more
places*
*Guardian University
League Tables 2015
* Guardian University League Tables 2015
70%
of Tower Hamlets schools
employ at least one
University of Cumbria
trained teacher.
F VE
for North West
universities.*
*Guardian University
League Tables 2015
This guide shows how to access university support
quickly and easily, much of which is online.
The website is your first port of call for all your
learning, wellbeing and information needs—visit
www.cumbria.ac.uk/support
Law, musical theatre
performance and
psychology are all
rated in the top
three of North
West universities.*
* Guardian University League Tables 2015
THELMA awards graphics (email footer)
WINNER
In short, accessing our services will help you to develop
yourself academically, personally and professionally.
Art, design
and craft are all
rated in the top
OUTSTANDING
FINANCE
TEAM
Best wishes
Margaret Weaver
Head of Library and Student Services
margaret.weaver@cumbria.ac.uk
2 | SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY
SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY | 3
Contents
1. university life • Student finance
• Managing your money
• Accommodation
• Students’ Union
• Your chaplaincy
• International students
04
2. your wellbeing 08
• Mental health and
psychological wellbeing
• Disability and Specific Learning
Difficulties (SpLD) support
• Diversity support
• Sports activities available
3. your course • Course registration and
administration
• Personal academic tutor and
module tutors
• Academic feedback
• Your course
14
4. your academic skills 19
• Academic and study skills
• Library services
• Information skills and subject
resources
• Referencing and avoiding plagiarism
• IT
• Digital skills
5. your future 25
• Career planning
• How to stand out in a crowd
• Part-time work and graduate jobs
• Volunteering opportunities
4 | SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY
SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY | 5
university life
Part
1
Student finance
Do you need help and guidance with:
• The payment of fees and charges?
• Applying for Cumbria Bursaries?
• Paying international student fees?
• Tuition fees paid by your employer?
HELP IS AT HAND …
• You can contact the Student Finance England customer
helpline on 0300 100 0607.
• Check your online funding application at
www.gov.uk/browse/education/student-finance
• Visit our finance pages at www.cumbria.ac.uk/finance
• Inform student finance at the university of any problem
with your funding—call 01524 590826.
• If your employer is paying your fees or you are paying
them yourself, speak to someone in student finance at
the university—call 01524 590826.
• International students should check information available
at www.cumbria.ac.uk/international
Managing your money
Do you need help and guidance with:
• Tuition fee loan entitlements, funding applications and
delays, including maintenance loans?
• Accessing other funding such as grants or bursaries?
• Accessing emergency loans?
• Managing your finances and budgeting?
• The impact on funding if you transfer, intercalate or
leave your course?
Help is at hand …
• You can speak in confidence to a Student Development
Adviser about any aspect of student finance. Contact
details can be found at www.cumbria.ac.uk/
moneydoctors
• To check your eligibility for a range of financial support
and awards offered through the university, please visit
www.cumbria.ac.uk/support where you can check
criteria, download application forms and seek further
information and guidance.
6 | SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY
Accommodation
Do you need help and guidance with:
• Dealing with a problem in your hall of residence?
• Wanting to change hall of residence?
• Understanding the terms of your accommodation contract?
• Changing your hall of residence?
• Finding accommodation in private housing?
• Private housing contracts and your rights as a tenant?
Help is at hand …
• Contact your campus accommodation office, for
details visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/accommodation
• For private housing queries, visit our website
www.cumbria.ac.uk/accommodation
• Arrange an appointment with a student adviser
at the Students’ Union or access advice and further
information from the SU website at www.ucsu.me
Students’ Union ( SU )
Do you need information about:
• What the Students’ Union does?
• How you can take part in SU activities and campaigns?
• How to become a volunteer?
• How to join or set up a sports team or society?
Help is at hand …
• Find out more at www.ucsu.me
• The Students’ Union Information and Advocacy
Service provides independent academic advocacy
and health, welfare and wellbeing advice.
• Come and talk to one of the SU staff or volunteers
at your campus.
SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY | 7
Your Chapl aincy
Whoever you are, whatever you believe, you are welcome at
your chaplaincy—a place to explore life in all its fullness:
• find encouragement and support
• discover prayer and worship
• enjoy community life
• explore the Christian faith
• link to other faith communities.
• engage with the big questions of life, whether you have
any faith or none.
Help is at hand …
• Check out our website for further details
www.cumbria.ac.uk/chaplaincy
• Or contact chaplaincy@cumbria.ac.uk
International students
Do you need help and guidance with:
• Paying your fees?
• Visa/immigration matters?
• Working in the UK?
• UK culture, university life or study support available?
• English language support for speaking, reading and
academic writing?
Help is at hand …
• Check out the International Student Guide
for comprehensive information at
www.cumbria.ac.uk/international
• All support services detailed in this guide are
available to you.
• Contact the Students’ Union Student Adviser
for independent academic and welfare advice
at www.ucsu.me
8 | SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY
Your wellbeing
Part
2
Mental health and
P sychological Wellbeing
Do you need help and guidance with:
• Managing a pre-existing mental health condition?
• Feeling homesick, anxious or not settling into university
life or study?
• Personal problems that are affecting your study?
• Depression and feeling you can’t cope?
• Dealing with concerns you may have over the health
and wellbeing of a friend?
Help is at hand …
• If you have a pre-existing mental health condition, make sure to
register with a local GP as soon as you can when you arrive at
university so you can have speedy access to GP appointments and
access to prescription medicine.
Contact our Disability Team as you may be eligible for mental health
mentoring or other support via the Disabled Students’ Allowance.
More information is available at www.cumbria.ac.uk/disability
•H
omesickness is quite common and usually affects students whilst
making the transition from home to university life. Try talking to
your flatmates, as they may feel similar to you. Go to the Students’
Union and see what social activities they have.
•O
ur Psychological Therapists can be accessed via a self-referral
form. They will follow-up and discuss your needs and may be able
to offer you a limited number of solution focused sessions for you
to work through any issue. Visit our website
www.cumbria.ac.uk/support
• L inks to external support services and information are available via
the above weblink so you can start to access information which
might mean you can solve the problem for yourself.
SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY | 9
10 | SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY
Disability and Specific Learning
Difficulties ( SpLD ) support
Do you need help and support with:
• A disability, specific learning difficulty, medical condition
or long term health issue that is affecting or may affect
your study?
• Being screened and assessed for a specific learning
difficulty such as dyslexia?
• Information about adjustments that you may be entitled to
on your course, with assessments and whilst on placement?
• Applying for support funding e.g. Disabled Student
Allowance, and access to other services you may be
entitled to?
• Accessing help with writing assignments?
• Adjustments available to you with formal examinations
such as extra time, coursework extensions, a reader or
scribe?
“Support from the team has been really
good; it’s made me a lot more confident
in myself and more independent.”
Current student
“Anyone can reach their goals or do whatever
they want, if they have the mixture of strong
determination and the ability to ask for help.”
Current student
SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY | 11
Help is at hand …
• If you have a disability and have not yet organised
your support please contact us and make an appointment
to see a Student Development Adviser
at your campus or site library/learning centre to identify
support you may be entitled to. More information is
available at www.cumbria.ac.uk/disability
• If you have a specific learning difficulty, make an
appointment with a Learning Development Adviser at
your campus or site library/learning centre to identify
support you may be entitled to.
• If you are already receiving support, and wish to have
this reviewed or have further questions, the person
currently assisting you will be able to advise and
refer you on to other sources of help as required,
for example with assignment work, adjustments to
course delivery and assessment, tutor feedback and
accessing support while on placement.
• Appointments are available face-to-face at main
campuses as well as through a variety of mediums on all
campuses (telephone, etc).
• Find out how to access screening for specific learning
difficulties at www.cumbria.ac.uk/spld
• The Students’ Union Information and Advocacy Service
can provide independent support and advice with a range
of disability and equality of access concerns.
