Student Handbook 2016/17Cover
Your adventure starts here...
Contents
Welcome
2
Finding help
Finding your way around campus
3
The Student Hub – your first point of contact
19 19
What’s changed for 2016/17?
5
Sponsorship support for officer cadets
19
Changes in University structure
5
Support for Warsash students
19
The schools
5
The Students’ Union advice service
19
University jargon-buster
6
Academic support
20
Transferring course, optional units or seminar group
20
Enrolment/registration for study
9
Withdrawals/suspension and your tuition fee liability
21
Enrolment – for new students
9
Disability support
22
Registration – for continuing students
9
Financial support
22
Course registration periods
10
Accommodation support
22
Recognition of prior learning (RPL)
11
Chaplaincy support
23
Fraudulent claims
11
Counselling
23
What you agree to
12
Support for international students
23
Enrolment statements
12
University regulations
12
References, qualifications and record of academic achievement
23
12
Getting a student reference
23
etting your full record of academic achievement G and relevant professional qualifications
23
Southampton Solent University Charter
Cadet Code of Conduct
12
Our ethics policy
12
Your attendance
12
Specific requirements for officer cadets
13
Unavoidable absence
13
Council tax exemption certificates
14
Your campus card
14
Your online account
15
24
Students 1st Support
24
The Students’ Union
25
The sabbatical officers
25
Clubs and societies
25
Supporting your learning
26
Using the library
26
Developing your academic and research skills
26
Using IT systems and other learning resources
26
Careers, work and employability
26
Finding work or work experience
27
Freelancing or starting your own business
27
16
Improving your skills and employability
27
Your online account
15
Your account details
15
Accessing the student portal
15
Accessing Solent Online Learning (our virtual learning environment)
Calendar for the academic year
Useful services available to you
15
Your timetable
16
Volunteering
27
Understanding your timetable
16
Foreign exchange
28
Enrichment weeks
16
Studying or working abroad
28
Incoming exchange students
28
Solent Sport
29
Your student record
17
Updating your personal information
17
How we communicate with you
17
Medical conditions
18
Use of your personal data
18
Student Handbook 2016/17
Assessment essentials
30
Academic integrity and academic misconduct 40
Grade marking and the grade scale
30
What counts as academic misconduct?
40
Your results
32
What if I am found guilty of academic misconduct?
41
Pass
32
Refer
32
Academic appeals
Defer
33
What can be appealed?
42
Failed units and condonement
33
Making an appeal
42
What you need to pass in order to progress
34
Appealing a withdrawal decision
42
How your final mark is calculated
34
Requesting an academic appeal review
42
34
42
How your work is assessed
Unit Assessment Boards, and Progression and Awards Boards 34
Giving your feedback
External examiners
Course representatives
43
Giving feedback on your units and course
43
35
Giving feedback on the University as a whole
44
35
The National Student Survey (NSS)
44
35
Student complaints
44
‘Speak up’ – confidentiality and whistleblowing
44
Assignment submissions
Deadlines Late submission
34
Requesting an extension
35
Hard-copy assignments
36
Where to submit your hard-copy assignments
36
Online submissions
36
Text files – valid file types and maximum file size
37
Other submissions via Solent Online Learning
37
Feedback on assessments
37
Assessment problems
38
Missing your exams
38
Requesting extensions to assessment deadlines
38
‘ Extenuating circumstances’ – extensions due to major short-term impact on you
38
‘ Special action’ – for issues not covered by extenuating circumstances
39
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
43
Your academic diary
46
Solent Students’ Union – Education Act 1994 Code of Practice
98
Graduating
Welcome
Welcome to Southampton Solent University – and to our existing students, welcome back. Whether this is your first year or your fourth at the University, I hope 2016/17 delivers the perfect blend of academic study, hands-on practice and rich social experience you’re looking for. We pride ourselves on being a diverse, dynamic and friendly university, and we make every effort to put you, our students, at the heart of everything we do. This handbook is a key part of that promise, designed to provide you with an overview of everything you might need to know about life at Solent – and most importantly, clear information on who to contact when you need support or advice. Additionally, the handbook contains an academic diary to help you keep track of lectures, tutorials and other important events. This year marks the opening of our new learning and teaching building, the Spark, so there will be plenty going on. I hope you will have the chance to join in the celebrations and most importantly enjoy using our new cutting-edge facilities. Our new Spark building provides teaching and study facilities, as well as an exciting new social and exhibition space for us all to enjoy in the form of the beautiful main atrium. We hope you enjoy the more personal attention and subject-focused approach that our school structure provides, and this year we are changing from six to five – slightly larger but well-aligned – schools. Whether you’re a new or existing student, if you are ever unsure what to do, your first points of contact are our specialist advisers in the Student Hub. Just drop in, give them a call or email, and they will direct you where you need to go. You can find their contact details on page 19. For the moment, I recommend that you read through this document and then keep it somewhere safe. While all the information here is also available online, this handbook is designed to help you find what you need quickly and easily. You never know when you might need it. All that remains is to wish you the very best of luck for the year ahead – may it bring all the opportunities you could hope for. Professor Graham Baldwin Vice-Chancellor
2
Student Handbook 2016/17
Road
Routes to satelite Buildings
e Plac ick nsw Bru
Routes to satelite Buildings
20m
30m
40m
50m
Ro ad Lond on
1
swick Brun
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Sir John Everett Millais building
e Plac ick nsw Bru
Road ary’s St. M
Mountbatten Library
East Park Terrace
Main campus buildings
University reception
Ro ad
Cafe
Main campus area
Lond on
Herbert Collins building
A
V
Accessible route
Sir James Matthews building
East Park
Motorcycle parking A
3
Cycle storage
New Road
2
New Road
Oxford Ave.
Sir James Matthews building route (vehicular/pedestrian)
Titanic
St Mary’s Leisure Centre route (vehicular/pedestrian)
Accessible parking
Reginald Mitchell building
New Road
Vending machines
Car park identification Memorial Overflow carpark on Northam Road
St Mary’s Leisure Centre
Shop
V
Non-University land
Sir Christopher Cockerell building
Clovelly Road
Refectory
ace k Pl swic Brun
Road
Pa r k Wa l k
Gate 2 – visitor parking/deliveries
s drew St An
East Park Terrace
Gate 1 – vehicular entrance/exit
2
Routes to satelite 3 Buildings Gate 3 – vehicular exit/pedestrian entrance
ce nd Pla berla Cum
Reginald Mitchell building
1
Road ry’s St. Ma
Above Bar Street
Key
QR code Use your smartphone to download our campus map. QR decoder app required.
East Park
Dog spending pen
Civic Centre Road
New Road
New Road
Accessible building entrance The Spark building
Key
C
Main campus buildings Sir John Everett
Main campus area Millais building Students’ Union building
Non-University land
A
Mountbatten Library
Main campus area Gate 1 – vehicular entrance/exit
2
A Car park identification Gate 2 – visitor parking/deliveries
3
Gate 3 – vehicular exit/pedestrian Motorcycle parking entrance
Motorcycle parking
V
Accessible building entrance Building entrance
1
Reginald Mitchell building
Sir Christopher
Cockerell building Gate 1 – vehicular entrance/exit
V
Overflow carpark on Northam Road
2
Gate 2 – visitor parking/deliveries
3
Gate 3 – vehicular exit/pedestrian entrance
V
Vending machines Accessible route
Gate 2 – visitor parking/deliveries
3
Gate 3 – vehicular exit/pedestrian entrance University reception Cafe Refectory Shop
Accessible route Overflow carpark on Northam Road
St Mary’s Leisure Centre route (vehicular/pedestrian)
QR code A
2
Gate 1 – vehicular entrance/exit
2
St Mary’s Leisure Centre route (vehicular/pedestrian) Sir James Matthews building route (vehicular/pedestrian)
University reception http://portal.solent.ac.uk
Refectory
1
Vending machines Sir James Matthews Vbuilding route (vehicular/pedestrian)
Reginald Mitchell building
Cafe
Dog spending pen
Building entrance
Shop Herbert Collins building
Cycle storage
Accessible building entrance
Refectory
Dog spending pen
Michael Andrews building
Accessible parking
Cafe
B
Cycle storage
Mountbatten Theatre and Library
Non-University land
University reception
Sports Centre and Refectory
V
Main campus buildings
1
Car park identification
Herbert Collins building Accessible parking
Key
Building entrance
d oa sR ew dr An St
East Park Terrace
Accessible building entrance
Southampton Central station
4
outhampton
Cycle storage
1
Michael Andrews building
New Road
Motorcycle parking
East Park Terrace
50m
D
Accessible parking New Road
V
Sir James Matthews building
Civic Centre Road
Car park identification
Pa r k Wa l k
40m
Non-University land
A
Above Bar Street
30m
Main campus area
East Park
Building entrance
East Park Terrace
20m
Main campus buildings
Dog spending pen
d Roa ws ndre St A
ents’ ion ding
d oa sR ew dr An St
North 10m
Key
Oxford Ave.
Sports Centre and Refectory
Mountbatten Theatre and Library
New Road
New Road
B
Titanic Memorial
0m
Pa r k Wa l k
Students’ Union building Civic Centre Road
lace nd P berla Cum
Pa r k Wa l k
Above Bar Street
Lon do nR oad
St Mary’s Leisure Centre
d oa sR ew dr An St
Kings Park
Clovelly Road
East Park
Civic Centre Road
Above Bar Street
Road
C
Road
Sir James Matthews building
Sir James Matthews building
The Spark building
Oxford Ave.
drews St An
d Roa ws ndre St A
4
St Mary’s Leisure Centre
Titanic Memorial
The map below shows the layout of the University’s main campus.
Routes to satelite Buildings
Oxford Ave.
Clovelly Road
ry’s St. Ma
Place erland Cumb
Titanic Memorial
D
Place
East Park Terrace
10m
Kings Park Roa d
0m
Road
lace nd P berla Cum
Road ary’s St. M
Finding North your way around campus – East Park Terrace Jurys Inn roundabout
St Mary’s Leisure Centre
Kings Park
Lon do nR oad
Kings Park
Clovelly Road
Welcome Section Finding you way around
New Road
3
QR code
Use your smartphone to download our campus map. QR decoder app required.
Use your smartphone to download our campus map. QR decoder app required.
3
Finding your way around campus – Warsash Maritime Academy
The map below shows the layout of the University’s Warsash campus.
Welcome Section Finding you way around
4
Student Handbook 2016/17
What’s changed for 2016/17?
Changes in University structure
!
