Student Welcome Guide 2015-2016 www.perth.uhi.ac.uk
202 Principal s Welcome Where Are My Classrooms? 303 We take immense pride in helping our students discover and develop new talents that will provide them with the skills and knowledge to succeed in whatever they choose to do. Margaret Munckton, Principal and Chief Executive. J - UNION - LINK I would like to extend a very warm welcome to you. I am delighted that you have chosen to study at the University of the Highlands and Islands, Perth College. Our students are at the heart of all we do and we know that your education will take in new experiences and friendships and help you gain confidence in your ability to be a success. I wish you all the best with your studies and hope you thoroughly enjoy your time here with us at the College. I d encourage you to get involved in the life and work of our College, as we continually strive to offer our students an excellent experience. Margaret Munckton, Principal and Chief Executive. You will be given a timetable for all classes which will also highlight the room numbers. Here s how the room numbering system works. The first number tells you where the room is located (eg. 505, first floor Goodlyburn): 3 is on the third floor of Brahan 7 is on the third floor of Goodlyburn 2 is on the second floor of Brahan 1 is on the first floor of Brahan 0 is on the ground floor of Brahan Brahan Building 6 is on the second floor of Goodlyburn 5 is on the first floor of Goodlyburn 4 is on the ground floor of Goodlyburn Goodlyburn Building
404 Important Information 505 IT Facilities Email and Text Messages Parking Travelling to College You can get a wireless connection to our network in most of the college using your student login. You can bring in your own laptop to use on campus. You can also drop in and use a computer in the Library Foyer, the Union - Link in the Webster, the Learning Cafe in Brahan or the Goodlyburn Refectory. We will advertise available sessions in the IT Suite in Brahan. Blackboard and PerthNet Blackboard is the college virtual learning environment and can be accessed from the college website, PerthNet or the UHI website. PerthNet is the College intranet where you can find information and announcements - it comes up automatically when you log in to a College computer. Your IT induction will tell you more about these services. Checklist Have you... Completed Enrolment? Collected your student card? Changed your password at first use and not shared it with anyone? Informed Student Records of changes to your contact details, like address or phone numbers for example? Applied to SAAS for tuition fee support? (Higher Education Scottish or EU full-time students only). You can also change your address, view final results and enrol online at www.studentjourney.uhi.ac.uk, using your student login. If you have any questions regards the above, please speak to your Personal Academic Tutor or visit the Student Records desk in the Brahan Building foyer for guidance. We will use your student email account, to send you messages about your course or study here, so please check it regularly! We may also send text messages to your mobile, so please remember to update our Student Records team if you change your number. Your E-Safety is important to us Please keep your student login and password secret, change it regularly, log out of computers when you leave them and don t share personal information on social networking sites. Perth College UHI has policies on E-Safety and acceptable use of ICT. You can find these at www.perth.uhi.ac.uk/aboutus/policyprocedure. Key Diary Dates Academic Year 2015-2016 Semester 1 2015 Month Day Event August Monday 17 Academic Staff Commence August/ Monday 31-Tuesday September 1 September HE Induction - First Years September Wednesday 2 HE Induction - Returners to HND and Degree Courses Wednesday 2-Friday 4 Monday 7 Monday 14 FE Induction Commencement of Semester 1 - All Courses Start Most Vocational Evening and Day/Evening Leisure Courses Commence October Thursday 1 College Graduation Ceremony Monday 12-Friday 16 Autumn Recess November Friday 20 Staff Conference (no classes) November/ Monday 30-Friday December 11 December Degree Teaching/Exam Weeks December Friday 11 Degree Courses - Semester 1 Finishes December/ January Monday 21-1 January Christmas/New Year Recess - Students and Staff January Tuesday 5 All staff return Tuesday 5 FE and HN Courses Continuation of Semester 1 Monday 11 Friday 22 Semester 2 2016 New Day/Evening Leisure Courses Commence FE and HN Courses Semester 1 Finishes January Monday 25 Commencement of Semester 2 February Wednesday 17 Staff Conference (no classes) March/April Monday 28-Friday 8 April Easter Recess April Monday 11 New Evening Leisure Courses Commence May Monday 2-Friday 13 Degree Teaching/Exam Weeks Friday 