• Access further details at www.cumbria.ac.uk/support
12 | SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY
SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY | 13
Diversity support
Diversity and equality support is wide ranging and covers
a number of areas such as: race, religion or belief (or
non-belief), gender (part-time access and childcare/carer
responsibilities), age, pregnancy and maternity (Student
Maternity Policy), transgender (born as one sex but living
as another), sexual orientation, homophobia, bi-sexual,
coming out, isolation issues, marriage / civil partnership,
disability (in terms of discrimination issues) etc.
For disability and SpLD support please refer to page 10.
Sports activities avail able to students
Sport adds great value to the experience of being at
university. Our sports facilities host many of the practical
elements of the sports-related degree programmes
together with the recreational activities and competitive
fixtures for students and staff.
Do you need help and support with:
• A potential discrimination issue relating to diversity?
• Issues to do with settling in to a diverse community outside
university?
• Information and signposting to religious or community
networks or groups?
The University of Cumbria’s Students’ Union supports
a wide range of student groups, sports teams and
activities including:
Help is at hand …
• If you wish to speak with the Equality, Diversity and
Inclusion Manager about any of these issues please
contact EqualityDiversity@cumbria.ac.uk
to set up an appointment.
• Review support available at
www.cumbria.ac.uk/equality
• Contact the Christian Chaplains or Islamic Chaplains for
religious support at www.cumbria.ac.uk/chaplaincy
• Contact the Humanist Society via
Humanist@cumbria.ac.uk
• Contact SPECTRUM (the LGBT group) for network,
friendship and support via SPECTRUM@cumbria.ac.uk
• If you are interested in setting up another support group
related to diversity, contact the Equality, Diversity and
Inclusion Manager.
In addition we also provide great opportunities for all
ages of the local community to use the facilities and
engage in many sporting programmes. For further
details visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/sport
• football
• netball
• climbing
• rugby union
• cricket
• dance
• cheerleading
• karate
• swimming
• trampolining.
14 | SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY
Your course
Part
3
Course registration and administration
Do you have a query about or need to know where to go for:
• Course information and registration?
• Access to academic and course related forms?
• Change of personal details?
•C
onfirming your student status—bank letters,
references, stamping student railcard applications?
•A
ssignment submission and collection and
assessment queries?
• Sickness reporting and leave of absence applications?
Help is at hand …
• The ICON Student Portal is available via our
website, www.cumbria.ac.uk/support, 24/7
where you can:
i) update your personal details such as address,
telephone number, etc.
ii)view your current course details, including the
modules you have taken and the results.
• Access your local campus Course Information Point
(CIP) about any other course or assessment query or
if information on the ICON Student Portal is incorrect.
SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY | 15
16 | SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY
SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY | 17
Personal academic tutor
and module tutors
Do you need help and guidance with:
• Finding out how you are progressing on your course?
• Other course options or selecting optional modules?
• Coursework?
• Organising and preparing for your placement?
• Personal issues that are affecting your study?
Academic feedback
Do you need help and guidance with:
• Making sense of the assessment feedback
you have received?
• Clarifying the link between tutor comments
and the assignment grade?
• Managing the expectations of different tutors
and/or subjects or modules?
Help is at hand …
• Your personal tutor can give you valuable guidance with
all course or study queries and can refer you on to other
professionals in the university who can help.
• Issues that are directly linked to a particular module
such as an assessment are best dealt with the module
tutor; however, your personal tutor or the programme
leader will also be able to help.
• Placements are organised differently from one
programme to another so talk to your personal
tutor or programme leader about arrangements
for your course.
• If personal issues affect your ability to study, you
must talk to your personal tutor and/or module tutors
as early as possible so they are made aware of your
circumstances and can help you.
• The Students’ Union Information and Advocacy Service is
an independent service which can support you to discuss
a variety of issues with your personal tutor. A student
adviser can also provide independent advocacy with any
learning related issues or procedures.
Help is at hand …
• It is always worth reviewing the assessment criteria and
learning objectives of an assignment as these will form
the basis for tutor feedback and awarded grade.
• Talk to your personal tutor or module tutor if you need
clarification of what you need to do to address issues
identified in the feedback.