The completion of our fantastic new Spark building will provide a state-of-the-art space for teaching, learning, study, exhibitions and socialising. We hope you enjoy all it has
The realignment of the University for the 2015/16 academic year has allowed the University to focus on the key priorities in the strategic plan, with students at the heart of the University. The six schools have now become five for 2016/17, with the School of Business and Law and the School of Communications and Marketing joining forces. However, the other major changes have now had the opportunity to fully bed in; further ongoing enhancements within schools and professional services will be communicated directly to students as necessary.
to offer.
The schools As of 2016, there are five academic schools at Southampton Solent University. Whichever course you’re studying, it will fall under one of these schools: • The School of Art, Design and Fashion • The School of Business, Law and Communications • The School of Maritime Science and Engineering
!
The Student Hub remains
• The School of Media Arts and Technology
the main point of contact for
• The School of Sport, Health and Social Sciences
all enquiries and to access the extensive network of support that the University offers to help you be successful in your studies.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
5
University jargon-buster
There’s a lot of terminology surrounding coming to university – here’s a quick guide to help you.
?
In this handbook, if you see a term in bold with a question mark icon in the margin, you can refer to this section to find out what it means.
Alumni – also called graduates, these are students who have successfully completed their degree and have graduated. Southampton Solent University has a thriving alumni association, of which you’ll automatically become a member when you graduate. Condonement of units – under certain circumstances, some units failed as ‘marginal failure’ may be condoned as a ‘pass’ by the Progression and Awards Board. Only a certain number of credits may be condoned. For more information, read the ‘Failed units and condonement’ section of this handbook (under ‘Your results’), and refer to the assessment regulations on the portal, in section 2 of the academic handbook: portal.solent.ac.uk/support Exchange/Erasmus – international exchange involves spending some of your time studying abroad, often at one of Solent’s partner universities or colleges, or on work placements outside the UK. Within Europe, this is often organised through the EU’s Erasmus+ scheme – see page 28 for more. Further education – education following on from compulsory secondary school education – for example, A-levels, BTEC, diplomas and so on. Higher education – following on from further education, this involves study at a university or other institute of higher education – for example, an undergraduate degree, foundation degree, higher national certificate (HNC) or higher national diploma (HND). Hons – short for honours, this shows that you’ve passed all 360 credits from the complete number of units studied during your degree across all levels. All of Southampton Solent University’s undergraduate bachelor’s degrees are honours degrees.
6
Student Handbook 2016/17
Ordinary degree – a degree passed without achieving the conditions required to gain honours, that is to say, where a student has been assessed in 360 credits and has passed at least 300 credits. Portal – the student portal (portal.solent.ac.uk) is our internal website, designed to provide essential information to students and staff. www.solent.ac.uk and www.warsashacademy.co.uk are our external sites, promoting the University to potential students. As a student, most of the information you need will be on the portal rather than the external site. Postgraduate degrees – also called a master’s degree, these are higher-level qualifications which usually require you to have completed an undergraduate degree first. Like undergraduate degrees (below), they are classified by subject type: MEng, MA, MSc. Programme specification – each course has a programme specification document which lays out the course’s aims, intended learning outcomes, structure and unit weightings (core and optional), and assessment methods.
Top-up degree – these courses deliver 120 credits of study, allowing you to top up an HND or foundation degree to a full honours degree. Trailing units – those units you are resitting from a previous year/phase. Undergraduate degrees – a first degree, also called a bachelor’s degree, these are classified by subject type: • B A – Bachelor of Arts degree – covers creative or many business courses. • B Eng – Bachelor of Engineering degree – covers engineering-related courses. • B Sc – Bachelor of Science degree – covers sciencerelated courses including some science-focused business courses. • L LB – Bachelor of Laws degree – covers law-related courses. Continued...
You can find the programme specification for your course on Solent Online Learning, under the ‘Help’ menu.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
7
University jargon-buster
Units and credits – each subject covered on your course is called a unit and has credit points assigned to it (also known as CATS – Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme).
120 CATS points (one level of study) is equivalent to 60
• A n undergraduate honours degree usually contains units worth 360 credits.
European Credit Transfer
• A n HND or foundation degree (FdA/FdSc) has 240 credits attached to it.
(ECTS) points.
and Accumulation System
• A taught postgraduate course (master’s level) has 180 credits attached to it. Unit descriptors – each unit within a course has a unit descriptor, laying out in-depth information on your areas of study, the teaching, learning and assessment strategies, and the intended learning outcomes. Unit descriptors are available on Solent Online Learning under the ‘Help’ menu. Work placement (WkPl) – also called an industry placement, this involves taking a break from your university studies (often between years two and three, or between university-based phases for WMA officer cadets who then go to sea) to get hands-on experience in a relevant industry workplace.
8
Student Handbook 2016/17
Enrolment/registration for study
You are responsible for ensuring that you enrol (new students) and register (continuing students) on each course/level of study.
Enrolment – for new students Enrolment for new students is a two-stage process:
You are also responsible for ensuring that any relevant
1. Online registration, which you should have completed before you arrived.
fees or charges are paid, even
2. Qualification checks (if required) and identity checks at the University.
employer or other third party.
if you are sponsored by an
If for some reason you haven’t completed these stages, please contact our advisers at the Student Hub (see page 19) or, for Warsash students, contact the Academy Student and Business Operations Office. If you are taught off-campus,
Registration – for continuing students
and there is no requirement for
If you are at the beginning of your second and any further years of study, you will need to have registered as a student for the coming year. Part of this process involves checking and confirming all details that are held on record for you, including contact details. Joining information for returning officer cadets is at www.warsashacademy.co.uk, and on the portal for other students.
you to attend a session at the
Until you have registered we are unable to inform any funding body that you are a student, and they will not make any loan payments until you have registered. If you have not yet registered, please get in contact with: Warsash students – the Academy student records officer – email wma.studentrecords@solent.ac.uk
University at the start of your studies, you will be notified of alternative arrangements.
If you owe the University money, you may not be able to register without the approval of the Director of Finance.
East Park Terrace (EPT) students – the student records team – email studentrecords@solent.ac.uk or visit the Student Hub.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
9
Enrolment/registration for study
Course registration periods There is a maximum period of time that you may be registered on your course of study. You must achieve your award within the following registration periods (this includes any periods of suspension): Course
Full-time maximum period of registration
Part-time maximum period of registration
Accelerated degree
2 years full-time
n/a
Degree or honours degree
5 years full-time
8 years part-time
Foundation certificate
3 years full-time
4 years part-time
Foundation degree
4 years full-time
5 years part-time
Graduate diploma
3 years full-time
4 years part-time
Higher national diploma (HND)
4 years full-time
6 years part-time
Postgraduate certificate
n/a
3 years part-time
Postgraduate diploma
3 years full-time
4 years part-time
Master’s degree
3 years full-time
4 years part-time
Top-up degree
3 years full-time
4 years part-time
For Warsash Maritime Academy courses
Standard course length
Maximum period of registration
Foundation Degree Marine Operations (FdSc)
3 years
5 years
2 years
4 years
Access to HE Nautical Science (NCFE)
1 year
1 year
Access to HE Marine Engineering (NCFE)
1 year
1 year
Higher National Certificate (HNC) Nautical Science (Officer of the Watch (OOW))
1 year
3 years
1 year
1 year
2 years
4 years
Foundation Degree Marine Electrical and Electronic Engineering (FdEng) Foundation Degree Marine Engineering (FdEng) HND Nautical Science HND Marine Engineering
HND Nautical Science (Master/Chief Mates (MCM)) Chief Mates (CME) – (post-HND Nautical Science) Chief Mates (CME) – (post-Foundation Degree) BSc (Hons) Marine Operations Management (Top-up) BEng (Hons) Marine Engineering and Management (Top-up) For the award of Certificates of Competency awarded by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, a pass in academic awards (HNC, HND or FdSc/FdEng) remains valid for certification purposes for a period of seven years only (as stated in Marine Guidance Note 8, Section 8.2).
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Student Handbook 2016/17
Recognition of prior learning (RPL)
Fraudulent claims
Where you can show evidence of previous relevant certificated study or learning gained through experience, you may be able to count this towards the learning outcomes of a unit or course.
If at any time we receive evidence that you have made false claims about any aspect of your circumstances, the University will take action – this may include terminating your studies.
The learning outcomes for your course are available on the relevant programme specification (see page 7) – you can find this on Solent Online Learning, under the ‘Help’ menu. If you feel this might apply to you, you should contact your course leader.
Standard A-level or other entry qualifications will not be considered for RPL. Enrolment/registration Signing up
It’s best to make a single claim at the beginning of your studies at Solent, before completing enrolment. However, you can make an RPL claim at the beginning of any academic year. All RPL claims must be submitted to the student assessment team (email assessments@solent.ac.uk or visit the Student Hub) no later than four weeks after teaching begins.
While your RPL claim is being considered, you should attend all scheduled lectures, seminars and tutorials for your existing course as normal.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
11
Enrolment/registration for study
What you agree to Enrolment statements When you enrol or register at the beginning of the year, you agree to follow Southampton Solent University’s policies, charter and regulations. You can find these at portal.solent.ac.uk/support/ official-documents University regulations The University regulations cover a wide range of issues and are available in full on the portal. You should be particularly aware of the regulations on: • assessment • attendance and participation requirements • change of personal details • personal conduct • drugs and smoking policy
Our ethics policy Some research or enterprise activities that you participate in may require ethical approval. It is the responsibility of the principal investigator (a nominated group member) to submit your proposal for ethical consideration to your supervisor, in the first instance. Your supervisor will give advice regarding the ethical issues involved with the proposed project, and advise if an ethics release can be self-certificated or whether the proposal needs to be submitted for a full ethical review. For full details, visit the official documents section of the portal at portal.solent.ac.uk/support/officialdocuments
• use of information technology
Your attendance
• intellectual property rights
Research shows that consistent attendance is closely linked to a good academic performance, so it is in your interest to attend and engage fully throughout your course. We expect you to attend all timetabled sessions and to be punctual for every class, confirming your attendance by passing your campus card across the card reader at the start of each session (swiping).
• fee payment • safety and security • transfer, suspension and withdrawal. Southampton Solent University Charter The Southampton Solent Charter is a statement of the shared values that are important to the University community, including staff, students and the Students’ Union. You can view the charter at solent.ac.uk/charter
12
Cadet Code of Conduct Officer cadets studying at Warsash Maritime Academy are bound by the provisions of the code of conduct which has the approval of sponsoring companies. The code of conduct is provided as part of your joining instructions – you should ensure that you have read this code thoroughly.
