Student Services Handbook working in partnership with The Team The Forum Peer Mentoring The HE Student Services team is The Peer Mentoring Programme based on the third floor of the has been set up with the aim of Forum. This new location designed providing support to first year exclusively for HE students is ideal students by helping them settle and allows the team to be in direct into their course, make progress contact with students, lecturers and achieve their potential while at and staff. This means students South Essex College. feel better supported. The modern The peer mentor’s role is to support facilities cater to meet students individual students enrolled on a needs and include spacious lecture course of study at the College. The rooms, study areas and IT facilities. mentor may have completed the Facebook same course as their mentee. This will ensure the peer mentor can Please visit our Facebook page offer encouragement with issues www.facebook.com/ such as coursework, placements hestudentservices and assignments. You will find interesting articles and research, information At the start of the year, the first about national and local events, year student is assigned a peer employability skills, funding, mentor who supports them disability, graduate schemes, throughout the academic year. voluntary work, useful video clips For more information on peer and website links and much more. mentoring or to sign up to the The Collaborative Careers Group mentoring programme email: [email protected] South Essex College is a member of the Collaborative Group which is a partnership of higher education institutions within the region. These institutions include Colchester Institute, University of Essex, University College Suffolk and Writtle College. The groups remit is to share best practice with regards to careers information, facebook.com/ employability initiatives, student HEstudentservices finance, support for graduates and progression. 3 About us The Higher Education Student Services team are based in the forum on the top floor. Team email; [email protected] Elinor Harwood-White; Higher Education Careers Coordinator [email protected] Lorraine Brophy; Senior Learning Mentor [email protected] Working hours are 8.30am – 5.00pm, Monday – Thursday; 8.30am – 2.30pm Friday but we can be flexible to meet the needs of the students. • Matrix national recognition for • assistance with complex career quality of careers information, concerns advice and guidance • Study Skills Support with a • independent, impartial and specialist tutor caters for individual needs • higher education student services • advice available up to 2 years work in close collaboration after graduation with neighbouring universities: University College Suffolk, • flexible appointment times University of Essex, Writtle • support for students with a College and Colchester Institute learning difficulty or disability in order to promote good practice and share ideas to • funding support benefit our higher education students Individual appointments available: Please don’t hesitate to book an individual appointment with our friendly team to discuss your specific career path, assist you if you’re unsure of what direction to go in or need some additional support whilst studying your chosen course. 4 Common careers discussion points are:- • options with your subject and • teaching pathways progression routes • voluntary work/ work shadowing • unsure of career pathway to • higher education funding choose following graduation • postgraduate qualifications • finding graduate employment • PHD research • employability skills • CV/ application form assistance • interview skills • covering letter/ supporting • how employers assess candidates statement advice during a selection process • internships/ work experience Study Skills Guidance: Study skills guidance works alongside subject lecturers to foster a culture of independent learning and critical thinking. Learners are directed, via workshops and one-to-one sessions to resources specific to HE courses. Students are taught how to use both the Forum and the Albert Sloman library, also the internet for ebooks, journal and articles. Assistance is offered when planning, referencing and managing findings for all types of academic study. This enables the development of skills of knowing when and why you need information, where to find it, how to evaluate it and to then how to communicate it in a concise and ethical manner. The college also has a twitter feed with links to more than two hundred and fifty academics, online libraries, academic associations and open access platforms. The college is committed to ensure that the skills and disciplines required for successful undergraduate study are rigorously underpinned with excellent access to solid academic research and a thorough understanding of academic excellence. 5 Help for HE students with disabilities We are able to provide support, You can find more information advice and guidance to higher about the DSA by visiting education students who are www.gov.uk/disabled-students- studying with a disability or allowances-dsas/overview difficulty. or by speaking to the Senior Learning Mentor (HE). Funding via the Disabled Students’ Allowance could be available for International and EU students additional costs that could be with dyslexia, disability or a incurred due to the disability. You medical condition can get help with the costs of: You can’t access DSAs from • specialist equipment, like Student Finance England if you are computer software an EU or International student. If • non-medical help, like a note- you have a diagnosis of Dyslexia or taker or study skills advice a disability and have evidence of • extra travel costs you have to pay this, please contact our disability because of your disability adviser, Lorraine Brophy, as soon as • other costs such as photocopying possible to discuss this further. • Dyslexia - students should have DSAs don’t cover disability-related their Educational Psychologist’s costs you’d have if you weren’t (or equivalent) report translated attending a course, or costs that into English. The report must any student might have. date from when you As a higher education student were 16 or over living in England, you can apply • Disabled students are advised for a Disabled Students’ Allowance to provide medical evidence of (DSA) if you have a: their impairment, eg, audiogram, • disability doctor’s letter • long-term health condition Extenuating circumstances • mental health condition We are also able to provide advice • specific learning difficulty and guidance on: such as dyslexia • extenuating circumstances Disabled Students’ Allowances • late submission (DSAs) are paid on top of your • intermission other student finance and don’t have to be repaid. • special exam considerations Forms are available on the student How much you get depends on intranet. Please come and speak to your individual needs - not your the Senior Learning Mentor (HE) if household income. you need guidance on completing these forms. 6 Mental Health and Wellbeing The HE Student Services staff at the mentoring via DSA and our in-house Forum can provide initial information counselling service. The College and guidance for students with any Safeguarding Team are also available personal concerns relating to mental to discuss concerns regarding your health and wellbeing. We are located wellbeing and safety. on the 3rd floor in the Forum. We aim to provide a bespoke service The College has various services to our students, ensuring that to support your wellbeing; from information regarding wellbeing peer mentors to discuss day-to-day support is readily available and you study concerns, your Personal Tutor, are signposted to the correct service. HE Student Services staff, specialist Accommodation What type of accommodation is available and what will it cost? If you are over 18 on a full-time Our accommodation team course then you are entitled to can offer you advice regarding apply to live at Southend’s Halls of finding suitable housing in Residence at University Square. the local area while you are at college. Please come to Student You would be staying in a purpose- Services to speak to the team, built facility, in the heart of Southend so you will be right in the action call 0845 52 12345 of the town’s night life. All rooms or email are ensuite and have a high-speed [email protected] internet connection. Can you help me find The rent includes utilities ( electric and heating), broadband, Sky TV in alternative accommodation the communal area. If you have a in the local area? TV in your room, you will need a TV If you are under 18 and you are licence. having housing concerns please • single en-suite rooms are priced at ask to speak to a member of our £132.09 per week safeguarding team. • studio rooms are priced at £162.89 Council Tax per week (these are self contained flats with a double bed and your Full-time students do not have to own kitchen area) pay Council Tax. Contact your local authority to find out how you can register your exemption. 7 Student Finance An Overview The Maintenance Loan Before we begin it is worth This is a loan that can help towards checking that you are entitled to your living costs (travel expenses, apply for funding from Student accommodation, utilities and food). England by checking your residence The amount a student can get status. Please visit the following varies. Students who are living website for advice: away from home during term time are entitled to a larger amount than http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/ those who will be living with their info_sheets/tuition_fees_e_he.php parents/guardians. The main student finance package includes a: Loan payments are made termly • Tuition Fee Loan (three times a year) into the student’s bank account. As this is a • Maintenance Loan for living loan it has to be repaid. You must costs (e.g. accommodation, be aged under 60 at the start of food, books) your first academic year to get a • Maintenance Grant for Maintenance Loan.