There are a large number of support systems in the University which you can turn to for help. This section lists a number of them.

If you are contacting someone, either by phone or email, please give a clear picture of:

• What your query or problem is
• Who you are – full name!
• What programme you’re on and what year you’re in etc. Also what module you are on if it’s not part of your usual programme, e.g an elective
• And some way of getting back to you.

You’d be surprised by the number of emails we get which go along the lines of this example:

sexything388@hotmail.com
(No title)
“Hi I can’t find the assessment, can u help.”

And phone messages that go: “Hi it’s Gemma, can you ring me back?”

Academic English and study skills support for international students

We understand that as an international student, new to the UK education system, you may face some challenges related to your academic studies in English. In order to help you, the English Language team in the School of Humanities offers a range of workshops and interactive online English for academic studies courses.

For further information and to book a place on the campus-based courses, visit http://go.herts.ac.uk/academic-english-skills

To access the interactive online courses, specifically designed for self-study, visit http://go.herts.ac.uk/interactive-academic-english

Academic writing support

Both UK and International students sometimes feel that they may benefit from additional support with essay writing skills, which include paragraph structure, paraphrasing, in-text citation and referencing. One-to-one academic writing skills support or ‘online’ sessions can be provided for students taking BA and Postgraduate courses by agreement. If you require further information about Academic Writing Support or wish to book an appointment please visit our booking page.

Students with disabilities

The University has a team of Disability Advisers who will be your main contact for agreeing support and adjustments for your studies.

These Advisors work with students with a wide range of disabilities including, for example, specific learning disabilities (eg. dyslexia and dyspraxia), sensory and/or physical impairments, mental health difficulties, Asperger’s Syndrome and long-term medical conditions (eg. epilepsy and diabetes). If you have a disability and would like to discuss the support or adjustments you might be entitled to we encourage you to contact Disability Services so a meeting can be arranged with an Adviser.

For further details please see the Disability Services pages on StudyNet, or call 01707 284453 or email studentwellbeing@herts.ac.uk.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a relatively common issue with creative arts students, but it is no barrier to the highest levels of achievement. Within the School, there are weekly drop-in sessions to help dyslexic students – see notices in the School and on StudyNet.

If you suspect you have learning difficulties, the University can arrange diagnostic testing. In the event of a problem being identified and certification granted, students’ funding authorities (typically Student Finance England, through the Disabled Students Allowance) may award assistive software and study skills tuition. A Disability Adviser can support you to make your application and arrange the support.

For further details please see the Disability Services pages on StudyNet, or call 01707 284453 or email studentwellbeing@herts.ac.uk. Drop in sessions also run each day and are advised on StudyNet.

Student experience

The quality of the student experience is absolutely vital both to the School and to the University as a whole, and we want to hear what your comments, suggestions and feedback – the things you enjoy and value, the things you think we might make even better, the things you think we need to improve. Our commitment to listening to students is expressed in the University’s Student Experience Strategy, the Student Charter and the Strategic Plan 2015-20. These can be found online:

Student Experience Strategy 2010-2015: http://tinyurl.com/8tmng6h

Student Charter and Graduate Attributes: http://tinyurl.com/9o57dkb

University Strategic Plan 2015-20: http://tinyurl.com/UHStratPlanCA

We’re proud to say that our Student Charter fits onto a single side of A4! It includes the following university commitment:

‘To listen and respond to your needs and actively seek your views on how we can continuously improve university life.’

This only works, of course, if students stick to their side of the bargain, and tell us what they think. We get a vital sense of how well we’re doing from what our students tell us and this information reaches us both formally through:

• Module Feedback Questionnaires (MFQs), for all modules at all levels
• The National Student Survey (NSS), at Level 6
• The Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) and Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) for those studying on taught postgraduate or research degrees.

– and informally through direct communication to Module Tutors, Programme Leaders, Student Representatives, and so on.

In the School of Creative Arts, the Associate Dean of School: Learning and Teaching, Dr Ivan Phillips, works closely with Student Representatives and School Student Representative Organisers (SSROs) to ensure that the experience of our students is as good as it possibly can be. Ivan is always very happy to hear from students – positive things as well as negative ones! – so please don’t hesitate to contact him with your views, questions, concerns and ideas. His email address is i.j.phillips@herts.ac.uk.

Remember, we really value your feedback.