You can track your attendance by using the attendance app available via the portal. In addition, we will contact you by email to give you feedback regarding your attendance. If your attendance has fallen below the level expected, you will be required to improve this immediately and you will receive a further email highlighting the progress you have made. Persistent poor attendance will require you to attend a participation interview with a student achievement officer. Failure to maintain a consistent attendance level as required by the University may result in withdrawal from your course.
Student Handbook 2016/17
Your attendance
We continually monitor your attendance as we are committed to supporting you during your studies. • I f you have a valid reason for absence, for example, short-term sickness, you can record this using the attendance app on the student portal.
Specific requirements for officer cadets Any officer cadet who is persistently late or absent will be subject to disciplinary action under the provisions of the Cadet Code of Conduct.
• I f you are struggling with your course or have personal/health issues that are affecting your attendance, please contact the Student Hub for advice and a referral to specialist help – any personal matters will be handled in confidence.
The Maritime and Coastguard
• I f you have any difficulties with card/timetabling issues, you should seek immediate help from an advisor in the Student Hub so that your future attendance record is not affected.
that lead to MCA certification.
Please note that if you do not actively participate in your studies the University is obliged to notify third parties such as the Home Office
Agency (MCA) requires a minimum of 80 per cent attendance on academic courses
If your attendance falls below this level you may be asked to attend a formal meeting to discuss your academic future, and eventually you may be formally withdrawn from the University. Unavoidable absence If you are going to be unavoidably absent from class, you must email wma.cadetabsence@solent.ac.uk to let us know, and notify your training manager.
(for overseas students), your employer (for sponsored students) and any relevant student funding body such as the Student Loans Company.
If you are experiencing any difficulties which are impacting on your ability to attend and/or undertake assessments, there are lots of people who can support you. We want to help in any way we can – please talk to your lecturers or visit the Student Hub.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
13
Your campus card/ online account
Council tax and your campus card
Council tax exemption certificates If you are studying full-time and living in University residences you do not need to pay council tax. If you are a full-time student living in private accommodation, and all the other residents in the property are also full-time students, you are also exempt – but you may need to provide an exemption certificate. If we have your current address, the University will automatically notify the relevant council if you live in the following postal codes: Southampton – SO14 to SO19 inclusive Bournemouth – BH1 to BH11 inclusive
If we don’t have your current address, we cannot correctly notify the council and you may receive a request for council tax payment. Please keep your contact details up-to-date via the portal to avoid this.
Your campus card New students will receive a campus card free of charge after formally enrolling. Your lecturer will advise you when to collect your campus card.
Fareham – PO13, PO14, PO15, PO16, PO17, SO31, SO32
The campus card is intended to last for the full duration of your course – keep it safe and carry it with you at all times while on campus.
New Forest – SO40, SO41, SO42, SO43, SO45, BH23, BH24, BH25, SP6
Your campus card has several uses:
Eastleigh – SO18, SO19, SO21, SO30, SO31, SO32, SO50, SO53 Gosport – PO15, PO16 Poole (including Stour Valley Partnership) – BH11, BH12, BH13, BH14, BH15, BH16, BH17, BH18, BH21, BH22, BH23, BH24, BH31, SP5, SP6, SP7, SP8, SP9, DT2, DT9, DT10, DT11 Check with the Student Hub to see if you need a council tax exemption certificate for your area. If you do need to fill out an individual council tax exemption form, the Student Hub can provide a copy, as well as help if you need it.
• Y ou use it to swipe in at timetabled events, registering your attendance. • I t allows access to the Mountbatten Library and our off-campus art and design studio. • I t enables you to borrow learning materials and equipment. • I t acts as your membership card for sport and recreation facilities. • I t can be used for purchases at EPT campus catering facilities. • W arsash students use their dining card while at Warsash. • It assists with identification and campus security. Lost, stolen or faulty cards must be reported to the Student Hub as soon as possible. You can also get replacement cards, though there may be a charge of £5.
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Student Handbook 2016/17
Your online account Your student record how we communicate with you
Your online account Your Solent account allows access to all of the University’s online resources: email, information on the portal, course details, your student record, assignment submission tools, the digital library and more.
Email is the main contact method we use to tell you important information – so be sure to check your Solent email regularly.
Example Name: Jane Trueman Student no: 01234567 or Q01234567 Date of birth: 12 September 1994
Your account details Your Solent username will normally be emailed to your personal email address before you start your studies. Your username is usually: • t he second digit of your student number (this is on letters we send you, as well as your campus card) • the first four letters of your family name • the first letter of your first name
Username: 1truej67 Password: 120994 Email: 1truej67@solent.ac.uk Accessing the student portal The student portal has all the information you need about living and studying at Southampton Solent, including more detailed information about a lot of the subjects covered in this handbook.
• the last two digits of your student number. Your initial password is your date of birth in the format DDMMYY. You should change your password when you first log in and keep it secret. Your University email address is [your username]@solent.ac.uk
You can find the portal at portal.solent.ac.uk – use your Solent account details to log in. Accessing Solent Online Learning (our virtual learning environment) Solent Online Learning is where you can find online assignment submission tools, course details, extra information from your lecturers and plenty of academic help and support. You can access Solent Online Learning at learn.solent. ac.uk or from the ‘Solent’ menu in the top right corner of the portal.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
15
This handbook includes a diary for
Calendar for the academic year
the academic year - please use as you see fit.
Your timetable
Understanding your timetable
Your individual academic timetable includes taught sessions for any core and optional units that you are studying – you can find it in the ‘Timetable’ app on the portal, under ‘My Apps’.
Each entry in your timetable includes the unit, the location and the member of teaching staff.
You are advised to check your timetable online regularly as it may be subject to change throughout the year.
Trailing units are not timetabled on your individual timetable.
Examination timetables will be added to your online timetable ahead of the assessment dates.
If you have any clashes, concerns or questions regarding your individual timetable, please speak to staff in the Student Hub in the first instance. You can also email student.hub@solent.ac.uk or call 023 8201 5200. Enrichment weeks The University is committed to providing an excellent student experience. In addition to the normal teaching scheduled across the academic year, the University schedules two weeks for ‘enrichment activity’ (known as enrichment weeks). We aim to provide a wide range of events that may include visits, trips, employability workshops, cultural events, masterclasses and guest speakers. In 2016/17 the enrichment weeks will be held on: • w/c 31 October 2016 focus on internationalisation
?
The online examination timetables
• w/c 27 February 2017 focus on employability.
only show information for main
Please visit the portal for further information understanding your timetable and updates.
examinations – if you have special
Calendar for academic year -
requirements arranged and are sitting your exam in an alternative venue, you will be informed of the location separately. Please contact the Student Hub if you need more information.
16
Student Handbook 2016/17
Your student record
Updating your personal information You can normally update information such as your address and contact details via the portal – select your name in the top right, then ‘Edit my Details’. If you need to make any changes to anything other than your address and contact details, or if you need help with making changes, please contact the Student Hub.
If you are forwarding your Solent email and change your personal email address, don’t forget to update your forwarding arrangements.
Please remember to keep the
For more information on email and account information, see ‘Your online account’, page 15.
University informed of any changes
Letters
in personal data (address, financial sponsor, and so on).
If we need to send you physical letters
How we communicate with you Email
or other post, we will send them to the mailing address you have given us on the student record system. Please keep this up-to-date.
Your Solent email account is the main way we will contact you with important
information. It is vital you receive and read such emails, so check your email regularly.
You can access your email via the ‘Mail’ app on the portal, or set up your account to forward University emails to your personal (non-Solent) email address.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
If your mailing address is a student residence, check your residence’s postroom regularly. If you are in a shared house, we recommend that you and your housemates agree a location where post will be left – check that place regularly. Course Solent Online Learning sites and digital signage Notices and important information will be posted on your course Solent Online Learning site. Some notices are also displayed on screens around the University – keep an eye on them for important messages.
17
Your student record
The student portal portal.solent.ac.uk The student portal is home to all the information and services you need, from rules and regulations, event details and your student record to assignment submission tools, library services and student support information.
Medical conditions If you have an ongoing medical condition, we strongly advise you to wear a medical bracelet or similar item. In an emergency, this will ensure that first aiders or paramedics are immediately aware of your situation.
Use of your personal data
Your username and password are the same as for your email account – see ‘Your online account’ (page 15) for more information.
When you first enrol at Solent you will receive a statement specifying how your personal data will be stored and used by the University.
Solent Online Learning learn.solent.ac.uk
For more information, visit portal.solent.ac.uk/portalapps/registration/data-protection-declaration.aspx or talk to staff at the Student Hub.
We may also provide information about your course and academic matters through Solent Online Learning, the University’s virtual learning environment. Unit-specific notices in Solent Online Learning can be found in the ‘Unit Announcements’ area of each unit page. Communication
Some courses may have specific additional data protection requirements – your lecturer should inform you of these, but if you have any questions, then please contact the Student Hub in the first instance.
18
Student Handbook 2016/17
Finding help
The Student Hub – your first point of contact If you have any questions about your studies or student life at Solent, your first point of contact should be the Student Hub. No matter how big or small your query is, the team in the Student Hub will work with you to help resolve it. You can find the Student Hub at East Park Terrace (EPT) at the bottom of the main concourse, in the Moyana building at the Warsash Maritime Academy, on the ground floor in the Sir James Matthews building and at Below Bar. To contact the Student Hub, phone 023 8201 5200, e-mail student.hub@ solent.ac.uk or twitter @studenthubSSU. Students 1st Support offers support and advice on a range of pastoral non-academic issues and can also advise you about more specialist services – and in many cases will arrange an appointment for you. To contact Students 1st Support, visit RM011 near the Student Hub, email students.1st@solent.ac.uk or phone 023 8201 3427.
Sponsorship support for officer cadets The cadet administrator is the first point of contact and liaison with sponsoring companies and training managers. You can contact her on 023 8201 4286 or email wma.cadets@solent.ac.uk
Support for Warsash students The cadet manager oversees officer cadet conduct and training and can support you if you have any concerns or worries. You can contact her on 023 8201 4181 or email wma.cadets@solent.ac.uk Alternatively, you can speak to a member of staff at the Student Hub, or to the Students’ Union.
The Students’ Union advice service The Students’ Union advice service operates separately from the University’s Student Hub and can provide you with an independent academic caseworker for: • extenuating circumstances
You can find more information
• complaints
about support at
• appeals
portal.solent.ac.uk/support
• academic misconduct • signposting to external organisations.
During term-time these services usually operate normal working
The advice service is located on the ground floor of the Students’ Union building on East Park Terrace campus, and provides free, impartial and confidential advice on academic issues.
hours. If you’re living in our student residences, the reception area is managed 24 hours a day.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
19
Finding help
Academic support Succeed@solent is our online, interactive induction and skills development programme which aims to help you settle into study and give you the tools to achieve better grades.
