GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT HANDBOOKS
Introduction
These guidelines establish a University code of good practice for the production of student handbooks for all taught students. They are intended as a helpful reference tool for those responsible for producing student handbooks and aim to enhance current practices, rather than impose a mandatory format.
The purpose of these guidelines is two-fold:
1. To provide all staff with key information for inclusion in handbooks which links to relevant guidance, and
2. To ensure students have easy access to key information which should be read in-conjunction with University Rules and Regulations.
The guidance is for Schools at programme level and we would anticipate there would be a Faculty or School Handbook. Generally speaking there should be separate guidance for programmes, schools and faculties without repetition and web-links should be made to information that is produced centrally e.g. ‘Rules and Regulation for Students’ produced by the Secretary’s Office so that information is not repeated at multiple levels. Reproducing information is unnecessary and can lead to students being provided with conflicting information. For example, being unaware of the University’s Rules and Regulations for plagiarism may lead to a student unintentionally plagiarising the work of another which could result in disciplinary action or a zero mark being awarded for a unit.
The guidelines are not exhaustive nor do they prescribe a particular method or style of presentation; faculties and departments will wish to communicate in a format that best meets the needs of their students.
The guidelines try to take into account the diversity of current practices across the University and are applicable to all undergraduate and taught postgraduate students. Faculties will be responsible for deciding where the information can be most usefully presented and will wish to tailor faculty and school handbooks accordingly.
The guidance is broken down into four main headings.
1. Welcome & overview of key information
1.1. Introduction and purpose of handbook
1.2. The Student Handbook
1.3. Calendar of key dates
1.4. School information
1.5. Programme information
1.6. Open Units
1.7. Placements
2. Student Support
2.1. Personal Tutoring system
2.2. Disability
2.3. Study and transferable skills
2.4. Help for students
2.5. Sources of financial support
2.6. Additional Programme costs
3. Assessment and academic matters
3.1. Teaching and assessment
3.2. Progress and discipline
3.3. Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes: Rules for Assessment, Progression and the Award of a Qualification
3.4. Plagiarism
3.5. Rules and Regulations
3.6. Student Input
4. Other information
4.1. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
4.2. Safety and Health Services
1. Welcome and overview of key information
1.1. Overview and purpose of handbook
It is helpful to provide students with a general overview of the school, its ethos, aims and objectives and how it fits into wider Faculty and University structures. Students new to the University in particular may benefit from an explanation about their relationship with each layer of the University organisation.
This is also an opportunity to briefly explain the purpose of the handbook and why it is so important that students read their handbook and make them aware of some of the potential consequences of not doing so. Also to explain that every effort is made not to duplicate information and the general rule is to refer upwards.
1.2. The University’s Student Handbook
The University’s Student Handbook is available to provide information about all other aspect of University life. These include the sporting and social opportunities, the catering and leisure facilities and the key regulations applicable to all students.
Information is available at the link below and it is not necessary to duplicate the details.
www.bristol.ac.uk/currentstudents/handbook/
1.3. Calendar of key dates
Provide a link to key dates detailing Teaching blocks, Vacation dates and University closures. www.bristol.ac.uk/university/dates/
In addition to this, registration as well as school and subject/programme specific events for example assessment deadlines should be provided.
There should also be a link to ‘MyBristol’ which provides easy access to email, calendar, timetables, Blackboard, Library account, and other student information.
https://mybristol.bris.ac.uk/
Students need to be informed about what is expected of them at different stages of their programme. A brief summary for each year group, tailored to meet their specific needs would help to resolve any confusion.
1.4. School information
This section should help students to familiarise themselves with all aspects of school life and might include information on:
Staff
· Academic staff (contact details, teaching and research interests)
· Professional services staff (contact details and main areas of responsibility)
· Details on who to contact regarding specific queries/problems within the School e.g. a change of contact details, a request to change programme or take different units.
· Organisational structure and map of offices
· School and subject/programme specific resources and facilities and guidance on using them
· School policy on communicating with students e.g. email and notice boards
· Details of school/subject/programme prizes and societies
· Student representation at University, Faculty and School level, for example staff/student liaison committees, student representatives etc.
1.5. Programme information
A brief explanation of how the programme is structured and its aims should be provided. Mention about how programme information relates to separate Programme/Unit handbooks, if relevant.
There is a lot of information already available to students through programme specifications which are publicly available. If programme information is reproduced in handbooks it must match the information given in the programme catalogue (see link below).
The programme catalogue also contains programme structures showing mandatory units and lists of the optional units available. In reproducing structures in handbooks schools should ensure that the information is consistent.
Descriptions of all units, their learning objectives, assessment tasks/requirements, credit weighting and any other information that the school thinks relevant should also be included. It is important this information either matches or preferably links to the information in the University’s programme catalogue. www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/unitprogcat/
1.6. Open Units
Undergraduate students should be made aware of Open Unit opportunities and information about whom they should consult before choosing to take and open unit.
Those units that have been identified by academic schools as being particularly suitable to be taken as Open Units by students from any faculty are listed in the Unit Catalogue.
1.7. Placements
Any information on placements should confirm to the information in theGuidelines on Student Placements in Taught Programmes,which are designed to provide an overarching framework for placement provision. These guidelines are generic by necessity and intended to be supplemented by local guidance andguidance offered by the University Health and Safety Office.
www.bris.ac.uk/esu/studentlearning/placements/
Some students may choose or be required to undertake a placement as part of their degree programme either abroad or in industry. The handbook must provide details of the placement; identify the school lead/coordinators for each placement; detail the assessment requirements; and clearly state support arrangements for students before and during their placements.
