Student Handbook 2015/16
Your adventure starts here...
Contents
Welcome
5
What’s changed for 2015/16? Changes in university structure
Finding help
18
6
The academy student and business operations office – your first point of contact
18
6
Sponsorship
18
The schools
6
Pastoral care and recreational/sporting activities
18
University jargon-buster
7
The Students’ Union advice service
18
Academic support
19
Enrolment/Registration for study Enrolment – for new students
9
Transferring course
20
9
Withdrawals/suspension and your tuition fee liability
20
9
Disability support
21
Course registration periods
10
Financial support
22
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
11
Accommodation support
22
Fraudulent claims
11
Faith issues
22
What you agree to
11
Counselling
22
Enrolment statements
11
Support for international students
22
University regulations
11
Southampton Solent University Charter
11
References, qualifications and record of academic achievement
23
12
Getting a student reference
23
Our ethics policy
12
Student attendance and participation monitoring
12
Getting your full record of academic achievement and professional qualifications
23
Council tax exemption certificates
13
Registration – for continuing students
Cadet Code of Conduct
Your campus card & online account
14
Your online account
14
Your account details
14
Accessing the student portal
14
Accessing myCourse (our virtual learning environment)
14
Calendar for the academic year Your timetable Understanding your timetable
Your student record
2
4
Finding your way around campus
15 15 15
16
Updating your personal information
16
How we communicate with you
16
Medical conditions
17
Use of your personal data
17
Useful services available to you
24
Students 1st specialist advice and support
24
The Students’ Union
24
Clubs and societies
25
Using the library
25
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
26
Improving employability
26
Volunteering
27
Freelancing or starting your own business
27
Solent Sport
27
Student Handbook 2015/16
Assessment essentials
28
Assessment problems
34
Grade marking and the grade scale
28
Missing your exams
34
Your results
29
Requesting extensions to assessment deadlines
34
Pass
29
Refer
29
‘Extenuating circumstances’ – extensions due to major short-term impact on you
34
Defer
30
Failed units and condonement
30
‘Special action’ – for issues not covered by ‘extenuating circumstances’
35
What you need to pass in order to progress
31
How your final mark is calculated
31
How your work is assessed
31
Unit Assessment Boards, Progression and Awards Boards
31
External examiners
31
Assignment submissions
32
Deadlines
32
Late submission
32
Requesting an extension
32
Hard-copy assignments
32
Where to submit your hard-copy assignments
33
Online submissions
33
Turnitin – valid filetypes and maximum size
33
Submissions via myCourse
33
Feedback on assessments
33
Academic integrity and academic misconduct
36
What if I am found guilty of academic misconduct?
37
Academic appeals
38
What can be appealed?
38
Making an appeal
38
Appealing a withdrawal decision
38
Requesting an academic appeal review
38
Giving your feedback
39
Course representatives
39
Giving feedback on your units and course
39
Giving feedback on the University as a whole
39
The National Student Survey (NSS)
39
Student complaints
40
‘Speak up’ – confidentiality and whistleblowing
40
Your academic diary
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
36
What counts as academic misconduct?
41
3
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 2015/16 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 whom 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 both the seventieth anniversary of Warsash Maritime Academy and the tenth year of Southampton Solent achieving university status, so there will be plenty going on – I hope you will have the chance to join in the celebrations. Our new Spark building is due to open at East Park Terrace this academic year, providing brand-new 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. 2015/16 is also the year we change from organising around three large faculties to having six smaller, more focused schools. For our new students, we hope you enjoy the more personal attention and subjectfocused approach this new school structure allows us to provide. For our existing students at Warsash, however, the new structure should only have minor impact. Whether you’re a new or existing student, if you are ever unsure what to do, your first points of contact are the academy student and business operations office and the student support office 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 pages 18 and 19. For the moment, I recommend 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 may 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
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Student Handbook 2015/16
Finding your way around campus
The map below shows the layout of the University’s Warsash campus.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
5
What’s changed for 2015/16?
Changes in university structure If you visit our East Park Terrace campus, the construction of our fantastic new Spark building means the locations of some offices and services may have moved as a result. Essential locations like main reception, the Dock restaurant and the advice services at Students 1st will not move. There are no changes on Warsash campus.
From the start of the 2015/16 academic year, Solent is changing from three faculties (the Faculty of the Creative Industries, the Faculty of Business, Sport and Enterprise, and the Faculty of Maritime and Technology) to a six school structure. Warsash Maritime Academy is part of the new School of Maritime Science and Engineering, but students based at the Warsash campus will not be directly affected by the changes – although they will have access to the new services at East Park Terrace if required.
The schools As of 2015, there are six academic schools at Southampton Solent University. Whichever course you’re studying, it will fall under one of these schools: • The School of Business and Law • The School of Art, Design and Fashion • The School of Communications and Marketing • The School of Maritime Science and Engineering – this includes Warsash Maritime Academy • The School of Media, Arts and Technology
The faculty enquiry points have been replaced with a single centralised student hub on the East Park Terrace campus, or the academy student and business operations office on Warsash campus. You can find more info on page 18.
6
• The School of Sport, Health and Social Sciences
Student Handbook 2015/16
University jargon-buster
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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.
There’s a lot of terminology surrounding coming to university – here’s a quick guide to help you. Alumni – also called graduates, these are students who successfully completed their degree and graduated. Southampton Solent University has a thriving alumni association, which you’ll become a member of automatically when you graduate. Certificate of Competency – this is your professional qualification that will allow you to pursue your chosen sea going career. Condonement of units – Under certain circumstances,some units failed as ‘marginal failure’ may be condoned as a ‘pass’ by the Progression and Award 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/official-documents/ academic-handbook/
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 is our external site, promoting the University to potential students – as a student most 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, course structure and unit weightings (core and optional), and assessment methods.