You may also need to go through a recognition of prior learning (RPL) panel to ensure that your studies so far will enable you to meet the study or assessment requirements of the new course. If this isn’t the case, the RPL panel will determine whether you can catch up during the current academic year.
The online site can also help you develop key skills in writing effectively, researching, presentation and assessment, and help you with the rules around plagiarism and other kinds of academic misconduct.
If it is not possible to catch up, then the RPL panel might suggest that you start the alternative course at a later date.
Transferring course, optional units or seminar group
Transferring between optional units or seminar groups If you are thinking about transferring between options or seminar groups, you should obtain the relevant form from the Student Hub and speak to your course leader.
If you want to change your optional units or seminar group, or transfer to another course, first discuss it with your course leader. For any kind of change, you will need to complete the relevant form (at the Student Hub) – this will ensure that your student record is updated if your request is authorised.
You can only request a change to a seminar group and/or option within the first two weeks of the unit. If you have a significant reason for needing
You must continue to attend
timetabled sessions for the existing
to request such a change, suchFinding as help section childcare requirements, please talk Student Hub to your course leader.
option, seminar group or course until your transfer is approved.
Transferring between courses To change courses, you will need to find out whether there are places available on the course you want to transfer to, and transferring can also affect your fees. For a transfer to be approved, you will need to have demonstrated good attendance and have no outstanding tuition fee debt.
20
Student Handbook 2016/17
tion t Hub
Withdrawals/suspension and your tuition fee liability If you are considering withdrawing from or suspending your studies, you should discuss this with your course leader or visit the Student Hub.
?
Suspending your studies is when you need to put your studies on hold for a short time. If you withdraw from your studies, this means you are leaving the course and do not plan to return.
If you suspend your studies or withdraw, you cannot access any University services or facilities. If you withdraw, we will work out whether you are entitled to any interim award, and your student record will be closed down.
On withdrawal/suspension, you may be entitled to a repayment of some or all of your tuition fees. You can find out more about what you are entitled to at www. solent.ac.uk/tuition-fees or email studentrecords@solent.ac.uk for more information.
If, after discussing the matter, you decide to withdraw from your course or to suspend your studies, you must obtain the relevant form from the Student Hub and notify us immediately in writing. If you are staying in one of the University’s student residences, please also inform student accommodation staff in writing. If you are a sponsored student, including Warsash Maritime Academy officer cadets, you must discuss this decision with the relevant person in your sponsoring organisation, such as the training manager, as this may affect your employment status.
Your withdrawal/suspension date is normally the date you notified us in writing – this date will be used to calculate any fee repayment.
If you have not immediately notified us in writing of your intention to withdraw/suspend, you will remain liable for your fee.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
21
Finding help
Disability support Our Access Solent service offers disability, mental health and dyslexia support. You can talk to Access Solent by visiting Students 1st Support in RM011, near the Student Hub, emailing access@solent.ac.uk, telephoning 023 8201 3201 or visiting the Student Hub at East Park Terrace or at the Warsash campus. You are encouraged to declare any:
Learning support includes:
• s pecific learning difficulties (for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia)
• a cademic help, for example, exam arrangements, dyslexia tutors, mentoring, note-takers
• chronic or long-term medical conditions
• individual assistance in the library
• physical or sensory impairments
• c onfidential advice and guidance with regard to study problems
• mental health conditions • liaison with other departments and organisations • a utistic spectrum declarations (for example, Aspergers).
• h elp with assistive software/technology, and shortterm loan of equipment • screening and assessment • help for students receiving a disabled student allowance.
Financial support
Accommodation support
Our student funding advisers can offer guidance on all aspects of student funding and debt, including student loans, state benefits and the Solent Access to Learning Fund.
If you are having problems with private accommodation, contact the housing advisor:
financial support
Visit Students 1st Support in room RM011, near the Student Hub, for more information.
• f or EPT students – 023 8201 5040, or via email at private.housing@solent.ac.uk • f or WMA students – contact the Warsash accommodation office on 023 8201 5013, or via email at warsash.accommodation@solent.ac.uk For issues with your student residence, contact the accommodation office on 023 8201 5040. Alternatively your residence manager may be able to help you.
22
Student Handbook 2016/17
Chaplaincy support The chaplaincy provides support and people willing to listen in a place of confidentiality and trust, regardless of your faith, or whether or not you have a faith. The chaplaincy also maintains a faith room and a prayer room on-campus, and is able to provide information on local places of worship. Visit www.solent.ac.uk/ faith or Students 1st Support in room RM011, near the Student Hub, for more information.
Counselling Our counselling service offers various types of free support for students, including one-to-one counselling, group workshops and hypnotherapy – all provided by trained professionals. Further information is available from Students 1st Support in room RM011, near the Student Hub, or on the portal at portal.solent.ac.uk/support/healthwellbeing/counselling-mentalhealth/counselling.aspx
Support for international students Our international team can provide advice and guidance on visa applications, Home Office regulations, life in the UK and studying at Solent. You can contact the team through Students 1st Support in room RM011, near the Student Hub, or at international@solent.ac.uk
References, qualifications and record of academic achievement Getting a student reference If you need a reference from the University during or after your studies, the director of your school should be named as your referee. Requests for references may be submitted to the Student Hub.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
The University’s references follow a standard format, including: • course of study • dates and duration of attendance • a cademic profile, including a results transcript for completed study • a generic statement of outcomes achieved from study, including transferable skills • a standard statement on honesty and integrity, unless this is not considered appropriate.
If you require a more detailed personal reference from a member of staff, you will need to ask them in person. These references are not endorsed by the University and cannot be on Solent headed paper or signed using the staff member’s University title.
Getting your full record of academic achievement and relevant professional qualifications If you wish to have a complete record of your academic achievement to date, and you are based at EPT, please apply to the Student Hub (see page 19). If you are at Warsash, apply by email to the assessments and certification team on wma.assessments@solent.ac.uk
23
Useful services available to you
The Student Hub is situated nearby and is a ‘one-stop’ and first point of contact for any queries relating to your course, including questions about your timetable, options, assessments and extenuating circumstances, as well as providing some key official documents. The Student Hub is delivered from several key places on both campuses, including: RM050, which is near Students 1st Support in room RM011 and the shop in the main Michael Andrews building concourse; the Spark building; the ground floor of the Sir James Matthews (SJM) building; Below Bar; and the Moyana building at WMA.
If you are having personal
Students 1st Support Students 1st Support offers specialist advice and support relating to personal and practical issues. All queries are dealt with in the strictest confidence, and our advisers can also refer you to the Student Hub if a personal issue is affecting your academic studies. The Students 1st Support team provides advice on a range of student life issues, including health and wellbeing, University procedures relating to a complaint or disciplinary matter, and police liaison and personal safety. It can also arrange access to the following student specialist advice and support: • Access Solent
difficulties, there are lots
• Funding and money
of ways Solent can help.
• International, including immigration and visas
Whatever the problem might
• Counselling and hypnotherapy
be, please get in touch – the sooner you talk to us, the
• Chaplaincy, religion and belief.
better we will be able to help.
Email: students.1st@solent.ac.uk Tel: 023 8201 3427 Facebook: Students 1st
Bar
You can also find a lot of information on the services available to you on Solent Online Learning, under ‘Succeed@Solent’.
24
Student Handbook 2016/17
The Students’ Union The Students’ Union (SU) is home to everything you could need to get the most out of your time at university. Led by students, for students, the union provides independent representation, academic support and the opportunity to take part in national student campaigns, societies and volunteering opportunities. The SU has a shop and cafe bar on the EPT campus, while its award-winning diner offers great food and drink at student-friendly prices.
VP welfare – su.welfare@solent.ac.uk Deals with welfare issues that have an impact on students, including issues such as housing, sexual health and wellbeing; liaises with the community and runs community projects.
Clubs and societies The Students’ Union offers a huge range of studentrun clubs and societies – take a look at www.solentsu.co.uk/societies for more.
For further details of the Students’ Union, go to www.solentsu.co.uk If you would like to set up your
The sabbatical officers
own society or club, you will
The Students’ Union is led by four sabbatical officers, elected by students each year, who provide support and campaign on key student issues. You can find them on the first floor of the Students’ Union, at the back of the John Millais (JM) building.
need eight other signatures
President – su.president@solent.ac.uk
Students’ Union societies page,
Leads the sabbatical officers and oversees the development and governance of the Solent Students’ Union; actively lobbies the University for change, and serves as primary media spokesperson for the union.
or tweet @solentengage for more
from interested students. Read the frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the
Finding work/starting your own business
information.
VP education – su.education@solent.ac.uk Campaigns to improve the academic experience of students; supports students with academic related issues and advice; works with academic caseworkers to support students through academic misconduct or disciplinary procedures; supports course and school representatives. VP student employability and engagement – su.engagement@solent.ac.uk Promotes student activities; supports student development opportunities; helps to organise exciting events, societies and volunteering opportunities.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
25
Supporting your learning
Using the library The libraries and learning resource centres at the University offer modern and spacious learning environments where you can study quietly or work in groups. They combine access to print, online and visual materials for your research with computing facilities, equipment loans and access to a wide range of software. The library portal offers fast information access both on and off campus whenever you need it. Staff in the libraries and learning resource centres are available: to answer your questions, whether they are general, IT-related or subject-specific; to provide support with finding resources and referencing; and to help you develop as an independent learner. The Warsash learning resource centre is located on the first floor of the library building and includes PCs available for private study.
Developing your academic and research skills If you want to improve your skills in researching resources or referencing, the library can provide support and training. Check out the library’s subject guides for the best resources to use for your subject or speak to your school’s information librarian. We have online referencing support available via Succeed@Solent and also support RefME, an easy-touse referencing tool.
Using IT systems and other learning resources Our learning resource centres offer advice and training in using the computer systems. Drop-in sessions, training classes and one-to-one sessions are available.
Printing is available on a pay-per-print basis.
Careers, work and employability For more information on library resources and services: access the library portal (portal.solent.ac.uk/library); use the library chat facility from 10am to 7pm, Monday
If you’re looking for work during university, advice with applying for jobs or help after graduating, the University’s employability and enterprise service can help you develop the contacts, skills and confidence you need. Friendly and professional staff are available daily to help and there is a host of information and jobs at www.portal.solent.ac.uk/careers Within Solent Online Learning there is also some Useful services - Library great online employability learning. You will need to enrol on CareerCourse.
to Friday; or contact the information librarian for your school.
