For the timely and effective administration of support, the School wishes to use the following markers of student engagement. This is to ensure that students are well supported and given every opportunity to progress with their studies and to achieve to their fullest potential whilst here.
Attendance: All undergraduate students are expected to attend all scheduled taught sessions including lectures, practical classes, group work, workshops, tutorials, seminars, field work, computer lab sessions, problem-solving classes, exercise classes, lab sessions, project meetings, and other events which are associated with the modules for which they are registered as part of their programme of study. Attendance at classes is recorded and kept by the class teacher. Missing more than 3 sessions, or 2 consecutive weeks, of a module will cause concern and trigger the actions as described below.
Coursework Submission: All undergraduate students are expected to submit reports, exercises essays, and other pieces of coursework associated with each module for which they are registered as part of their programme of study, by the individually advertised deadlines and method of submission. All assessed coursework deadlines in SLLF are on Wednesday at 4pm and submission is via QM+. Late submission will incur penalties (40% pegged mark). Non-submission will trigger actions as described below. Records of submission are kept on QM+
The School will capture data relating to student attendance and coursework submission on all modules for which the student is registered. This data will be used for the purpose of identifying students at risk of disengaging from their studies.
Actions by Schools are designed to support students to engage or re-engage with their study programme. The underpinning principles are that the School, once it has admitted a student to a programme of study, has a duty of care to that student, whilst in turn the student has a responsibility to engage with the available support. In such cases, support will be designed by the School around the needs of the individual student.
A student identified as approaching or falling below the minimum requirements of engagement set by their School will be contacted alerting them to this, outlining support mechanisms to deal with the issues that may be contributing to this.
Once a student is identified as in need of support in order to re-engage with their studies, they will be invited to a meeting with their Academic Adviser and/or the Student Experience Manager to discuss issues that might be affecting their studies, and for the provision of encouragement/advice (with possible referral to QM support services if necessary).
The School will always try to help students who are experiencing problems, but we cannot do so if we are not kept informed of them. If there are factors making a student’s engagement with their programme difficult, it is essential that the student discusses these with their Academic Adviser, the Student Experience Manager or another appropriate person in the University, at an early stage. This will give us the opportunity to intervene and provide the necessary support.
The policy of the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film is to provide maximum support and guidance to all students of the School throughout their time at Queen Mary. This is achieved through an advising system, which provides ongoing support, as well as supporting people with special needs or individual problems of a personal, medical or financial nature. Each student has an Adviser in the School. If your degree programme involves a subject taught outside the School, then you will also have an Adviser in the other School. The College issues general guidelines for ‘Advice and Support of Undergraduate Students’ which you should consult.
There are FOUR ways in which the School can support you:
1. The Module Organiser. S/he is a major point of contact. If you are having academic problems with a module, this is the person you should approach for guidance. The Module Organiser also monitors attendance and submission of work on a weekly basis, and will report on non-participation.
2. The Adviser. S/he sees each Advisee at regular intervals and is responsible for the overall profile of the student’s programme of study. This is chiefly an academic role. Students on joint honours programmes within the School will have only one Adviser. Students on combined honours programmes with a subject outside of the School will have an Adviser in each School.
Advisers will organise a weekly group meeting for all their first year advisees during the first semester so that new students can compare experiences and discuss issues arising from your studies.
The other main function of your Adviser is a pastoral one. Advisers are interested in your general welfare and if difficult problems of a pastoral or academic nature emerge, may recommend you consult the Queen Mary Central Services.
3. The School’s Senior Tutor Team deals with serious problems and, in particular, implements the College’s policies for extenuating circumstances, administering the School’s procedures for requests for extensions to assessed coursework deadlines during Semesters One and Two, and for claims relating to written exams during the Examination Term. (See §4.2 EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES for further details.) There is one Senior Tutor for each year of study, with the second year Senior Tutor also acting for visiting ERASMUS students, and the final year Senior Tutor acting for Queen Mary students on their year abroad.
4. The School’s Student Experience Manager, Rosine Smyrl, is here to support you and advise you about personal or welfare matters or if you don’t feel comfortable talking to your Adviser or Module Organiser about something. You can drop in, or make an appointment to see her individually, to speak in confidence about anything.
The Head of School will deal with disciplinary matters.
You must ensure that you see your Adviser at least once per semester to discuss your progress.
During term-time, all academic staff set aside weekly ‘office hours’, which are advertised on their office doors; you should try to use these hours if you need to see a Module Organiser or your Adviser. Even though staff may be present at other times, they may not be able to see you without an appointment.
You should take to your Adviser all problems involving choice of modules, timetabling and queries about assessment and examinations. S/he will be glad to discuss any issues you may wish to explore, from the academic to the personal. You must mention any health problems, even if they seem trivial. (Remember that you may need a doctor’s certificate if prolonged absence is involved.) This will enable your Adviser to ensure that any justified absence from classes does not cause concern, and that failure to produce work is understood by the Module Organiser. You can always expect discretion, and can request confidentiality, from your Adviser.
The relationship that grows up between student and Adviser is a crucial one, and extends beyond your university career, since it is usually the Adviser who writes references for employment and indeed may be asked to do so years after you have graduated.
If you feel the relationship is unsatisfactory, it is possible to arrange to change Advisers, or to consult the Chair of your department, the Senior Tutor for your year of study, the Student Experience Manager or the Head of School.
You must have the permission of the relevant Senior Tutor to take part in any non-therapeutic clinical trials.