• You can access online guides and tutorials at
skills@cumbria on Blackboard and on our website
at www.cumbria.ac.uk/skills
• Or, you can get in touch with one of our professional
advisers. We offer guidance by email, phone or in
person. Visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/skills to find
out more.
18 | SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY
Your Course
The Your Course section of our website contains
information relating to all the academic elements of
your course from pre-registration at the very start of
your course through to course completion. This section
includes everything from course timetable and changing
a module, to exam and assignment information.
Help is at hand …
• Visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/studenthandbook for
information about assessment and exams. At Course
Information Points and ICON Student Portal you can
update your contact information and view your current
course details, find out term dates and everything you
need to know about your course.
• Check information contained in your Programme
Handbook which will be available on your course
Blackboard site.
SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY | 19
Your academic skills
Academic and study skill s
Do you need help and guidance with:
• Academic writing at higher education level?
• Planning and structuring assignments?
• Critical writing skills?
• Tackling your dissertation?
• Effective presentation strategies?
• General study skills?
Help is at hand …
Your personal tutor or module tutors can
offer valuable guidance.
In addition you can:
• Access online guides and tutorials at
skills@cumbria on Blackboard and on our
website at www.cumbria.ac.uk/skills
• Get in touch with one of our professional advisers.
We offer guidance by email, phone or in person.
Visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/skills to find out more.
“Academic skills advisers’ help was
invaluable in improving my assignment
grades.”
Current student
Part
4
20 | SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY
Library services
Do you need help and guidance with:
• Library services available to you?
• Accessing e-books and e-journals?
• Finding out how many books you can borrow
and for how long?
• Postal loans while on placement?
• Media loans?
• Replacing your Cumbria Card?
• Accessing resources at other libraries?
Help is at hand …
Visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/library for information about:
• university libraries and services
• up-to-date opening hours and information at your campus
• details of book loans and e-resources available.
virtual enquiry service
• Use our Virtual Enquiry Service at:
www.cumbria.ac.uk/learningresources
sconul access scheme
• Access other academic libraries through the Sconul Access
scheme. More information is available at:
www.sconul.ac.uk/sconul-access
SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY | 21
22 | SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY
SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY | 23
Information skills and subject resources
Do you need help and guidance with:
• Finding relevant texts in your subject?
• Accessing and using e-books and e-journals?
• Evaluating the authority and validity of the
information you find?
• Compiling a literature review?
• Accessing resources at other libraries?
Referencing and avoiding pl agiarism
Do you need help and guidance with:
• Referencing?
• Making effective use of in-text referencing
in your writing?
• Using Turnitin?
• Understanding how to avoid plagiarism?
• Using Refworks to manage your assignment citations?
Help is at hand …
Your personal tutor or module tutors can offer
valuable guidance.
Help is at hand …
Your personal tutor or module tutors can offer
valuable guidance.
In addition you can:
• Access information about subject resources at
www.cumbria.ac.uk/subjectresources
• Search all university electronic resources and library
catalogue by using QUEST, the university’s discovery
service at www.cumbria.ac.uk/quest
• Get in touch with one of our professional advisers.
We offer guidance by email, phone or in person.
Visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/skills to find out more.
• Access other academic libraries through the
Sconul Access scheme. More information is available at
www.sconul.ac.uk/sconul-access
In addition you can:
• Access online guides and tutorials at skills@cumbria
on Blackboard and on our website at
www.cumbria.ac.uk/skills
• Access specific information about referencing in your
subject at www.cumbria.ac.uk/subjectresources
• Get in touch with one of our professional advisers.
We offer guidance by email, phone or in person.
Visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/skills to find out more.
• If you have any concerns arising from a plagiarism claim,
you can contact a student adviser in the Students’ Union
Independent Advice Service.
“The subject adviser was friendly and professional
and helped me discover a range of e-books and
e-journals I had not considered before.”
A current student
24 | SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY
IT Services
Do you need help and guidance with:
• Network or Blackboard logon, password resetting,
printing, email?