26
Student Handbook 2016/17
Finding work or work experience Students and recent graduates will find great local, regional and national jobs, internships, placements, jobs on campus, graduate roles and work experience, all advertised on one great site! Solent Graduate Jobs is the University’s jobs board. Find the latest jobs at graduatejobs.solent.ac.uk
The employability and enterprise drop-in centre is based on the ground floor of the Mountbatten Library. For complex issues, you can book a one-to-one guidance appointment – just email employability. enterprise@solent.ac.uk
Volunteering The Students’ Union offers access to plenty of volunteering opportunities.
Under the ‘Employability’ tab on the student portal, visit the ‘Find a job’
You can also find volunteer positions through the University careers pages on the portal.
and ‘Work while studying’ sections
www.portal.solent.ac.uk/careers
for more information.
www.solentsu.co.uk/get-involved/volunteering/
Solent also has a strong focus on building practical experience, so your course will be able to offer plenty of opportunities for industry placements and work experience. Talk to your course leader to find out what’s available.
Freelancing or starting your own business If you are interested in freelancing or starting up a business, the employability and enterprise team can also give you advice and guidance. Help, funding and support is available for entrepreneurial students. Take a look at the ‘Business Start-up’ section of the ‘Careers’ tab on the student portal.
Improving your skills and employability The employability and enterprise team offers advice and support on getting a job, from creating a professional and targeted LinkedIn page and CV to drop-in support about making applications, mock interviews, meeting employers and promoting your abilities.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
Volunteering
27
Useful services available to you
Foreign exchange
Incoming exchange students
Many courses offer the opportunity to spend time studying or working abroad as part of your studies, and we also welcome exchange students from overseas.
If you’re an exchange student visiting Southampton Solent, our international support team can help with any problems or concerns you may have.
Student exchanges
Email: international.exchanges@solent.ac.uk Tel: 023 8201 3529 For more information visit www.solent.ac.uk/exchange
Studying or working abroad If you’re interested in enhancing your career prospects and broadening your horizons by spending time working or studying abroad, Southampton Solent University offers extensive support – including potential funding through the Erasmus+ programme. If you are interested in studying orsupport working abroad, International talk to your course leader.
28
Student Handbook 2016/17
Solent Sport The University offers a huge range of sports clubs and activities, and the Warsash campus is home to our fantastic Watersports Centre. Visit Solent Sport in room SH102 (across the main quad, above the Dock restaurant) to find out more, or contact:
sport-clubs and societies
Tel: 023 8201 3277 Email: solent.sport@solent.ac.uk
sport-clubs and societies
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
29
Assessment essentials
?
All of the University’s courses operate under a common set of assessment regulations, which are reviewed annually. Any exceptions are detailed in the programme specification for your course – you can find this on Solent Online Learning.
This section provides an overview of the regulations – for full
Grade marking and the grade scale The University marks your assignments on a grade system, meaning that for some of your assessments you’ll get a letter grade (such as B2) rather than a percentage mark (65 per cent). Each assessed element within a unit will be awarded a grade, which will be entered into the student records system and combined (with weightings) to give a mark for the whole unit.
details, visit portal.solent.ac.uk/ support/official-documents or ask the Student Hub (see page 19) for advice.
Some assessments will be exempt from grade marking. If your unit has an exemption, details will be in the relevant
Graduating
unit descriptor (see page 8
?
for more on unit descriptors).
The grading criteria used for all courses are shown opposite.
30
Student Handbook 2016/17
Generic grading criteria *
Grade mark
%
A1
100
A2
92
A3
83
A4
74
B1
68
B2
65
B3
62
C1
58
C2
55
C3
52
D1
48
D2
45
D3
42
F1
35
F2
20
F3
15
Submitted
S
1
Non-submission
N
0
Exceptional in most/all aspects, substantially exceeding expectations for this level
Excellent quality, exceeding expectations for this level in many aspects
Meets all the intended learning outcomes and exceeds the threshold expectations for this level in several of them
Meets all the intended learning outcomes and exceeds the threshold expectations for this level in some of them
Meets all the intended learning outcomes but rarely exceeds the threshold expectations for this level Fails to meet all of the intended learning outcomes and is marginally inadequate for this level Fails to meet all of the intended learning outcomes and is inadequate for this level
* For generic grading descriptors broken down by level and skill, search our official documents database (portal.solent.ac.uk/support/official-documents) for ‘generic grade criteria’.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
31
Assessment essentials
Your results Any results you receive during the course of your studies are provisional until the relevant boards have met. All assessments in all levels count.
You can access your grades and unit marks on the portal via the ‘Results’ app (you can find this under ‘Apps’, top right).
If you are a student at Warsash Maritime Academy, you may not be able to view your marks online but will receive a letter detailing your results. Pass The academic pass mark for a unit is 40 per cent.
Note that some professional bodies
For the award of a foundation degree or a higher national diploma (HND) you must pass all 240 credits. For a taught master’s degree you must pass all 180 credits.
If you are not assessed in (and do not pass) all of your units, you may not receive the full award you enrolled on.
Refer ‘Refer’ means that you have failed your coursework and/or exam, or did not submit/attend. You will automatically have two reassessment attempts at each failed element where you have not passed the unit, unless you are required to repeat the level or have an academic misconduct penalty which does not allow you any further attempts. Your marks for any examination resits or resubmitted coursework will be capped at 40 per cent. The University charges for reassessments and for repeating a stage/level.
may have different requirements. Talk to your course leader to make sure you understand your specific
If you are a student at Warsash
pass requirements, or ask at the
Maritime Academy, failure
Student Hub.
to take/retake all elements of assessment at the next
For the award of your bachelor’s degree you must pass all 360 credits (or for a top-up degree, 120 credits) on your course. For these purposes, recognised prior learning (see page 11) counts as passed credit.
32
available opportunity may affect your MCA exemptions.
Student Handbook 2016/17
Defer ‘Defer’ means that you have submitted and had accepted a claim for extenuating circumstances (see page 38).
If you are deferred on
Failed units and condonement Where you have failed a unit but have a minimum mark of 30 per cent in each element of assessment, the Progression and Awards Board can condone the unit as a pass. A maximum of 20 credits can be condoned each year at Levels 3–6 (undergraduate level), and a maximum of 30 credits can be condoned at Level 7 (master’s level).
your first attempt at an assessment, your marks will not be capped at 40 per cent.
Where you have received a condoned pass, the credits for that unit will be awarded but the
Referred/deferred coursework and examinations are taken at the next available opportunity.
If you defer or refer any assessments held in the first 15 weeks of the academic
mark will not be changed.
If you reach the final level of your bachelor’s degree with a final level average of 50 per cent or more, and have a failed unit in your first level, the Progression and Award Boards can condone this unit as a pass in order for you to be able to achieve your degree.
calendar at EPT, you will have the opportunity to retake the deferred assessment before week 27. Students at Warsash will be advised of the resit dates for any units, which will be held within phases where possible.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
Condonement is only available under specific circumstances. For more information, speak to the Student Hub team or refer to the assessment regulations.
33
Assessment essentials
What you need to pass in order to progress To proceed to the next stage you can only carry a maximum of 20 credits still to be passed. If you are referred in 60 credits or more at the end of the academic year, you will not be able to take any resits unless you have had extenuating circumstances accepted and have ‘defer’ results. You will be required to repeat the entire level, including attendance at lectures, tutorials and so on.
You can only repeat one level during your entire named award (degree etc).
How your final mark is calculated Calculation of your final mark depends on the type of course. For full details, view the assessment regulations on the portal, or visit the Student Hub. For the full assessment regulations, check the portal at portal.solent.ac.uk/support/official-documents
How your work is assessed Exams and coursework are marked anonymously wherever possible, to make sure that the marking process is fair and impartial.
If one of your units has an exemption from this policy, you can find the details in the relevant unit
Unit Assessment Boards, and Progression and Awards Boards The University has two tiers of assessment board: Unit Assessment Boards and Progression and Awards Boards. Unit Assessment Boards approve the marks for all students taking particular units and occur as appropriate during the course of the academic year. Your lecturers will be able to advise you of the timing of Unit Assessment Boards; alternatively, ask at the Student Hub (see page 19). Progression and Awards Boards make decisions on issues such as condonement of units, progression between levels or award of qualifications, and normally meet at the end of each level/stage of study. External examiners External examiners on units are responsible for ensuring that the marking by internal examiners is accurate, consistent and fair to students, and for confirming academic standards for the unit, based on a sample of student work.
External examiners on units moderate the marks awarded by the internal examiners; they cannot make a change to any individual mark.
External examiners on Progression and Awards Boards are responsible for confirming academic standards at award level, and that awards are consistent with both University policy and any requirements of professional and statutory bodies.
descriptors, available on Solent Online Learning.
34
Student Handbook 2016/17
Assignment submissions
Deadlines You can only submit your assignment for marking once. Once you have submitted a hard copy of an assignment, you cannot update it, even before the deadline. If you do submit more than one version of your assignment, the first submission will always be the one that is marked. You can submit early via Solent Online Learning and get the similarity feedback, and then resubmit an updated version prior to the submission deadline.
Please ensure that you keep a copy (or back-up) of all assignments that you submit, in case there are any problems. Failure to do this may result
Submission deadlines are strictly adhered to.
Late submission For first assessment attempts, the assessment regulations allow you to submit an assignment up to five working days late. Late submissions have an academic penalty applied, capping the mark at 40. For referral attempts there is no allowance for late submissions. Any referral assignment not submitted by the deadline will be treated as a non-submission and awarded a mark of zero. Requesting an extension See the ‘Assessment problems’ section on page 38. Assessment submissions - Deadline/hand-in
in you being asked to redo an assignment at the next available opportunity.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
35
Assignment submissions
Hard-copy assignments All assignments for courses based Any hard-copy assignments must be handed in by 4pm on the date of submission or they will be considered late.
at East Park Terrace or in the Sir James Matthews and Below Bar buildings should be submitted to room A309. The best way to access this room is via the stairs or lifts in the Reginald Mitchell (RM) building.
Allow plenty of time for queues at the hand-in point, and do not leave it until the last minute to submit. Check your assignment submission point for opening times.
Warsash Maritime Academy assignments should be submitted to the assessments and certification team located in the Academy Student and Business Operations
All assignments must have a formal cover sheet attached. These can be obtained from the assignment submission point, or at Warsash from the library or outside the Student Hub. Please make sure all copies of the cover sheet are legible.
36
Office in Coastguards building.
When you hand in your assignment, it will normally be stamped with the date and time of submission. You will receive a receipt, which you should keep safe as proof of submission.
Certain types of student work, such as physical objects, are not appropriate for handling through the usual submission point. In these cases a lecturer will be authorised to collect your work or staff will be present to record in-class submissions – if in doubt, speak to your course leader.