Further education – education following on from compulsory secondary school education – for example A-levels, BTEC, diplomas etc
You can find the programme specification for your course on myCourse, under the ‘Help and Support’ menu.
Higher education – following on from further education, this involves study at a university or other institute of higher education – for example an undergraduate degree, higher national certificate (HNC), higher national diploma (HND) or foundation degree (Fd/FdSc/FdEng).
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.
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.
Continued...
Trailing units – those units you are resitting from a previous year/phase.
Ordinary degree – a degree passed without achieving the conditions required to gain ‘honours’, ie: where a student has been assessed in 360 credits and has passed at least 300 credits .
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
7
University jargon-buster
Undergraduate degrees – a first degree, also called a bachelor’s degree, these are classified by subject type: • BA – A Bachelor of Arts degree – covers business or creative courses. • BEng – A Bachelor of Engineering degree – covers engineering-related courses. • BSc – a Bachelor of Science degree – covers science-related courses. • LLB – a Bachelor of Laws degree – covers lawrelated courses. 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 Transfer Scheme). • An undergraduate honours degree usually contains units worth 360 credits. • An HND or foundation degree (FdA/FdSc) has 240 credits attached to it.
120 CATS points (one level of study) is equivalent to 60 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) points.
Unit descriptors – each unit within a course has a unit descriptor, laying out in-depth information on your workload, areas of study, the teaching and assessment strategy, and the intended learning outcomes. Unit descriptors are available on myCourse under the ‘Help and Support’ menu. Work placement (WkPl) – also called an industry placement or for Warsash Maritime Academy (WMA) a sea phase, this involves taking a break from your campus-based studies to get hands-on experience in a relevant industry workplace.
• A taught postgraduate course (master’s level) has 180 credits attached to it.
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Student Handbook 2015/16
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: 1. Online registration, which you should have completed before you arrived. 2. Qualification checks (if required) and identity checks at the University.
You are also responsible for ensuring that any relevant fees or charges are paid, even if you are sponsored by an employer or other third party.
If for some reason you haven’t completed these stages, please contact our course support team at the academy student and business operations office (see page 18).
Registration – for continuing students If you are at the beginning of your second and any further years/phases of study, you will need to have registered as a student for the coming year. Part of this process involves you checking and confirming all details that are held on record for you, including contact details.
If you are taught off-campus, and there is no requirement for you to attend a session at the University at the start of your studies, you will be notified of alternative arrangements. Enrolment/registration Signing up
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 our course support team – email wma.coursesupport@solent.ac.uk or visit the academy student and business operations office.
If you owe the University money, you will not be able to register without the approval of the Director of Finance and Resources.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
9
Enrolment/Registration for study
Course registration periods There is a maximum period of time 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
Standard course length
Maximum period of registration
3 years
5 years
Higher National Diploma Marine Engineering
2 years
4 years
Access to HE Nautical Science (NCFE)
1 year
1 year
Access to HE Marine Engineering (NCFE)
1 year
1 year
1 year
3 years
1 year
1 year
2 years
4 years
Foundation Degree Marine Operations (FdSc) Foundation Degree Marine Electrical and Electronic Engineering (FdEng) Foundation Degree Marine Engineering (FdEng) Higher National Diploma Nautical Science
Higher National Certificate Nautical Science (Officer of the Watch (OOW) Higher National Diploma 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 2015/16
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 28) – you can find this on myCourse, under the ‘Help and Support’ menu. If you feel this might apply to you, you should contact your course leader.
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
Standard A-level or Advanced GNVQ entry qualifications will not be considered for RPL.
University regulations The university regulations cover a wide range of issues, and are available in full on the portal. You should particularly be aware of the regulations on: • Assessment.
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 academy student and business operations office no later than four weeks after teaching begins.
• Attendance and participation requirements. • Change of personal details. • Personal conduct. • Drugs and smoking policy. • Use of information technology. • Intellectual property rights. • Fee payment.
While your RPL claim is being considered, you should attend all scheduled lectures, seminars, tutorials etc for your existing course as normal.
• 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
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
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Enrolment/Registration for study
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 enrolment pack; you should ensure that you have read this code thoroughly. 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 Student attendance and participation monitoring We expect you to attend and be punctual for every class, confirming your attendance by passing your campus card across the card reader in every classroom (swiping). We monitor student attendance and will contact you if your attendance is poor. This is to find out if you have any problems that are stopping you attending, and if there is anything we can do to help.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) requires a minimum of 80% attendance on academic courses that lead to MCA certification. 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.
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 any way we can - please talk to your lecturers, or to the academy student and business operations office (see page 18).
Cadet code of conduct
Any Officer Cadet who is persistently late or absent will be subject to disciplinary action under the provisions of the Cadet Code of Conduct. *If you do not actively participate in your studies, the University is obliged to notify third parties such as the Home Office (for overseas students), your employer (for sponsored students), and any relevant student funding body.
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Student Handbook 2015/16
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 if appropriate notify your training manager. Council tax exemption certificates If you are studying full-time and living in University residences (including on Warsash campus) 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:
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.
Southampton City Council: SO14 – SO19 Bournemouth Borough Council: BH1 – BH11 We may also be able to notify other local councils, such as Fareham and Portsmouth. Check with the course support team at the academy student and business operations office to see if you need a council tax exemption certificate. If you do need to fill out an individual council tax exemption certificate, the academy student and business operations office can provide a copy as well as help if you need it.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
Depending on the length of study, students on some courses/phases of their cadetship may not be eligible for council tax exemption.