Help is at hand …
• Call 01228 888888 or email itservicedesk@cumbria.ac.uk
for all technical help and advice.
Open Monday to Friday 8.30-5.00pm, open until 6.00pm
Monday-Thursday during term time.
• View our FAQs at www.cumbria.ac.uk/itfaq
• If you have forgotten your password you can change it
yourself by going to www.cumbria.ac.uk/password
• Visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/itservices
digital skill s
Do you need help and guidance with:
• Making the most of Microsoft Office applications
for your study?
• Producing an e-portfolio using Pebblepad?
• Submitting assignments within Turnitin?
• Producing and resizing media files?
Help is at hand …
• Access digital skills online guides and tutorials at
skills@cumbria on Blackboard and on our website at
www.cumbria.ac.uk/skills
SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY | 25
Your future
Career planning
Do you need help and guidance with:
• Exploring your career options? • Making yourself more employable?
• Working out your next step?
• Finding out about further study?
• Finding and applying for jobs?
Help is at hand …
•The Careers and Employability Team is here to help you become more
employable by supporting you to explore your options, find work or
volunteering and get accredited through the Career Ahead Award.
•Access useful information, advice and find out about upcoming event
at www.cumbria.ac.uk/careers
•Take a look at the Careers Blackboard site for a range of careers
information, guides and tutorials.
•Join Career Ahead – our Employability Award, to help you develop
your employability skills. Find out more at www.cumbria.ac.uk/
careerahead or email careerahead@cumbria.ac.uk
•Get in touch with one of our professional advisers. We offer guidance
by email, phone or in person. Just email us on careers@cumbria.ac.uk
•Keep in touch with career news, events and opportunities at:
Blog - http://uoccareers.wordpress.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/uoccareers
Twitter - www.twitter.com/uoccareers
”What I valued most about my experience is the personal
interaction with a qualified professional with experience
in giving advice.”
A current student
Part
5
26 | SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY
SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY | 27
Part-time work and graduate jobs
Do you need help and guidance with:
• Finding part-time/vacation work?
• Finding a placement or internship?
• Work opportunities within the university?
• Finding graduate job vacancies?
Help is at hand …
Visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/careers to:
• Access our guides to finding work.
• Check out the University of Cumbria jobshop
www.cumbria.prospects.ac.uk
• Receive daily email alerts for relevant jobs.
• Get in touch with one of our professional advisers.
We offer guidance by email, phone or in person.
Visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/careers to find out more.
“Ididn’t really know what to expect
or what I wanted to get out of the
session. Talking to you about what I am
currently doing and what my plans are
for the future has made me feel more
positive about my career.”
A current student
28 | SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY
Volunteering opportunities
Do you need help and guidance with:
• Finding volunteering opportunities in the local
community or at university?
• Writing a good application or CV?
• Preparing for an interview?
Help is at hand …
• Check out volunteering opportunities and societies
through the Students’ Union at www.ucsu.me
• Find out opportunities available to you through
Volunteering England at www.do-it.org.uk
• Find out how Career Ahead can help you make the most
of all your volunteering experience—visit
www.cumbria.ac.uk/careers for more information.
• Take a look at the ‘Jobs and Careers’ Blackboard site
for a range of careers information, guides and tutorials.
• Get in touch with one of our professional advisers.
We offer guidance by email, phone or in person.
Visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/careers to find out more.
• Check out volunteering opportunities with the
university’s mentoring schemes at www.cumbria.ac.uk/
helpisathand
“A very big thank for your very helpful
advice. I will attend my interview later
with much more confidence and the
tips you gave about how to structure
my answers was the best advice I have
ever had about careers. I will never
forget it. I wish I had used the careers
service sooner.”
A current student
SUPPORT SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY | 29
Your notes
This document may be viewed in
electronic format on our website
and can be made available in
alternative formats (for example
Braille). Please call the enquiry line
on 0845 606 11 44.
www.cumbria.ac.uk/support
Copyright © University of Cumbria 2014 (UOC 295)