For placements abroad an explanation about local arrangements and opportunities should be included. Links should also be provided to the International Office. These links should also be available for international students coming to study at Bristol. www.bristol.ac.uk/international/yearabroad/
2. Student Support
2.1. Personal Tutoring
This is an essential component of the support system for undergraduate students; the aims, benefits and organisational arrangements should be clearly set out.
It is important for schools to explain to its students the support opportunities that are available and where they should go to access help. Useful information related to the personal tutoring scheme can be found here: www.bristol.ac.uk/students/study/academic-support/personal-tutoring/.
It is helpful for if schools spell out the exact personal tutoring and general support arrangements that are in place locally and details should include the name and contact details of the Senior Tutor(s) and the nominated member of the professional services staff in the School that a student can go to for help/advice. General information for students on academic support is available online at: www.bristol.ac.uk/students/study/academic-support/personal-tutoring/
The ‘spirit’ of this policy should also apply for students on the undergraduate non-modular programmes (BVSc, BDS, MBChB) wherever possible, although it is noted that the support requirements for students on these programmes may differ and that these programmes must comply with accrediting body requirements.
2.2. Disability
School must remind disabled students that their Personal Tutor is their first point of contact if they are experiencing any difficulties.
In addition, all schools (or in some cases faculties) should provide the name and contact details of their disability representative, explaining that they act as a channel for information about disability matters.
Students should be directed to Disability Services, which provides a range of confidential services providing information, advice and guidance to disabled students as well as staff supporting disabled students. More information can be found at: www.bristol.ac.uk/disability-services/
2.3. Study and Transferable Skills
Many schools provide guides on essay writing, referencing, presentations and study skills, either in separate web-based documents or within the handbook. Students may also find it useful to access other resources aimed at enhancing their academic performance and future employability including:
· The Careers Services (www.bris.ac.uk/careers/ ) provides career-orientated workshops, practice interviews and individual guidance as well as a variety of courses to help develop and improve student employability. It also offers support and resources to help students applying and considering placements, including a range of placement opportunities.
· In addition, the Careers Service has an extensive information and resources web site aimed specifically at postgraduate students. www.bris.ac.uk/careers/postgrads/
· The Student Skills Directory which enables students to search for and book on to skills courses in addition to those courses run by the Department. www.bris.ac.uk/studentskills/skills_resources/
2.4. Help for students
Students need to be made aware of potential sources of support in place across the University as well as arrangements within the School. Students should be made aware of the University’s Student Services www.bristol.ac.uk/studentservices/ which comprises of six services.
· Students’ Health Service
· Student Counselling Service
· Multifaith Chaplaincy
· Disability Services
· Careers Service
· Vulnerable Students’ Support Service
In addition to the above the University of Bristol Students’ Union ‘justask’ website is free for students to find impartial and confidential advice and support on a range of issues.
http://www.ubu.org.uk/justask/
2.5. Sources of Financial Support
Handbooks should mention here whether the School has access to any specific endowment funds, hardship funds, alumni bursaries or other sources of funding, any eligibility criteria, and how students may apply/seek further information.
Any students experiencing financial difficulties should be directed to the Student Funding Office for advice and should be directed to their website at www.bristol.ac.uk/studentfunding for further information and contact details.
2.6. Additional Programme Costs
Please ensure that any additional costs specific to the programme or Faculty, School or subject/programme are included in the handbook so that all students have clear information about the full costs of their time at University and so that UK undergraduate University bursary holders have information on how the “course costs” element of their bursary should be spent.
3. Assessment and Academic Matters
3.1. Teaching and Assessment
Students should be made aware that Faculty guidelines are to be read in conjunction with University Regulations and Code of Practice for the Assessment and Progression of Students on Taught Programmes and Examination Regulations, which can be found at:
www.bristol.ac.uk/academic-quality/assessment/codeonline.html and
www.bris.ac.uk/secretary/studentrulesregs/examregs.html
Information on how students are assessed can also be found within the Code of Practice.
3.2. Progress and Discipline
It should be made clear to students that school progression requirements and penalties supplement the University’s Examination Regulations which can be found at: www.bris.ac.uk/secretary/studentrulesregs/examregs.html . Students should be made aware of where to find Faculty guidance on progression in their school handbooks.
Students must adhere to all relevant regulations to their programme. The University’s Examination Regulations can be found below and should be read in conjunction with Faculty regulations and school/subject-specific guidance.
www.bris.ac.uk/secretary/studentrulesregs/examregs.html
3.3. Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes: Rules for Assessment, Progression and the Award of a Qualification
For the institutional position as to the following please see the Regulations and Code of Practice, Rules for Assessment, Progression and the Award of a Qualification:
Study
· Programme structure and design
· Student absence due to illness or other cause
· Suspension of study
· The supplementary year
· Studying abroad
· Industrial placements
· Student support
Forms and conduct of assessment
· Types of assessment
· Conduct of assessment
· Assessment and student circumstances
Marking of assessments and the processing of marks
· Marking criteria and scales
· Treatment of marks
· Anonymity
· Penalties
· Processing and recoding marks
Arrangements and processes for determining progress and awards
· Bodies and roles for determining progression and awards
· Pass mark
· Extenuating circumstances
· Treatment and publication of results
· Appeals against decisions of the boards of examiners
Regulation and policies for determining progress and awards
· Student progression and completion in undergraduate modular programme
· Student progression and completion in taught postgraduate programmes
· Student progression and completion in non-modular programmes
· Awards for undergraduate modular programmes
· Awards for taught postgraduate modular programmes
· Awards for non-module programmes
3.4. Plagiarism
Students’ attention must be drawn to the University’s regulations on plagiarism.
www.bristol.ac.uk/secretary/studentrulesregs/jisc.html
Details of strategies to reduce plagiarism and teaching students about plagiarism can be found here:
www.bristol.ac.uk/library/support/findinginfo/plagiarism/