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Your campus card & online account
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.
Your account details Your Solent username will normally be e-mailed to your personal email address before you start your studies. Your username is usually:
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.
• The second digit of your student number (this is on letters we send you, as well as your campus card)
Your campus card has several uses:
• The first letter of your first name
• You use it to swipe in at timetabled events, registering your attendance.
• The last two digits of your student number.
• The first four letters of your family name
• It allows access to the Mountbatten Library and our off-campus art and design studio.
Your initial password is your date of birth in the format DDMMYY. You should change your password when you first login and keep it secret.
• It enables you to borrow learning materials and equipment.
Your university email address is your username@solent.ac.uk
• It acts as your membership card for sport and recreation facilities. • It assists with identification and campus security. Lost, stolen or faulty cards must be reported to the academy student and business operations office as soon as possible. You can also get replacement cards, though there may be a charge of £5.
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 about 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 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. You can find the portal at portal.solent.ac.uk – use your Solent account details to log in. Accessing myCourse (our virtual learning environment) myCourse 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 myCourse at mycourse.solent.ac.uk, or from the ‘Solent’ menu in the top right corner of the portal.
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Student Handbook 2015/16
Calendar for the academic year
This handbook includes a diary for the academic year - please use as you see fit.
Your timetable
Understanding your timetable
Your personal academic timetable includes taught sessions for any core and optional units that you are studying. Your timetable will be released the week before the start of each teaching period, and is available to view on noticeboards on the ground floor of the Admiral Jellicoe building, and on the portal (under ‘My Apps’, select ‘Timetable’).
Each entry in your timetable includes the unit, the location and the member of teaching staff.
You are advised to check your timetable online or on notice boards regularly as it may be subject to change.
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If you need help to interpret your timetable, talk to the timetabling officer on 023 8201 4279.
Calendar for academic year understanding your timetable
Trailing units are not timetabled on your individual timetable.
If you have any clashes, concerns or questions regarding your individual timetable, please contact your course leader. Alternatively, talk to the timetabling officer on 023 8201 4279.
Examination timetables are also available from the noticeboard on the ground floor of the Admiral Jellicoe building, and on the Warsash academy student and business operations office myCourse page: mycourse.solent. ac.uk/warsash-campus
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
15
Your student record
Updating your personal information
How we communicate with you
You can normally update information such as your addresses 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 course support team in the academy student and business operations office.
Please remember to keep the University informed of any changes in personal data (address, financial sponsor, and so on).
Your Solent email address 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 student portal, or set up your account to forward university emails to your personal (non-Solent) email address.
Communication If you are forwarding your Solent email and change your personal email address, don't forget to update your forwarding arrangements.
For more information on email and account information, see your online account, page 14.
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Student Handbook 2015/16
Letters
myCourse mycourse.solent.ac.uk
If we need to send you physical letters 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.
If your mailing address is a student residence, post will be placed in the pigeonholes in the Warsash Library. 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. Physical noticeboards and digital signage Notices and important information will be posted on the various digital screens around the campus, and on the notice board in the Moyana Building.
The noticeboard on the ground floor of the Admiral Jellicoe Building is used for publishing examination timetables. The student portal portal.solent.ac.uk
We may also provide information about your course and academic matters through myCourse, the University’s virtual learning environment.
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 When you first enrol at Solent you will receive a statement specifying how your personal data will be stored and used by the University. For more information, visit portal.solent.ac.uk/portalapps/registration/data-protection-declaration.aspx or talk to staff at the academy student and business operations office.
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 academy student and business operations office.
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. Your username and password are the same as for your email account – see your online account (page 14) for more information.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
17
Finding help
The academy student and business operations office – your first point of contact The academy student and business operations office, located on the ground floor of the Coastguards building, should be your first point of contact if you have any course-related problems or queries, or if you are unsure which part of the University can help with a question or query.
You can find more information about support at portal.solent.ac.uk/support
Sponsorship The cadet administrator is the first point of contact and liaison with sponsoring companies and training managers. You can contact them on: Tel: 023 8201 4286 Email: sandra.petcher@solent.ac.uk
Pastoral care and recreational/sporting activities The cadet liaison officer can help with pastoral care, so if you have any personal concerns or worries, or are interested in setting up activities, you can contact them on: Tel: 023 8201 4171 Email: david.baker@solent.ac.uk
On the East Park Terrace campus, you can contact/ visit the student hub.
During term time these services usually operate normal working hours. For out-of-hours support, contact Warsash main reception on 07740 924873.
Alternatively, you can speak to a member of the professional support team in the academy student and business operations office, or to the Students’ Union (see pages 18 & 24)
The Students’ Union advice service The SU advice service operates separately from the University’s student hub (see page 24) and can provide you with an independent academic caseworker for: • Extenuating circumstances • Complaints • Appeals
Information on key professional support staff within the academy student and business operations office is available via mycourse. solent.ac.uk/warsash-campus
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• Academic misconduct • Signposting to external organisations 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.
Student Handbook 2015/16
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.
Students at Warsash Maritime Academy can access this service via the Student Support OfďŹ ce in room MY014.
Tel:section 023 8201 4181 Finding help Email: succeed@solent.ac.uk Hub
The service can also help you develop key skills in Student writing effectively, researching, presentation and assessment, and help you with the rules around plagiarism and other kinds of academic misconduct.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
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Finding help
Transferring course If you want to change your course, first discuss it with your course leader and the cadet administrator. For any kind of change, you will need to complete the relevant form and return it to the academy student and business operations office – this will ensure that your student record is updated if your request is authorised.
