Assessment and Student Support Centre

1. Assessmentand Student Support Centre Jenny Brown Student Support Coordinator Thursday 20th September 2012

2. Support and information for you • Assessment and Student Support Centre • Examination Periods • Religious Observance • Mitigating Circumstances • Prizes • University Services

3. Just ask! • Whatever your question, the chances are we’ve been asked about it before, so we can help. • Whatever you do, please don’t keep your questions to yourself. • Your first place to ask is us, your School

4. Assessment and Student Support Centre • Advice, guidance and support • Mitigating circumstances • Coursework extensions • Absence from class • Assessment queries • Progression rules • Referral • MBS East room D14 • Opening hours: 9am – 4pm / plus out of office hours appointments

5. Assessment and Student Support Centre • Gill Clarke Manager • Jenny Brown Student Support Coordinator • Gary Halliwell Student Support Assistant • Angela Devereux-Fitzgerald Senior Examinations Administrator • Rachel Williams Examinations Assistant • Email: studentsupport@mbs.ac.uk • Notice board – D floor outside Undergraduate reception

6. Examination Periods • 3 examination periods • January • May/June • August/September • Ensure you can be in Manchester during each of these periods • Don’t book flights/holidays etc. • Exam information in special e-bulletin

7. Religious Observance • University avoids timetabling formal assessment on religious days or festivals. • Casual, social or domestic religious events not accounted for. Every effort made to accommodate legitimate requirements. • Examination and Religious Observance Form • Student Services Centre. • 28th October (semester 1) • Full policy online at www.studentnet.manchester/crucial-guide

8. Mitigating Circumstances • Circumstances beyond your control which adversely affect assessment • Complete a form at the earliest opportunity and submit to Assessment and Student Support Centre • Provide documentary evidence • Support is available

9. Register with a Doctor • In Manchester • At earliest opportunity • List of doctors available from ASSC

10. Register with the Police • International Students: • Check your passport/visa • Make an appointment to visit: The International Visitors Registration Office, Greater Manchester Police Bootle Street, • To book the appointment please attend the International Society Helpdesk. You must make the appointment within 7 days of arrival. • You need to take the following 5 things with you to your appointment: (1) passport (2) visa (3) passport sized photo (4) original offer letter from University (5) £34 registration fee in cash.

11. Assessment and Student Support Centre • Referral centre • Academic Advisors • Peer Mentors • Student Handbook • International society • International Advice Team, visa queries • Halls of Residence • Accommodation Office • Disability Support Office • Counselling service • Careers service • Student Services Centre • administration, registration, swipe cards, tuition fees, loans • Occupational Health

12. Prizes MBS award prizes for the best performing students on each programme. More information available from the online undergraduate handbook

13. University of Manchester Counselling Service A team of professional counsellors and psychotherapists available to all students offering confidential help with any personal issues affecting work, self-esteem, relationships, mental health or general well-being. Location: Crawford House

14. English Language Support for International Students • University Language Centre run classes: grammar, pronunciation. • To qualify you must take an online English Language Proficiency Test. • Results and recommendations for language support available at the end of the test. • Classes start 8th October -14th December and run again in semester 2 • All information available at ULC website: www.ulc.manchester.ac.uk

15. Disability Support Office (DSO) Provides a confidential service to support disabled students (approx. 4000 a year) with issues such as: • specific learning difficulties, • mental health difficulties, • medical conditions, • deaf and hard of hearing students, • blind and partially sighted students, • students with autism/Asperger syndrome. Location: University Place

16. Student Services Centre (SSC) The Student Services Centre provides a wide range of services related to: • registration, • fee payment, • immigration, • examinations, • scholarships and bursaries, • official documentation, certificates and transcripts. Location: Burlington Street

17. During Welcome week you can spot AskMe ambassadors around campus wearing purple AskMe t-shirts and hoodies; they will be able to help you with any questions you might have on a range of topics.

18. SCENARIO 1: ANDY November Andy was confident that he would be able to do well at University when he started in September. Although he has worked hard, he was disappointed with the grade he received in his first written assignment in November. The feedback on Andy’s assignment mentioned that his writing lacks clarity, and his spelling and grammar are poor throughout. Andy would like to improve his performance; who should he speak to?

19. SCENARIO 1: ANDY The Disability Support Office offers dyslexia assessments. The DSO supports seen and unseen disabilities including dyslexia and dyspraxia; School-based Academic Advisors offer subject-specific advice; The University Language Centre runs in-session academic writing programmes.

20. SCENARIO 2: LOUISA January: Louisa has found it difficult to adapt to living away from home: she hasn’t bonded with other people in her Hall of Residence and often feels isolated. She’s very nervous about the January exam period and is worried that she won’t perform to her capabilities. Louisa is also worried about her finances; she thought she would receive a bursary from the University but she hasn’t heard anything. Where can she ask for advice?

21. SCENARIO 2: LOUISA The Counselling Service can help students to manage personal problems such as isolation, depression, and lack of confidence through individual sessions as well as regular workshops; The Student Services Centre manages scholarship and bursary payments as well as the Access to Learning Fund.

22. SCENARIO 3: XIAO April: Xiao is an international student from China. He has recently learned that a member of his family is very unwell. Xiao is very upset at this news and is finding it very difficult to focus upon his work; he would like to return home but is unsure how this might affect his student visa and whether the University would allow him to do so. Who might be able to help Xiao with these problems?

23. SCENARIO 3: XIAO The International Advice Team provides confidential advice service to international students on any matter relating to immigration; The Counselling Service helps students deal with personal issues such as bereavement; The School-based Office gives advice and receive interruption requests;

24. More information is available from the Crucial Guide…