Where to submit your hard-copy assignments Assignments must not be submitted to individual lecturers.
Online submissions Most text-based assessments will be submitted electronically via Solent Online Learning. This is integrated with Turnitin which detects and reports on plagiarised work, and gives you the chance to check your references as you go.
Student Handbook 2016/17
Online submissions must be submitted by 10pm on the deadline date. This applies ONLY to assessments submitted online – see ‘Hard-copy assignments’ above for details of hard-copy submission deadlines.
Online submission is a two-stage process – you must ensure you complete the process for your work to be submitted and therefore marked.
Text files – valid file types and maximum file size Turnitin currently accepts the following file types: MS Word (.doc and .docx), PowerPoint (.pptx), WordPerfect (.wpd), PostScript (.eps), Portable Document Format (.pdf), HTML (.htm or .html), Rich Text (.rtf) and Plain Text (.txt). All files submitted to Turnitin must be text-based and not exceed 40MB. Other submissions via Solent Online Learning To submit video, images, projects or e-portfolio files, you may be asked to upload assignments to Solent Online Learning. For more information on file sizes and upload times, see learn.solent.ac.uk/ onlinesubmission
It can take several minutes (or even longer) to upload video or audio files. You should therefore leave plenty of time before the submission deadline – otherwise your assessment might not upload in time and will
Uploading assessments does not
be considered late.
happen instantaneously, especially when large numbers of students are using the system. Do not leave submission until the last minute as your assessment might not upload
Feedback on assessments Feedback from your lecturers may be electronic or in hard-copy – this should normally be provided within 28 days of the date of submission.
until after the deadline time, meaning you miss the deadline and your assessment will be considered late.
For full guidance on submitting assessments online, visit learn.solent.ac.uk/onlinesubmission
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37
Assessment problems
Missing your exams
You are responsible for making yourself aware of the date, time and venue of your examinations.
Exam information is available on the portal – see page 15 for more information.
All applications must be supported by documentary evidence. Full details of the University’s extenuating circumstances procedure, along with an application form, can be found on the portal at portal.solent. ac.uk/support If your submission for extenuating circumstances is accepted, you will be able to submit your assessment at any time up to five working days after the submission deadline without any academic penalty. If it is not possible for you to sit/submit the assessment within this timeframe, you may be granted a ‘defer’ result, which means that you will sit/submit the assessment at the next available opportunity. See page 33 for more information on deferrals.
Requesting extensions to assessment deadlines ‘Extenuating circumstances’ – extensions due to major short-term impact on you The University operates a ‘fit-to-study’ policy which means that you are responsible for deciding that you are fit to sit/submit an assessment. If your circumstances prevent you from taking an assessment – for example, if you are too ill to sit an exam – you must apply for your circumstances to be taken into consideration as soon as possible.
If you think you may need to make an application, please visit the Student Hub for advice. Downtime of University computer networks for short periods, problems with IT equipment, high course-related workload, accommodation or travel problems, or ‘planned’ events such as weddings or holidays will not be considered for
You cannot apply for an extension to an examination date, but you may be able to apply for extenuating circumstances. If you are unable to sit an examination, contact the Student Hub for advice.
If you miss an assessment deadline and your request for an extension or deferral is not accepted, the standard academic penalty for late submission will apply (a 40 per cent cap on your mark, or being counted as a non-submission – see ‘Late submission’ on page 35).
extenuating circumstances.
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Student Handbook 2016/17
‘Special action’ – for issues not covered by extenuating circumstances If you need support for personal circumstances but are not eligible to claim under the criteria outlined under extenuating circumstances, you may be able to apply for special action. If you think you may need to make an application, please contact the Student Hub for advice. Where special action is taken, work will have to be submitted in time for it to be assessed and the marks presented to the next Unit Assessment Board (see page 34). For long-term circumstances affecting your academic progress, for example, situations lasting longer than 20 working days, the University may recommend that you suspend your studies.
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39
Academic integrity and academic misconduct
When you have completed your course, you want to be proud of your achievement and to know that you (and your fellow students) have gained your awards fairly and honestly. Employers will also look at the standard and integrity of our graduates.
Collusion – working with others on individual assignments, or sharing your work with others. You can discuss your ideas and sources with other students, but writing up your work must be done independently.
As such, the University takes breaches of academic integrity very seriously.
If you write, sell or otherwise provide an assessment to another student, or lend or make your work publicly available (even by accident), then if the work is copied YOU will get into trouble as well. You are required to take adequate measures to ensure the security of your work.
Academic practices at Solent may be different from those for your previous studies and cultures. Please familiarise yourself with Solent’s rules below.
If you are working in a public place or on a shared computer, make sure your work is passwordprotected or otherwise secure.
What counts as academic misconduct? The following actions and behaviours are considered to be academic misconduct. Plagiarism – using someone else’s words, ideas, images and so on without showing clearly what is your work and what is from other sources. You also need to provide suitable references.
Direct quotation (using
Never lend your work to anyone. Replication – attempting to submit work that you have already used for assessment during your current course or any previous course of study (other than reworking a failed assessment, where this is explicitly allowed by the brief). This includes cutting and pasting parts of the previous work. Falsification – passing off someone else’s work as your own, inventing facts, graphs, data or quotes, or falsely claiming to have carried out research.
exactly the same words) and paraphrasing (putting an
Considered a severe ethical breach
idea into your own words) are
on many courses, falsification
acceptable, as long as you show
could jeopardise your whole career.
you are quoting someone else
Professions such as law will not allow
and provide clear references.
entry to their professional bodies if such an accusation is proven.
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Student Handbook 2016/17
Taking unauthorised notes or devices into an examination – notes in pencil cases, mobile phones or other electronic devices all constitute academic misconduct. Where your course allows you to take certain books or notes into an examination, make sure you know exactly what is allowed. Obtaining an unauthorised copy of an examination paper – if the accusation is proven, this could cause you to fail the entire level of your course or be required to leave the University. Communicating (or trying to communicate) with another student during an examination – communication, attempting to observe or copy another student’s work, or attempting to show your answers to another student. Impersonation in relation to an examination – if you attempt to pass yourself off as another student or ask someone else to sit an examination for you, you may be withdrawn from the course.
Failing to meet ethics requirements – failing to get ethics approval for an assignment or project which requires it, or breaking one of the approval conditions. Check with your lecturer if you are not sure. Providing assessments for other students – writing, selling or otherwise providing an assessment to another student. Fraudulent extenuating circumstances claims – submitting a false claim for extenuating circumstances.
What if I am found guilty of academic misconduct? The University has a range of penalties available, from failing the assessment or the whole unit through to failing the entire level of the course or being required to leave the University. For more information, you can contact the academic misconduct officer. Tel: 023 8201 3851
You are required to provide photo identification at the beginning of every examination, and staff will be present to invigilate.
Buying essays from a third party – getting someone else to write your assignments for you is considered academic misconduct and is taken very seriously by the University.
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41
Academic appeals
When you receive your formal results you may not always feel the decision is correct. If this is the case, you can appeal this with your academic school. What can be appealed? You may appeal the decision of a Unit Assessment Board or Progression and Awards Board where: • n ew, relevant, written extenuating circumstances are presented, supported by appropriate evidence that (for good reason) was not originally made available and therefore was not considered at the time of the decision
Making an appeal If you wish to appeal your results, you must put your request in writing within 10 working days of the date of the result’s publication. For EPT students, this should be to the assessments manager; for Warsash students, this should be to wma.assessments@ solent.ac.uk For advice, visit the Student Hub or the Students’ Union advice service – see page 19 for contact details.
• y ou believe current approved policies and procedures were not followed, or there was some other assessment irregularity
You should use the University’s academic appeal form which you can download from your results page on the portal (or get from the Student Hub). You need to state what your reasons are for appealing the decision of the board and provide any relevant evidence.
• t here has been a significant error in the recording, processing or calculation of assessments/results; for example, you believe that there has been a transcription error in the recording of your results.
You should normally receive an answer to your appeal within 10 working days.
You cannot appeal on the grounds of extenuating circumstances if you submitted the assessment or sat the examination.
You cannot ask for a review of your mark or grade just because you think it is worth more than the lecturer has given.
42
You can also appeal a decision to withdraw you from studies on grounds of non-attendance.
Appealing a withdrawal decision Where a student is withdrawn by the school because of non-attendance, any appeal against that decision should be made in writing within 10 working days of the date of notification of the withdrawal. For EPT students, this should be to the assessments manager; for Warsash students, this should be to wma.assessments@solent.ac.uk You should normally receive an answer to your query within 10 working days. Requesting an academic appeal review If your appeal isn’t resolved to your satisfaction, you can request an appeal review. This should be addressed to the head of student achievement, Academic Services. The full appeals procedure can be found in the academic handbook on the portal at portal.solent. ac.uk/support/official-documents/academic-handbook If you need advice, talk to the Student Hub or the Students’ Union.
Student Handbook 2016/17
Giving your feedback
Your feedback is valuable to us. While it is not always possible to do exactly what is requested, we will always listen to what you have to say.
You can see what action was taken as a result of student feedback on the portal at portal. solent.ac.uk/campaigns/yousaid-we-listened
Course monitoring systems and surveys are also discussed at a high level within the University, such as at University committees (which include student representatives or Students’ Union sabbatical officers as full members).
Giving feedback on your units and course • The Solent Unit Evaluation (SUE) is a short, online survey we use to collect feedback from students at the end of every unit. You should receive this via email. • Every year our yourCourse survey asks first- and second-year students about their course. Like the SUE, this valuable feedback shows us where we are meeting your needs and where things could be improved. The results are published on the portal – see below. • At the end of each academic year we review each of our courses and produce an annual report. This contains a number of key educational performance measures and includes an analysis of student feedback, as well as an action plan for the forthcoming year. The results are published on the portal – you can find them at portal.solent.ac.uk/support/officialdocuments/information-for-students/student-surveyresults/student-survey-results.aspx
If you would like to know more, talk to the Student Hub or the Students’ Union.
Course representatives
Giving Feedback
The students on each course at Solent elect course representatives, trained and supported by the Students’ Union, to act as their voice and provide a vital link between students and staff.