You must continue attending the course, designated on your timetable 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. 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. If it is not possible to catch up, then the RPL panel might suggest that you start the alternative course at a later date.
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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 student achievement officer.
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 after discussing the matter with your training manager, you decide to withdraw from your course or to suspend your studies, you must notify the academy student and business operations office 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 suspend your studies or withdraw, you cannot access any university services/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 what you are entitled to at www.solent. ac.uk/tuition-fees.
Student Handbook 2015/16
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 notified us in writing of your intention to withdraw/ suspend, you will remain liable for the full fee.
Students studying at Warsash Maritime Academy who withdraw during a full year of study may not be eligible for a refund. For more information, please read the course fee and guidance notes, which are available from the Finding help academy student and business operations office.
Disability support Our Access Solent service offers disability, mental health and dyslexia support. You can talk to Access Solent via access@solent.ac.uk, 023 8201 3201, the student hub on East Park Terrace or the academy student and business operations office.
You are encouraged to declare any:
Learning support includes
• Specific learning difficulties (eg dyslexia, dyspraxia).
• Academic help, eg exam arrangements, dyslexia tutors, mentoring, note-takers.
• Chronic or long-term medical conditions.
• Individual assistance in the library.
• Physical or sensory impairments.
• Confidential advice and guidance with study problems.
• Mental health conditions.
• Liaison with other departments and organisations
• Autistic spectrum declarations (eg Aspergers).
• Help with assistive software/technology, and shortterm loan of equipment. • Screening and assessment. • Help for students receiving a disabled student allowance.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
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Finding help
Financial support
Counselling
Our student funding advisers can offer guidance on all aspects of student funding and debt, including student loans, state benefits and the Access to Learning Fund.
Our counselling service provides various types of free support for students, including one-to-one counselling, group workshops and hypnotherapy – all provided by trained professionals.
Visit the student support office in room MY014, Warsash campus.
Accommodation support If you are having problems with private accommodation or your student residence, contact the Warsash accommodation office. Tel: 023 8201 5013 Email: warsash.accommodation@solent.ac.uk
Faith issues
Further information is available on the student portal, at portal.solent.ac.uk/support/health-wellbeing/ counselling-mentalhealth/counselling.aspx
Support for international students In addition to the support available at Warsash, 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 them at international@solent.ac.uk, the support student hub on East International Park Terrace campus, or via the academy student and business operations office at Warsash.
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. At Warsash Maritime Academy the Solent Chaplaincy Quiet Room is situated on the first floor of Drummond Building. The Chaplaincy is also able to provide information on local places of worship.
financial support
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Student Handbook 2015/16
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 the School of Maritime Science and Engineering should be named as your referee. Please email wma.coursesupport@solent.ac.uk The University’s references follow a standard format, including: • Course of study. • Dates and duration of attendance. • Academic profile, including a results transcript for completed study. • A generic statement of outcomes achieved from study, including transferable skills.
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.
• A standard statement on honesty and integrity, unless this is not considered appropriate. Getting your full record of academic achievement and professional qualifications If you wish to have a complete record of your academic achievement to date, please email the assessment and certification team in the academy student and business operations office, at wma.assessment@solent.ac.uk
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
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Useful services available to you
The student support office in Moyana Building (and at East Park Terrace the student hub, near the shop on the main Michael Andrews building concourse), offers a range of specialist advice and support services.
If you are having personal difficulties, there are lots of ways Solent can help. Whatever the problem might be, please get in touch - the sooner you talk to us, the better we will be able to help.
Students 1st specialist advice and support Students 1st 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 Students@Solent if a personal issue is affecting your academic studies. The Students 1st team provides advice on a range of student life issues including health and wellbeing, University procedures relating to a complaint or disciplinary, and police liaison and personal safety. It can also arrange access to the following student specialist advice and support:
You can also find a lot of information on the services available to you on myCourse, under "Succeed@Solent".
The Students’ Union The Students’ Union 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. On East Park Terrace the SU has a shop and bar, while its award-winning diner offers great food and drink at student-friendly prices. Students on the Warsash campus are supported by the SU through the Warsash Maritime Academy Officer, an elected student volunteer who is responsible for representing issues facing Warsash students and encouraging participation in the Students’ Union. To get in touch with the WMA officer, email student.involvement@solent.ac.uk
bar outside the The Students’ UnionMariners shop operates Mariners Bar once a fortnight selling Warsash branded social kit.
• Access Solent. • Funding and money. • International, including immigration and visas. • Counselling and hypnotherapy. • Chaplaincy, religion and belief. Email: students.1st@solent.ac.uk Tel: 023 8201 3427 Facebook: Students 1st
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Student Handbook 2015/16
Clubs and societies The Students’ Union offers a huge range of studentrun clubs and societies – take a look at solentsu.co.uk/ societies for more.
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, computing facilities, equipment loans and a range of software. The website offers fast information access both on and off campus whenever you need it.
If you would like to set up your own society or club, you will need eight other signatures from interested students. Read the frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the Students' Union societies page or tweet @solentengage for more information.
Useful services - Library
Staff at the library are available to answer your questions whether they are general, IT related or subject-specific, to provide support with learning skills and 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. Printing is also available on a pay-per-print basis.
For more information on library services access Succeed@ Solent on myCourse, or visit portal.solent.ac.uk/library
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
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Useful services available to you
Developing your academic and research skills If you want to improve your skills with research, exams, coursework, organisation, referencing or other academic skills, the library can help provide support and training.
