Student Support
10.1 Student Support
As detailed in the Scheme of Delegation, this procedure is delegated to TMC.
The Manchester College promotes an inclusive learning environment for all students. Support needs are assessed at enrolment. The Manchester College has dedicated HE Support Advisors to discuss support needs or concerns in confidence.
The college also assists in helping students access the Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs). The HE Specialist Support Advisory team can:
arrange a one-to-one meeting to discuss support needs
support the process of completing the DSA application form
help with booking Needs Assessment appointment
liaise with Student Finance England
liaise with the course tutor to draw up an individual Personal Learning Plan (PLP)
arrange a diagnostic dyslexia assessment
International Office (for overseas/international students only)
In addition to the Guidance and Welfare Service, the international office provides help and advice to students from overseas on any aspect of life as a student. The international office is located at the St Johns Campus in the City Centre.
The services includes
managing the enrolment process
assistance to help settle in to college life
immigration and visa advice
advice with career progression Guidance and Welfare Service
The Guidance and Welfare Service offers help and support to all students studying at The Manchester College. We give confidential and objective information, advice and guidance on courses, careers, student finance, welfare and personal matters. The Guidance and Welfare Service is ‘Matrix’ accredited to national quality standards.
Members of the Guidance and Welfare Service are based on all of the main college sites. Team members also visit other college sites on a regular basis. For more information, contact
Reception or the main office at your site of study. The Guidance and Welfare Service provides
help to choose the right progression pathway
help with welfare benefits, debt and immigration status for study
Help with finances, where to live, personal support, part-time work, etc.
support with what to do after your course has finished, e.g. further study, training or jobs To help you as much as possible, the staff in the Guidance and
booked appointments with specialist staff
drop-in sessions for brief queries
group work with students on topics such as careers, going to university, student finance, using careers resources and job search
There are up-to-date computer programs and resources, which can be found in the libraries, targeted to meet student needs on each campus. Guidance staffs offering this support are qualified and experienced and work in safe, friendly and welcoming settings.
Chaplaincy
The Manchester College Chaplaincy works on a multi-faith basis. As such, we do not favour any one religion but offer all students and staff, from many faiths and none, a means to explore matters of faith, spirituality and personal concerns.
The Chaplain works across all sites of The Manchester College and can be contacted via Reception, tutors or switchboards. On each of the main sites there are Chaplaincy Rooms set aside for prayer, meditation and/or simple quiet times. As well as the Chaplaincy Rooms, events and information displays are provided. Also offered:
Pastoral support sessions for those who wish to talk about their problems or concerns in confidence. If needed, individuals can also be put in contact with specialist groups and support agencies
Contacts and information on religious groups and related events in Greater Manchester and beyond
Library Resource Centres (LRCs)
Each main campus has a Library Resource Centre (LRC) providing an excellent range of books, journals, multimedia and online resources to support teaching and learning throughout the college. Students at The Manchester College have access to all of the college LRCs
Students receive an induction to the services and facilities that are available in the LRC at the start of their course. Sessions on using print and online resources are provided, in liaison with subject tutors to help students acquire information literacy skills.
The virtual Library Resource Centre, http:learning.themanchestercollege.ac.uk/lrc provides access to online resources including E books 24/7. The website contains essentials to support with the course by providing access to the library catalogue, online resources, subject guides, study skills resources and general information on location and opening hours.
Student Feedback
There are many channels for student feedback. In the first instance students can feedback within the group tutorial. Students are also requested to fill in module feedback questionnaires. This information is used in module review and development and for course reviews. Students are also encouraged to engage with the annual National Students Survey.
Student Representatives
Each HE course elects a HE Student Representative who will attend training and termly meetings. These student representatives will engage in meetings with Programme Teams, Quality Assurance Managers and external institutions as applicable. Views can be fed back through that formal channel.
Academic Support
Academic Support at the College provides a personal and practical approach to academic study and opportunities for students to develop their own learning strategies. A range of Academic Support offered includes:
Tutorials
Online resources with support via the LRC e.g. Skills4Study Campus
Academic Support sessions delivered by LRC staff
1-1 supervision for dissertations
PPD/PDP modules
Individual learner plans
Moodle academic learner modules
Target setting on the Learner Information Portal (LIP)
10.2 Student Participation Policy
As detailed in the Scheme of Delegation, this procedure is delegated to TMC.
1.1 The College expects all students who have enrolled on a module to participate fully in the learning activities associated with each module and to undertake the assessment attached to it. 1.3 The College will monitor engagement at taught sessions from the first week of teaching and will undertake to contact students whose failure to participate without agreement or approval gives cause for concern. Taught sessions can be lecture, tutorial, seminar, workshop or studio- based. The contact made constitutes the invitation to explain failure to participate before termination on the programme occurs.
1.4 The College will monitor engagement with on line modules through the virtual learning environment from the first week of delivery and will undertake to contact students whose failure to participate without agreement or approval gives cause for concern. The contact made constitutes the invitation to explain failure to participate before termination on the programme occurs.
1.5 The following will be considered as breach of policy in any of the circumstances stated below, unless the student has negotiated alternative acceptable arrangements with the Module Leader(s) or Programme Leader:
(i) The student has missed any 3 weeks of taught sessions for one module, either consecutively or intermittently. Or has failed to meet the attendance requirements specifically described in the module details provided to students without good cause or approved extenuating
(ii) The student has missed 3 or more weeks of scheduled taught sessions for more than one module within a semester without good cause or approved extenuating circumstances. (iii) Failure to meet the engagement requirements with the virtual learning environment for one module without good cause or approved extenuating circumstances.
(iv) Failure to meet the engagement requirements with the virtual learning environment for more than one module within a semester without good cause or approved extenuating circumstances. 1.6 The College has a duty to ensure that international students are engaged with their studies throughout the duration of their programme of study. As monitoring the attendance of
international students studying under Tier 4 is a requirement of the UKBA, the College has a system of attendance monitoring to support this.
1.7 The College take responsibility for advising SFE of student registration and any changes of status such as withdrawal or interruption of study from the programme.
10.3 Student/programme and module handbooks
All students registered on a University programme will be provided with a
Student/programme Handbook and a module handbook (this can either be in hard copy or virtual format).
It is the responsibility of TMC to produce these handbooks, which will provide clear information on the respective roles of the University and the College and should include information on which facilities, entitlements, regulations and procedures are those of the University and which are those of the College.
ARTP Section 5.2.4 (programme handbooks) and ARTP 5.2.5 (module information) of the ARTP provides confirmation of what information should be provided to students.