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43
Giving your feedback
Giving feedback on the University as a whole The National Student Survey (NSS) Commissioned by the higher education funding bodies for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the annual NSS asks a sample of students, mostly final-year undergraduates, to provide feedback on the following topics: • Quality of teaching • Assessment and feedback • Academic support • Organisation and management • Learning resources • Personal development
Student complaints Where you have a problem or concern, you must first try to resolve the issue informally with the relevant member of staff, or visit the Student Hub (or the Academy Student and Business Operations Office at the Warsash campus)for initial advice. If this does not resolve the issue, you can raise a formal complaint through the student complaints procedure – for more information, visit the portal at portal.solent.ac.uk/support/official-documents/ information-for-students/complaints-conduct/ student-conduct-complaints-and-appeals.aspx
‘Speak up’ – confidentiality and whistleblowing The student ‘speak up’ policy allows students to draw the University’s attention to serious matters of concern with the assurance of confidentiality.
• Overall satisfaction. NSS results are published through the Unistats website and have a major impact on league table position and public perception of the University. You will also have the opportunity to provide feedback on your units via the SUE survey, or on any matter of University life through your student reps or by speaking to your course leader or the Student Hub team.
This is not about routine complaints or appeals, for which there are separate policies.
The ‘speak up’ policy covers ‘legitimate concerns over any matter which may be unlawful, which is contrary to University policies, or which negligently or knowingly amounts to unethical or improper behaviour’. You can find more information about whistleblowing on the portal at portal.solent.ac.uk/documents/ academic-services/academic-handbook/section2/2w-students-speak-up-policy.pdf
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Student Handbook 2016/17
Your academic diary
This diary covers the coming academic year – please use it however you like. The University events included are based on the standard academic year. Some courses will have a different calendar and details will be provided by your course leader.
Enrolment/registration Signing up
And remember: if you have any problems or questions, we’re here to help. There are plenty of people you can talk to, offering advice and support on everything from academic problems to counselling to finance and accommodation. Talk to: • your lecturers • the Student Hub • the Students’ Union.
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MONDAY 22 August 2016
TUESDAY 23 August 2016
WEDNESDAY 24 August 2016
THURSDAY 25 August 2016
FRIDAY 26 August 2016
SAT & SUN 27 & 28 August 2016
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Student Handbook 2016/17
MONDAY 29 August 2016
Public Holiday (UK)
TUESDAY 30 August 2016
WEDNESDAY 31 August 2016
THURSDAY 1 September 2016
FRIDAY 2 September 2016
SAT & SUN 3 & 4 September 2016
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MONDAY 5 September 2016
TUESDAY 6 September 2016
WEDNESDAY 7 September 2016
THURSDAY 8 September 2016
FRIDAY 9 September 2016
SAT & SUN 10 & 11 September 2016
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MONDAY 12 September 2016
TUESDAY 13 September 2016
WEDNESDAY 14 September 2016
THURSDAY 15 September 2016
FRIDAY 16 September 2016
SAT & SUN 17 & 18 September 2016
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MONDAY 19 September 2016
TUESDAY 20 September 2016
WEDNESDAY 21 September 2016
THURSDAY 22 September 2016
FRIDAY 23 September 2016
New students’ Welcome Week
New students’ Welcome Week
New students’ Welcome Week
New students’ Welcome Week
New students’ Welcome Week
SAT & SUN 24 & 25 September 2016
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MONDAY 26 September 2016
Teaching starts
TUESDAY 27 September 2016
WEDNESDAY 28 September 2016
THURSDAY 29 September 2016
FRIDAY 30 September 2016
SAT & SUN 1 & 2 October 2016
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MONDAY 3 October 2016
TUESDAY 4 October 2016
WEDNESDAY 5 October 2016
THURSDAY 6 October 2016
FRIDAY 7 October 2016
SAT & SUN 8 & 9 October 2016
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Student Handbook 2016/17
MONDAY 10 October 2016
TUESDAY 11 October 2016
WEDNESDAY 12 October 2016
THURSDAY 13 October 2016
FRIDAY 14 October 2016
SAT & SUN 15 & 16 October 2016
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MONDAY 17 October 2016
TUESDAY 18 October 2016
WEDNESDAY 19 October 2016
THURSDAY 20 October 2016
FRIDAY 21 October 2016
SAT & SUN 22 & 23 October 2016
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MONDAY 24 October 2016
TUESDAY 25 October 2016
WEDNESDAY 26 October 2016
THURSDAY 27 October 2016
FRIDAY 28 October 2016
SAT & SUN 29 & 30 October 2016
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MONDAY 31 October 2016
TUESDAY 1 November 2016
Enrichment week (Internationalisation)
Enrichment week (Internationalisation)
WEDNESDAY 2 November 2016
Enrichment week (Internationalisation)
THURSDAY 3 November 2016
Enrichment week (Internationalisation)
FRIDAY 4 November 2016
Enrichment week (Internationalisation)
SAT & SUN 5 & 6 November 2016
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MONDAY 7 November 2016
TUESDAY 8 November 2016
WEDNESDAY 9 November 2016
THURSDAY 10 November 2016
FRIDAY 11 November 2016
SAT & SUN 12 & 13 November 2016
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MONDAY 14 November 2016
TUESDAY 15 November 2016
WEDNESDAY 16 November 2016
THURSDAY 17 November 2016
FRIDAY 18 November 2016
SAT & SUN 19 & 20 November 2016
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Student Handbook 2016/17
MONDAY 21 November 2016
TUESDAY 22 November 2016
WEDNESDAY 23 November 2016
THURSDAY 24 November 2016
FRIDAY 25 November 2016
SAT & SUN 26 & 27 November 2016
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MONDAY 28 November 2016
TUESDAY 29 November 2016
WEDNESDAY 30 November 2016
THURSDAY 1 December 2016
FRIDAY 2 December 2016
SAT & SUN 3 & 4 December 2016
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MONDAY 5 December 2016
TUESDAY 6 December 2016
WEDNESDAY 7 December 2016
THURSDAY 8 December 2016
FRIDAY 9 December 2016
SAT & SUN 10 & 11 December 2016
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MONDAY 12 December 2016
TUESDAY 13 December 2016
WEDNESDAY 14 December 2016
THURSDAY 15 December 2016
FRIDAY 16 December 2016
SAT & SUN 17 & 18 December 2016
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Student Handbook 2016/17
MONDAY 19 December 2016
TUESDAY 20 December 2016
WEDNESDAY 21 December 2016
THURSDAY 22 December 2016
FRIDAY 23 December 2016
Winter Break
Winter Break
Winter Break
SAT & SUN 24 & 25 December 2016
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Christmas Eve & Christmas Day – Public Holiday (UK) Winter Break
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MONDAY 26 December 2016
Boxing Day - Public Holiday (UK) Winter Break
TUESDAY 27 December 2016
Public Holiday (UK) Winter Break
WEDNESDAY 28 December 2016
THURSDAY 29 December 2016
FRIDAY 30 December 2016
Winter Break
Winter Break
Winter Break
SAT & SUN 31 December 2016 & 1 January 2017
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New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day – Public Holiday (UK) Winter Break
Student Handbook 2016/17
MONDAY 2 January 2017
TUESDAY 3 January 2017
WEDNESDAY 4 January 2017
Public Holiday (UK) Winter Break
Winter Break
Teaching starts
THURSDAY 5 January 2017
FRIDAY 6 January 2017
SAT & SUN 7 & 8 January 2017
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MONDAY 9 January 2017
TUESDAY 10 January 2017
WEDNESDAY 11 January 2017
THURSDAY 12 January 2017
FRIDAY 13 January 2017
SAT & SUN 14 & 15 January 2017
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MONDAY 16 January 2017
TUESDAY 17 January 2017
WEDNESDAY 18 January 2017
THURSDAY 19 January 2017
FRIDAY 20 January 2017
Examinations
Examinations
Examinations
Examinations
Examinations
SAT & SUN 21 & 22 January 2017
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MONDAY 23 January 2017
TUESDAY 24 January 2017
WEDNESDAY 25 January 2017
THURSDAY 26 January 2017
FRIDAY 27 January 2017
SAT & SUN 28 & 29 January 2017
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MONDAY 30 January 2017
TUESDAY 31 January 2017
WEDNESDAY 1 February 2017
THURSDAY 2 February 2017
FRIDAY 3 February 2017
SAT & SUN 4 & 5 February 2017
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MONDAY 6 February 2017
TUESDAY 7 February 2017
WEDNESDAY 8 February 2017
THURSDAY 9 February 2017
FRIDAY 10 February 2017
SAT & SUN 11 & 12 February 2017
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MONDAY 13 February 2017
TUESDAY 14 February 2017
WEDNESDAY 15 February 2017
THURSDAY 16 February 2017
FRIDAY 17 February 2017
Assessment boards
Assessment boards
Assessment boards
Assessment boards
Assessment boards
SAT & SUN 18 & 19 February 2017
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MONDAY 20 February 2017
TUESDAY 21 February 2017
WEDNESDAY 22 February 2017
THURSDAY 23 February 2017
FRIDAY 24 February 2017
SAT & SUN 25 & 26 February 2017
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MONDAY 27 February 2017
TUESDAY 28 February 2017
WEDNESDAY 1 March 2017
THURSDAY 2 March 2017
FRIDAY 3 March 2017
Enrichment week (Employability)
Enrichment week (Employability)
Enrichment week (Employability)
Enrichment week (Employability)
Enrichment week (Employability)
SAT & SUN 4 & 5 March 2017
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MONDAY 6 March 2017
TUESDAY 7 March 2017
WEDNESDAY 8 March 2017
THURSDAY 9 March 2017
FRIDAY 10 March 2017
SAT & SUN 11 & 12 March 2017
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MONDAY 13 March 2017
TUESDAY 14 March 2017
WEDNESDAY 15 March 2017
THURSDAY 16 March 2017
FRIDAY 17 March 2017
SAT & SUN 18 & 19 March 2017
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MONDAY 20 March 2017
Referral/deferral examinations and assessment submission
TUESDAY 21 March 2017
Referral/deferral examinations and assessment submission
WEDNESDAY 22 March 2017
THURSDAY 23 March 2017
FRIDAY 24 March 2017
Referral/deferral examinations and assessment submission
Referral/deferral examinations and assessment submission
Referral/deferral examinations and assessment submission
SAT & SUN 25 & 26 March 2017
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MONDAY 27 March 2017
TUESDAY 28 March 2017
WEDNESDAY 29 March 2017
THURSDAY 30 March 2017
FRIDAY 31 March 2017
SAT & SUN 1 & 2 April 2017
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MONDAY 3 April 2017
TUESDAY 4 April 2017
WEDNESDAY 5 April 2017
THURSDAY 6 April 2017
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FRIDAY 7 April 2017
Teaching ends
SAT & SUN 8 & 9 April 2017
Spring Break
Student Handbook 2016/17
MONDAY 10 April 2017
Spring Break
TUESDAY 11 April 2017
Spring Break
WEDNESDAY 12 April 2017
THURSDAY 13 April 2017
FRIDAY 14 April 2017
SAT & SUN 15 & 16 April 2017
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Spring Break
Spring Break
Good Friday – Public Holiday (UK) Spring Break
Easter Saturday and Easter Day, Spring Break
79
MONDAY 17 April 2017
TUESDAY 18 April 2017
WEDNESDAY 19 April 2017
THURSDAY 20 April 2017
FRIDAY 21 April 2017
SAT & SUN 22 & 23 April 2017