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.
Finding work or work experience There are plenty of part-time jobs available in and around Southampton, and at the University.
You can find the Warsash learning resource centre on the first floor of the library building.
Careers, work and employability 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. For more information, visit www.portal.solent.ac.uk/ careers
Under the "Employability" tab on the student portal, visit the "Find a job" and "Work while studying" sections for more.
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.
Improving employability You will also have been automatically registered on "CareerBox", the Employability and Enterprise service's comprehensive page of careers information, links and resources. Find more information on your Mycourse homepage, or search for CareerBox.
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The Employability and Enterprise service 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. The employability and enterprise drop-in centre is based on the ground floor of the Mountbatten Library at East Park Terrace. For complex issues you can book a one-to-one guidance appointment – just email employability.enterprise@solent.ac.uk
Student Handbook 2015/16
Volunteering The Students’ Union offers access to plenty of volunteering opportunities, as well as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. You can also find volunteer positions through the university careers pages on the portal. www.portal.solent.ac.uk/careers www.solentsu.co.uk/get-involved/volunteering/
Freelancing or starting your own business If you are interested in freelancing or starting up a business, Employability and Enterprise 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.
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 room WW007 on the Warsash campus to find out more, or call: Solent Sport: 023 8201 4270
Volunteering
sport-clubs and societies
Watersports Centre: 023 8201 4298
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
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Assessment essentials
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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 myCourse.
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%). 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. The grading criteria used for all courses are shown below:
This section provides an overview of the regulations - for full details, visit portal.solent.ac.uk/support/ official-documents or ask the academy student and business operations office for advice.
Some assessments will be exempt from grade marking. If your unit has an exemption then details will be in the relevant unit descriptor.
Generic grading criteria * 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 at, but rarely exceeding, 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 Submitted Non-submission
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Grade mark
%
A1 A2 A3 A4 B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3 D1 D2 D3
100 92 83 74 68 65 62 58 55 52 48 45 42
F1
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F2 F3 S N
20 15 1 0
* 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”
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Student Handbook 2015/16
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 will 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 you will receive a letter detailing your results.
You must submit work for all assessments in every unit and you must achieve a certain number of credit points overall - otherwise you might not be eligible for your Graduating award (degree etc).
Pass The academic pass mark for a unit is 40%.
Note that some professional bodies may have different requirements. Talk to the academy student and business operations office to make sure you understand your specific pass requirements.
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. 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%.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
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Assessment essentials
To enable you to make good any failed assessments as early as possible, resits are held throughout the year for students based on the Warsash campus. Details will be provided by your lecturers or the assessments and certification team based at Warsash. The University charges for reassessments and for repeating a phase/level.
If you are a student at Warsash Maritime Academy, failure to take/retake all elements of assessment at the next available opportunity may affect your MCA exemptions.
Defer Defer means that you have submitted and had accepted a claim for extenuating circumstances (see page 34).
If you deferred on your first attempt at an assessment your marks will not be capped at 40%. Referred/deferred coursework and examinations are taken at the next available opportunity.
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Failed units and condonement Where you have failed a unit but have a minimum mark of 30% in each element of assessment, the Progression and Award 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).
Where you have received a condoned pass the credits for that unit will be awarded but the mark will not be changed.
If you reach the final level of your Bachelor’s Degree with a final level average of 50% or more, and have a failed unit in your first level, the Progression and Award Board can condone this unit as a pass in order for you to be able to achieve your degree.
Condonement is only available under specific circumstances. For more information, speak to your lecturers or refer to the assessment regulations at portal. solent.ac.uk/support/officialdocuments/student-documents
Student Handbook 2015/16
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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 then be required to repeat the entire level, including attendance at lectures, tutorials etc.
You can only repeat one level during your entire named award (degree etc).
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. These take place three times per year, in January, June and October. Progression and Awards Boards make decisions on issues such as condonement of units, progression between levels or award of qualifications, and normally meet after the Unit Assessment Boards in January, June and October.
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External examiners External examiners on units are responsible for ensuring that the marking by internal examiners is accurate, consistent and fair to students, and confirming academic standards for the unit based on a sample of student work.
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 at portal.solent.ac.uk/ support/official-documents, or visit the academy student and business operations office. For the full assessment regulations, check the portal at portal.solent.ac.uk/support/official-documents/ student-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.
External examiners on units have the right to moderate the marks awarded by the internal examiners, but not to change any individual mark in isolation.
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.
If one of your units has an exemption from this policy, you can find the details in the relevant unit descriptors, available on myCourse.
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Assignment submissions
Deadlines You can only submit your assignment for marking once.
Once you have submitted 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.
Please ensure that you keep a copy of (or back-up) all assignments that you submit, in case there are any problems. Failure to do this may result in you being asked to redo an assignment at the next available opportunity.
Cadet code of conduct
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 34.
Hard-copy assignments
Any hard-copy assignments must be handed in by 4pm on the date of submission or they will be considered late. 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. All assignments must have a formal cover sheet attached. These are available outside the student support office and the Warsash library. Please make sure all copies of the cover sheet are legible. 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.
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Where to submit your hard-copy assignments Warsash Maritime Academy assignments should be submitted to the assessment and certification team, located in the academy student and business operations office in Coastguards Building. Assignments must not be handed to individual lecturers.
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 – if in doubt, speak to your course leader.
Online submissions Most text–based assessments will be submitted electronically through the Turnitin system, via myCourse. Turnitin detects and reports on plagiarised work, and gives you the chance to check your references as you go. Feedback from your lecturers may be electronic or in hard-copy.
