University of Sunderland

Academic support & guidance for CAS students

Academic Support and Guidance for CAS students

Student support is of great importance in the University and within the Customised Award Scheme. CAS uses a three component approach to student support and guidance which includes individual personal tutors, subject academic staff and central University provision.

All students have access to the University¿s central support services including Counselling, Disability Service, Health and Well-being, Chaplaincy, financial support and advice, International Office and the Careers and Employability Service. The Students Union provides an independent service which offers advice and support across the full range of personal and academic problems which students may encounter. Students wishing to lodge a complaint or an appeal can seek advice from the Students Union or from Academic Services. Full details of all these services can be found on the University web-site. Where appropriate, staff in the Faculty will sign-post students to these specialist services.

Due to the diverse nature of the Scheme a robust central support system is essential and this is also supplemented by subject/route and module support systems. The academic team that manages and supports CAS is also responsible for managing the Combined Subjects Programme (CSP) and as such has extensive experience of supporting a wide variety of students. Typically a face to face drop-in service operates for at least two hours each day in Forster Building (either mornings or afternoons) with a member of the academic team. Out of office hours appointments are also available. Academic staff availability will be publicised widely by newsletter, notice boards, and via the programme handbook.

In addition to daily drop-in sessions, students have access to a Sunspace based programme space known as the CAS/CSP Communication Zone. This contains information on subjects, timetabling, programme guides, study aides and various student forms. There is also an email system and a number of fora where students can contact staff/students with any queries and get prompt advice.

Depending upon the subjects or routes within the Scheme, there may also be other opportunities for additional support e. g. off campus provision will be asked to provide details of support mechanisms in their submission documentation. Academic support for students, related to their individual programme is provided by the CAS Academic Tutors, and by a network of supporting academics (Subject and Module Leaders) in the Faculties and where appropriate, off campus.

Each Faculty or off campus site provides student academic support at two levels, subject and module. Where students are taking full degrees or a specific route of study, a Director of Study is appointed from the relevant subject areas to help and advice students and to give guidance related to their subject, and module leaders are also available for academic support related to their modules.

In addition to the above, each on campus student will be allocated a personal tutor in the first year of study. The personal tutor will be one of the CAS academic tutors. International students on an Exchange/Study Abroad route also have a designated Co-ordinator within the CAS/CSP team and a member of staff in the International office to support them where appropriate. The contact details of personal tutors will be given to students at induction and these will be updated as and when necessary. Off campus students will be expected to have a personal tutor from the academic staff at the relevant institution but can also contact the Scheme Leader for advice and guidance.

Induction arrangements

Formal induction programmes will be available for both full-time and part-time entrants. Induction is seen as such an important part of the student experience, that attendance is actively encouraged at the sessions. Where possible, current students will be employed to: assist with preparations for student induction; provide tours of the campus, and to assist during module choice sessions.

University Language Scheme students will have a separate induction based around language testing and class allocation and this will be delivered by the ULS team. Exchange/Study Abroad students also will have a separate induction delivered by the CAS/CSP team Exchange Co-ordinator. Off campus students will receive an appropriate induction as determined in the route submission document and will be registered by the CAS administrator either in person or by post. All off campus students are sent copies of the Scheme handbook which details the central support facilities.

Study skills support and support for students with identified learning needs

Support for students with identified special needs is initiated at the application stage. Where needs are not identified until after admission i.e in the case of someone being found to have a learning difficulty, a statement of needs is circulated by the University disability unit to relevant staff.

The CAS academic team recognises the importance of students developing generic transferable skills, hence offers a portfolio of skills modules at Undergraduate Level 1, 2 and 3, which can complement the students area of study.

Students may also be referred to Learning Development Services or other agencies when specific help is required through their personal tutors.

Liaison with central student support facilities

The CAS Academic Team receives regular updates on the services and facilities available within the institution for students including finance, counselling, accommodation, Business Bridge, services for international students, or for students with disabilities, and of course the welfare and academic services provided by the Student Union. Details will be posted on the Communication Zone and staff may recommend to students that they should avail themselves of these services.

Careers guidance

Careers guidance plays an important part in the development of our students and CAS/CSP staff encourage students to consider possible careers early in their programme through the core modules or in general advice and guidance sessions. These will be actively publicised via the CAS/CSP Communication Zone, via newsletters and through events organized by subject teams. There is also regular liaison with staff from the Careers and Employability Service.

Feedback to students on progression

All students receive feedback at several stages in the academic year; normally this will be at the end of semester/block one (usually in February) when students can access E-vision to view their transcripts and details of any actions which need to be taken (if subjects have a module assessment board at this point). Off campus students may have different start dates and therefore may view or receive transcripts at different times. At the end of semester two (normally June) the CAS/CSP programme assessment board decides progress for each student, and once again after the referred/deferred programme assessment board (normally September). This may take the form of personal letters or counselling by telephone, email or face to face tutorials. Staff are also available during drop-in times to help students understand the transcript. Referrals are often made onto individual module or subject leaders for specific assistance.

Programme handbooks

All students have access to the Customised Awards handbook on Sunspace and they are directed to that at induction. Individual subject information sheets are also available during induction or at the drop-in sessions. Individual module information sheets are available on the University module catalogue. These are updated and circulated as and when necessary.

Student representation and feedback

Student feedback will be collated both formally and informally. Email accounts will be provided for all students, and students will be encouraged to use email to contact staff and other students to discuss issues and provide feedback on their experience at University. Students can also contact their CAS Academic Tutors and other students via the CAS/CSP Communication Zone which has a discussion board including a Student Representative area. Feedback will also be sought from students on an individual or group basis. This will take several forms including meetings, questionnaires or other methods determined by the Scheme Team and Directors of Study. Student feedback will be incorporated into the annual reporting mechanisms for each route. Feedback will be communicated to students via the CAS/CSP Communication Zone and via the Student Voice in the Scheme Handbook and route guides where appropriate.

Also, student representatives are trained by the Students Union to fulfill their duties in this respect. Staff and student consultative committees will also be used where appropriate for the individual routes.