80
Easter Monday – Public Holiday (UK) Spring Break
Spring Break
Spring Break
Spring Break
Spring Break
Spring Break
Student Handbook 2016/17
MONDAY 24 April 2017
Teaching starts
TUESDAY 25 April 2017
WEDNESDAY 26 April 2017
THURSDAY 27 April 2017
FRIDAY 28 April 2017
SAT & SUN 29 & 30 April 2017
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MONDAY 1 May 2017
Public Holiday (UK)
TUESDAY 2 May 2017
WEDNESDAY 3 May 2017
THURSDAY 4 May 2017
FRIDAY 5 May 2017
SAT & SUN 6 & 7 May 2017
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MONDAY 8 May 2017
TUESDAY 9 May 2017
WEDNESDAY 10 May 2017
THURSDAY 11 May 2017
FRIDAY 12 May 2017
SAT & SUN 13 & 14 May 2017
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MONDAY 15 May 2017
Examinations
TUESDAY 16 May 2017
Examinations
WEDNESDAY 17 May 2017
Examinations
THURSDAY 18 May 2017
Examinations
FRIDAY 19 May 2017
Examinations
SAT & SUN 20 & 21 May 2017
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MONDAY 22 May 2017
TUESDAY 23 May 2017
WEDNESDAY 24 May 2017
THURSDAY 25 May 2017
FRIDAY 26 May 2017
SAT & SUN 27 & 28 May 2017
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85
MONDAY 29 May 2017
Public Holiday (UK)
TUESDAY 30 May 2017
WEDNESDAY 31 May 2017
THURSDAY 1 June 2017
FRIDAY 2 June 2017
SAT & SUN 3 & 4 June 2017
86
Student Handbook 2016/17
MONDAY 5 June 2017
TUESDAY 6 June 2017
Assessment boards and students’ results
Assessment boards and students’ results
WEDNESDAY 7 June 2017
Assessment boards and students’ results
THURSDAY 8 June 2017
Assessment boards and students’ results
FRIDAY 9 June 2017
Assessment boards and students’ results
SAT & SUN 10 & 11 June 2017
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MONDAY 12 June 2017
Student referral/deferral preparation
TUESDAY 13 June 2017
Student referral/deferral preparation
WEDNESDAY 14 June 2017
Student referral/deferral preparation
THURSDAY 15 June 2017
Student referral/deferral preparation
FRIDAY 16 June 2017
Student referral/deferral preparation
SAT & SUN 17 & 18 June 2017
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MONDAY 19 June 2017
TUESDAY 20 June 2017
WEDNESDAY 21 June 2017
Student referral/deferral preparation
Student referral/deferral preparation
Student referral/deferral preparation
THURSDAY 22 June 2017
Student referral/deferral preparation
FRIDAY 23 June 2017
Student referral/deferral preparation
SAT & SUN 24 & 25 June 2017
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MONDAY 26 June 2017
TUESDAY 27 June 2017
Referral/deferral examinations and assessment submission
Referral/deferral examinations and assessment submission
WEDNESDAY 28 June 2017
Referral/deferral examinations and assessment submission
THURSDAY 29 June 2017
Referral/deferral examinations and assessment submission
FRIDAY 30 June 2017
Referral/deferral examinations and assessment submission
SAT & SUN 1 & 2 July 2017
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MONDAY 3 July 2017
TUESDAY 4 July 2017
WEDNESDAY 5 July 2017
THURSDAY 6 July 2017
FRIDAY 7 July 2017
SAT & SUN 8 & 9 July 2017
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91
MONDAY 10 July 2017
TUESDAY 11 July 2017
Graduation ceremonies for Summer 2017 graduates
Graduation ceremonies for Summer 2017 graduates
WEDNESDAY 12 July 2017
Graduation ceremonies for Summer 2017 graduates
THURSDAY 13 July 2017
Graduation ceremonies for Summer 2017 graduates
FRIDAY 14 July 2017
Graduation ceremonies for Summer 2017 graduates
SAT & SUN 15 & 16 July 2017
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Student Handbook 2016/17
MONDAY 17 July 2017
Assessment boards and students’ results
TUESDAY 18 July 2017
Assessment boards and students’ results
WEDNESDAY 19 July 2017
THURSDAY 20 July 2017
FRIDAY 21 July 2017
Assessment boards and students’ results
Assessment boards and students’ results
Assessment boards and students’ results
SAT & SUN 22 & 23 July 2017
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MONDAY 24 July 2017
TUESDAY 25 July 2017
WEDNESDAY 26 July 2017
THURSDAY 27 July 2017
FRIDAY 28 July 2017
SAT & SUN 29 & 30 July 2017
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MONDAY 31 July 2017
TUESDAY 1 August 2017
WEDNESDAY 2 August 2017
THURSDAY 3 August 2017
FRIDAY 4 August 2017
SAT & SUN 5 & 6 August 2017
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MONDAY 7 August 2017
TUESDAY 8 August 2017
WEDNESDAY 9 August 2017
THURSDAY 10 August 2017
FRIDAY 11 August 2017
SAT & SUN 12 & 13 August 2017
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MONDAY 14 August 2017
TUESDAY 15 August 2017
WEDNESDAY 16 August 2017
THURSDAY 17 August 2017
FRIDAY 18 August 2017
SAT & SUN 19 & 20 August 2017
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Solent Students’ Union – Education Act 1994 Code of Practice
1. This Code of Practice includes the University’s provisions for compliance with Part II Section 22(3) of the Education Act 1994 and incorporates the requirements of Sections 22(3) to 22(5) 2. The University’s Board of Governors shall notify each student of this Code of Practice by publishing it on the University’s website. 3. This document should be read in conjunction with the Students’ Union Memorandum and Articles of Association and Bye Laws which are available on the Students’ Union website (www.solentsu.co.uk) Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Union
Membership of Solent Students’ Union 9. At the start of every academic year, every registered student is automatically registered as a member of the Union. 10. Every student has the right to opt out of membership of the Union and may do so by the procedures outlined in Bye Law 1. 11. Students who opt out of our membership of the Union; • will not be able to participate in Union affairs (as electoral candidates, voter or officer); • will be able to use the Union’s services and support facilities • will be able to participate in Union activities subject to any fee set by Trustees.
4. The Students’ Union has a written Memorandum and Articles of Association agreed by the Board of Governors and the members of the Union.
Election of Executive Officers
5. Copies of the Memorandum and Articles of Association are available upon request and free of charge from the Student’s Union.
12. The members of the Union annually elect Sabbatical Officer Trustees under article 33 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association. The election is by way of secret ballot (conducted in accordance with Byelaw 6) at which all ordinary members are entitled to vote.
6. The Memorandum and Articles of Association has been approved by the University’s Board of Governors and will be subject to review every five years. 7. Any interim amendments to the Memorandum and Articles of Association will require the approval of the University’s Board of Governors. 8. Any concerns the University’s Board of Governors has with a draft Memorandum and Articles of Association or any subsequent amendments should be discussed by the Clerk to the Governors of the University with the Students’ Union Board of Trustees with the intention of seeking agreement before a final draft is considered by the University’s Board of Governors.
13. The Board of Governors aims to satisfy itself via the Student Liaison & Experience Committee that elections are conducted fairly and properly, through the appointment by the Students’ Union Board of Trustees of a Returning Officer 14. No Sabbatical or paid Union Officer may hold office for more than two years. Solent Students’ Union Finances 15. The Students’ Union annual budget is approved by the University’s Board of Governors. 16. The Students’ Union Board of Trustees is responsible for ensuring that funds from the University are used in accordance with its Memorandum and Articles of Association and will ensure proper accounting records are kept and that there is a sound system of internal financial management and control.
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17. The Union’s Finance Committee manages the Union’s financial affairs and will send, for monitoring purposes: i. monthly management accounts and reports against budget to the University’s Director of Finance and Resources or equivalent nominee ii. quarterly management accounts to the Student Liaison & Experience Committee. 18. Annual accounts will be produced and approved at the Students’ Union’s Annual General Meeting of the Board of Trustees, to be held under article 15 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association. 19. Annual accounts will also be presented annually to the University’s Board of Governors and will be available to members on the Students’ Union website. 20. The Union aims to ensure the procedure to allocate resources to societies will be fair. External Organisations 21. Any affiliation by the Union to an external organisation will be decided in accordance with Bye Law 13. 22. A review of affiliation to existing organisations is one of the items on the agenda for each Annual General Meeting of the Union. 23. An annual referendum, in which all members are entitled to vote, is held to determine the continuity of affiliation to any external organisation. As part of this referendum the Union publish details of the affiliation fees. 24. On the written requisition signed by at least 150 Members of the Union, a referendum will be held to confirm the continuation of any affiliation. Complaints Procedure 25. A complaints procedure is available from the Students’ Union website for students who are dissatisfied with their dealing with the Union.
Charitable Restrictions 26. Funding or resources provided through the University should not be used other than for charitable educational purposes. They must not be used for any purposes other than for the benefit of its members as students at the University. The funds and resources of the Union must be used in accordance with the Students’ Unions charitable objects, which may include the social and general wellbeing of its members as students of the University. 27. The University wishes to ensure that freedom of speech within the law is secured for students and visiting speakers. In carrying out its objects, the Union has an obligation to have regard to that freedom. Data Protection 28. The Students’ Union is registered under the Data Protection Act 1998. It may, on occasion receive, in accordance with a data transfer agreement with the University, information concerning students provided for its use in accordance with the academic and other aims of the Students’ Union, and of the University, as set out in its approved Memorandum and Articles of Association. In using such information, the Students’ Union will comply with the following statutory principles. Information will be: • fairly and lawfully processed; • processed for limited purposes; • adequate, relevant and not excessive; • accurate; • not kept longer than necessary; • processed in accordance with the data subject’s rights; • secure; • not transferred to countries without adequate protection. Freedom of Information Act 29. The Freedom of Information Act provides all members of the public with a right of access to recorded information held by public authorities. All members of the public have a right of access to information held in Southampton Solent University’s publication scheme and to other recorded information.
The University believes that all information contained in this publication is correct at the time of going to print. If there are any inaccuracies, these will be reported to students at the earliest opportunity.
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