Online submissions must be submitted by 10pm on the deadline date. This applies ONLY to assessments submitted online - see "Hardcopy assignments" on page 32 for details of hard-copy submission deadlines.
Uploading assessments does not happen instantaneously, especially when large numbers of students are using the system. Do not leave submission until the last minute, as your assessments might not upload 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 mycourse.solent.ac.uk/student-turnitin Turnitin – valid filetypes and maximum 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 20MB. Submissions via myCourse When use of Turnitin is not appropriate, for example to submit video, images, projects or eportfolio files , you may be asked to upload assignments to myCourse. For more information, see mycourse. solent.ac.uk/mycourse-submissions
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 be considered late.
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. http://portal.solent.ac.uk
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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 myCourse, and on the notice board on the ground floor of the Admiral Jellicoe building.
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 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 contact the academy student and business operations office for advice. Downtime of University computer networks for short periods, problems with IT equipment, high workload accommodation and travel problems, and "planned" events such as weddings or holidays will not be considered for "extenuating circumstances".
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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/official-documents/extenuatingcircumstances 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.
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 academy student and business operations office 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% cap on your mark, or being counted as a non-submission. See "late submission" on page 32).
Student Handbook 2015/16
‘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 academy student and business operations office 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 31). 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.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
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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.
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.
As such, the University takes breaches of academic integrity very seriously.
Academic practices at Solent may be different from those for your previous studies and cultures. Please familiarise yourself with Solent's rules, below.
What counts as academic misconduct? The following actions and behaviours are considered to be academic misconduct. Plagiarism. Using someone else’s words, ideas, images etc without showing clearly what is your work and what is from other sources. You also need to provide suitable references.
Direct quotation (using exactly the same words) and paraphrasing (putting an idea into your own words) are acceptable as long as you show you are quoting someone else, and provide clear references.
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.
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If you are working in a public place or on a shared computer, make sure your work is password protected or otherwise secure. 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 where 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.
Considered a severe ethical breach on many courses, falsification could jeopardise your whole career. Professions such as law will not allow entry to their professional bodies if such an accusation is proven.
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. Student Handbook 2015/16
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 are all deemed academic misconduct.
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
Academic integrity/misconduct - Plagia misconduct officer. Tel: 023 8201 3851
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.
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 taken very seriously by the University. 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, is considered academic misconduct. Check with your lecturer if you are not sure. Providing assessments for the purpose of academic misconduct. If you write, sell or otherwise provide an assessment to another student this is deemed academic misconduct. Fraudulent extenuating circumstances claims. Submitting a false claim for extenuating circumstances is considered academic misconduct.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
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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 Award Board where:
Making an appeal If you wish to appeal your results, you must put your request in writing to the director of school c/o assessments and certification team (email: wma. assessment@solent.ac.uk) within 10 days of the date of the results publication.
• New, 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.
You should use the University’s academic appeal form, which you can download from your results page on the Student Portal (or get from the assessments and certification team in the academy student and business operations office). You need to state what your reasons are for appealing the decision of the Board and provide any relevant evidence.
• You believe current approved policies and procedures were not followed, or there was some other assessment irregularity.
You should normally receive an answer to your query within 10 working days.
• There 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 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.
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 to the student assessment manager within 10 working days of the date of notification of the withdrawal. 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/academichandbook. If you need advice, talk to a student achievement officer or the Students’ Union.
You can also appeal a decision to withdraw you from studies on grounds of non-attendance.
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Student Handbook 2015/16
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). If you would like to know more, talk to the student hub or the Students’ Union.
Course representatives 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. Giving Feedback
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/student-survey-results.
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. • 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.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
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Giving your feedback
Student complaints Where you have a problem or concern, we recommend you first try to resolve the issue informally with the relevant member of staff, or visit the academy student and business operations office 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/complaints-conduct
‘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.
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 2015/16
Your academic diary
This diary covers the coming academic year – please use it however you like. 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 Enrolment/registration from academic problems to counselling to finance Signing up and accommodation. Talk to • Your lecturers • The student support office • the Students’ Union
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
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MONDAY : 24 August 2015
TUESDAY : 25 August 2015
WEDNESDAY : 26 August 2015
THURSDAY : 27 August 2015
FRIDAY : 28 August 2015
SAT & SUN : 29 & 30 August 2015
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Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 31 August 2015
Public Holiday (UK)
TUESDAY : 1 September 2015
WEDNESDAY : 2 September 2015
THURSDAY : 3 September 2015
FRIDAY : 4 September 2015
SAT & SUN : 5 & 6 September 2015
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MONDAY : 7 September 2015
TUESDAY : 8 September 2015
WEDNESDAY : 9 September 2015
THURSDAY : 10 September 2015
FRIDAY : 11 September 2015
SAT & SUN : 12 & 13 September 2015
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Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 14 September 2015
TUESDAY : 15 September 2015
WEDNESDAY : 16 September 2015
THURSDAY : 17 September 2015
FRIDAY : 18 September 2015
SAT & SUN : 19 & 20 September 2015
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MONDAY : 21 September 2015
TUESDAY : 22 September 2015
WEDNESDAY : 23 September 2015
THURSDAY : 24 September 2015
FRIDAY : 25 September 2015
SAT & SUN : 26 & 27 September 2015
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Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 28 September 2015
TUESDAY : 29 September 2015
WEDNESDAY : 30 September 2015
THURSDAY : 1 October 2015
FRIDAY : 2 October 2015
SAT & SUN : 3 & 4 October 2015
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MONDAY : 5 October 2015
TUESDAY : 6 October 2015
WEDNESDAY : 7 October 2015
THURSDAY : 8 October 2015
FRIDAY : 9 October 2015
SAT & SUN : 10 & 11 October 2015
48
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 12 October 2015
TUESDAY : 13 October 2015
WEDNESDAY : 14 October 2015
THURSDAY : 15 October 2015
FRIDAY : 16 October 2015
SAT & SUN : 17 & 18 October 2015
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
49
MONDAY : 19 October 2015
TUESDAY : 20 October 2015
WEDNESDAY : 21 October 2015
THURSDAY : 22 October 2015
FRIDAY : 23 October 2015
SAT & SUN : 24 & 25 October 2015
50
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 26 October 2015
TUESDAY : 27 October 2015
WEDNESDAY : 28 October 2015
THURSDAY : 29 October 2015
FRIDAY : 30 October 2015
SAT & SUN : 31 October & 1 November 2015
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
51
MONDAY : 2 November 2015
TUESDAY : 3 November 2015
WEDNESDAY : 4 November 2015
THURSDAY : 5 November 2015
FRIDAY : 6 November 2015
SAT & SUN : 7 & 8 November 2015
52
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 9 November 2015
TUESDAY : 10 November 2015
WEDNESDAY : 11 November 2015
THURSDAY : 12 November 2015
FRIDAY : 13 November 2015
SAT & SUN : 14 & 15 November 2015
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
53
MONDAY : 16 November 2015
TUESDAY : 17 November 2015
WEDNESDAY : 18 November 2015
THURSDAY : 19 November 2015
FRIDAY :20 November 2015
SAT & SUN : 21 & 22 November 2015
54
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 23 November 2015
TUESDAY : 24 November 2015
WEDNESDAY : 25 November 2015
THURSDAY : 26 November 2015
FRIDAY : 27 November 2015
SAT & SUN : 28 & 29 November 2015
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
55
MONDAY :30 November 2015
TUESDAY : 1 December 2015
WEDNESDAY : 2 December 2015
THURSDAY : 3 December 2015
FRIDAY : 4 December 2015
SAT & SUN : 5 & 6 December 2015
56
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 7 December 2015
TUESDAY : 8 December 2015
WEDNESDAY : 9 December 2015
THURSDAY : 10 December 2015
FRIDAY : 11 December 2015
SAT & SUN : 12 & 13 December 2015
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
57
MONDAY : 14 December 2015
TUESDAY : 15 December 2015
WEDNESDAY : 16 December 2015
THURSDAY : 17 December 2015
FRIDAY : 18 December 2015
SAT & SUN : 19 & 20 December 2015
58
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 21 December 2015
TUESDAY : 22 December 2015
WEDNESDAY : 23 December 2015
THURSDAY : 24 December 2015
Christmas Eve
FRIDAY : 25 December 2015
Christmas Day – Public Holiday (UK)
SAT & SUN : 26 & 27 December 2015
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
Boxing Day
59
MONDAY : 28 December 2015
Public Holiday (UK)
TUESDAY : 29 December 2015
WEDNESDAY : 30 December 2015
THURSDAY : 31 December 2015
FRIDAY : 1 January 2016
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Day – Public Holiday (UK)
SAT & SUN : 2 & 3 January 2016
60
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 4 January 2016
TUESDAY : 5 January 2016
WEDNESDAY : 6 January 2016
THURSDAY : 7 January 2016
FRIDAY : 8 January 2016
SAT & SUN : 9 & 10 January 2016
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
61
MONDAY : 11 January 2016
TUESDAY : 12 January 2016
WEDNESDAY : 13 January 2016
THURSDAY : 14 January 2016
FRIDAY : 15 January 2016
SAT & SUN : 16 & 17 January 2016
62
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 18 January 2016
TUESDAY : 19 January 2016
WEDNESDAY : 20 January 2016
THURSDAY : 21 January 2016
FRIDAY : 22 January 2016
SAT & SUN : 23 & 24 January 2016
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
63
MONDAY : 25 January 2016
TUESDAY : 26 January 2016
WEDNESDAY : 27 January 2016
THURSDAY : 28 January 2016
FRIDAY : 29 January 2016
SAT & SUN : 30 & 31 January 2016
64
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 1 February 2016
TUESDAY : 2 February 2016
WEDNESDAY : 3 February 2016
THURSDAY : 4 February 2016
FRIDAY : 5 February 2016
SAT & SUN : 6 & 7 February 2016
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
65
MONDAY : 8 February 2016
TUESDAY : 9 February 2016
WEDNESDAY : 10 February 2016
THURSDAY : 11 February 2016
FRIDAY : 12 February 2016
SAT & SUN : 13 & 14 February 2016
66
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 1 5 February 2016
TUESDAY : 16 February 2016
WEDNESDAY : 17 February 2016
THURSDAY : 18 February 2016
FRIDAY : 19 February 2016
SAT & SUN : 20 & 21 February 2016
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
67
MONDAY : 22 February 2016
TUESDAY : 23 February 2016
WEDNESDAY : 24 February 2016
THURSDAY : 25 February 2016
FRIDAY : 26 February 2016
SAT & SUN : 27 & 28 February 2016
68
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 29 February 2016
TUESDAY : 1 March 2016
WEDNESDAY : 2 March 2016
THURSDAY : 3 March 2016
FRIDAY : 4 March 2016
SAT & SUN : 5 & 6 March 2016
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
69
MONDAY : 7 March 2016
TUESDAY : 8 March 2016
WEDNESDAY : 9 March 2016
THURSDAY : 10 March 2016
FRIDAY : 11 March 2016
SAT & SUN : 12 & 13 March 2016
70
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 14 March 2016
TUESDAY : 15 March 2016
WEDNESDAY : 16 March 2016
THURSDAY : 17 March 2016
FRIDAY : 18 March 2016
SAT & SUN : 19 & 20 March 2016
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
71
MONDAY : 21 March 2016
TUESDAY : 22 March 2016
WEDNESDAY : 23 March 2016
THURSDAY : 24 March 2016
FRIDAY : 25 March 2016
Public Holiday (UK)
SAT & SUN : 26 & 27 March 2016
72
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 28 March 2016
Public Holiday (UK)
TUESDAY : 29 March 2016
WEDNESDAY : 30 March 2016
THURSDAY : 31 March 2016
FRIDAY : 1 April 2016
SAT & SUN : 2 & 3 April 2016
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
73
MONDAY : 4 April 2016
TUESDAY : 5 April 2016
WEDNESDAY : 6 April 2016
THURSDAY : 7 April 2016
FRIDAY : 8 April 2016
SAT & SUN : 9 & 10 April 2016
74
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 11 April 2016
TUESDAY : 12 April 2016
WEDNESDAY : 13 April 2016
THURSDAY : 14 April 2016
FRIDAY : 15 April 2016
SAT & SUN : 16 & 17 April 2016
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
75
MONDAY : 18 April 2016
TUESDAY : 19 April 2016
WEDNESDAY : 20 April 2016
THURSDAY : 21 April 2016
FRIDAY : 22 April 2016
SAT & SUN : 23 & 24 April 2016
76
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 25 April 2016
TUESDAY : 26 April 2016
WEDNESDAY : 27 April 2016
THURSDAY : 28 April 2016
FRIDAY : 29 April 2016
SAT & SUN : 30 April & 1 May 2016
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
77
MONDAY : 2 May 2016
Public Holiday (UK)
TUESDAY : 3 May 2016
WEDNESDAY : 4 May 2016
THURSDAY : 5 May 2016
FRIDAY : 6 May 2016
SAT & SUN : 7 & 8 May 2016
78
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 9 May 2016
TUESDAY : 10 May 2016
WEDNESDAY : 11 May 2016
THURSDAY : 12 May 2016
FRIDAY : 13 May 2016
SAT & SUN : 14 & 15 May 2016
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
79
MONDAY : 16 May 2016
TUESDAY : 17 May 2016
WEDNESDAY : 18 May 2016
THURSDAY : 19 May 2016
FRIDAY : 20 May 2016
SAT & SUN : 21 & 22 May 2016
80
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 23 May 2016
TUESDAY : 24 May 2016
WEDNESDAY : 25 May 2016
THURSDAY : 26 May 2016
FRIDAY : 27 May 2016
SAT & SUN : 28 & 29 May 2016
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
81
MONDAY : 30 May 2016
Public Holiday (UK)
TUESDAY : 31 May 2016
WEDNESDAY : 1 June 2016
THURSDAY : 2 June 2016
FRIDAY : 3 June 2016
SAT & SUN : 4 & 5 June 2016
82
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 6 June 2016
TUESDAY : 7 June 2016
WEDNESDAY : 8 June 2016
THURSDAY : 9 June 2016
FRIDAY : 10 June 2016
SAT & SUN : 11 & 12 June 2016
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
83
MONDAY : 13 June 2016
TUESDAY : 14 June 2016
WEDNESDAY : 15 June 2016
THURSDAY : 16 June 2016
FRIDAY : 17 June 2016
SAT & SUN : 18 & 19 June 2016
84
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 20 June 2016
TUESDAY : 21 June 2016
WEDNESDAY : 22 June 2016
THURSDAY : 23 June 2016
FRIDAY : 24 June 2016
SAT & SUN : 25 & 26 June 2016
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
85
MONDAY : 27 June 2016
TUESDAY : 28 June 2016
WEDNESDAY : 29 June 2016
THURSDAY : 30 June 2016
FRIDAY : 1 July 2016
SAT & SUN : 2 & 3 July 2016
86
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 4 July 2016
TUESDAY : 5 July 2016
WEDNESDAY : 6 July 2016
THURSDAY : 7 July 2016
FRIDAY : 8 July 2016
SAT & SUN : 9 & 10 July 2016
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
87
MONDAY : 11 July 2016
TUESDAY : 12 July 2016
WEDNESDAY : 13 July 2016
THURSDAY : 14 July 2016
FRIDAY : 15 July 2016
SAT & SUN : 16 & 17 July 2016
88
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 18 July 2016
TUESDAY : 19 July 2016
WEDNESDAY : 20 July 2016
THURSDAY : 21 July 2016
FRIDAY : 22 July 2016
SAT & SUN : 23 & 24 July 2016
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
89
MONDAY : 25 July 2016
TUESDAY : 26 July 2016
WEDNESDAY : 27 July 2016
THURSDAY : 28 July 2016
FRIDAY : 29 July 2016
SAT & SUN : 30 & 31 July 2016
90
Student Handbook 2015/16
MONDAY : 1 August 2016
TUESDAY : 2 August 2016
WEDNESDAY : 3 August 2016
THURSDAY : 4 August 2016
FRIDAY : 5 August 2016
SAT & SUN : 6 & 7 August 2016
http://portal.solent.ac.uk
91
Notes
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Student Handbook 2015/16
The University believes that all information contained in this publication is correct at the time of print. If there are any inaccuracies these will be reported to students at the earliest opportunity.
Southampton Solent University East Park Terrace Southampton SO14 0YN Tel: 023 8201 3000 www.solent.ac.uk