13 June Thursday 2 FE Prizegiving Friday 3 Friday 17 Friday 24 Degree Courses - Semester 2 Finishes FE and HN - Semester 2 Finishes Staff Conference (no classes) Academic Staff Finish If you bring a car or motor bike onto our campus there is a parking charge of 40p for a half day, or 70p for a whole day (9am-9pm). You can buy tickets from meters in the car park. The car park is patrolled by Town and City Car Parks, so please display your ticket clearly and do not park on the double yellow lines or disabled bays, unless you have agreed with our Student Services team. Designated disabled parking bays are available at both the Brahan and Goodlyburn buildings and charges do not apply to these spaces. Free parking is available in the back car park, behind the Brahan building. Smoking on campus The College is a managed smoking campus, which means that you can t smoke on pathways, roads or stairs around the campus, or at building entrances. There are smoking shelters at the rear of Brahan, at the Union - Link and at the front of Goodlyburn. University of the Highlands and Islands Perth College is a partner in the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), Scotland s newest university. Through a network of colleges, research institutions and learning centres across the Highlands and Islands, UHI delivers higher education to over 8000 students. If you have enrolled on a degree programme, your award will be made by UHI. To find out more about UHI, visit www.uhi.ac.uk Cycling: There are covered cycling shelters around the College car parks. Taking the bus: The main buses to our Crieff Road campus are 1, 2 and 70 from Stagecoach, and the number 15 service which runs between Perth and Crieff. Bus timetables are available at www.stagecoachbus.com. Car sharing: Save fuel, time and money by car sharing. Ask people on your course or log in to a car share scheme such as www.perthandkinrossliftshare.com or www.liftshare.com to find out who else is travelling your way. Please remember to follow safety guidance. Recycling Help us to care for the environment by recycling your paper, cans and bottles in the relevant recycling bins around the College and in classrooms. Our partnership in the University makes our campus a lively and creative place, with students and staff taking part in everything from short courses to post-graduate study. If you are on a higher education programme such as an HNC/D or degree you will get more information from UHI and your Personal Academic Tutor. August Monday 15 Academic Staff Commence
606 707 Support for You Message from The Students Association If you have any questions about your course or the support available to you, then please contact your Personal Academic Tutor. Funding If you have any questions or worries about student funding, or need some advice on managing your money, contact our Student Funding team in Student Services. You can email pc.studentfunding@perth. uhi.ac.uk or call 01738 877379. Planning for the future It is never too early to start planning for your future and we have the staff expertise and resources to help you. Every student will need to develop their work related skills (employability) to prepare for a life beyond Perth College UHI. Perth College UHI Mobile App Our FREE, new mobile App is now live on both Apple and Google Play Stores; you can stay in touch with our events, news and receive free push notifications from us! To download scan with a QR reader or visit the Apple or Google App Stores at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/perth-uhi/id794912463?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appscentral.perthuhi Hello and welcome from the Students Association to our fabulous students and of course, all of our brilliant new students. We hope that you will all have a productive time along with a great experience at Perth College UHI. We at the Student Association want you to know that we are here for you all no matter what age or nationally you are, or what stage you are at in the student journey, we want to ensure that your time here is an enjoyable one and if necessary help you deal with any difficulties along the way. We deal with clubs and societies as well as planning events throughout the year and welcome your help as well as your participation so if any of you would like to help us know that you would be more than welcome. The PCSA feeds into the regional Highlands and Islands Student Assocation (HISA) to ensure your views are represented. Or campus has fantastic facilities and staff, and hosts a wide range of social events. Your Students Association should be your first stop to find out what facilities are available, which staff can help you make the most of your time here. Over the coming year we look forward to speaking to and seeing as many of you as we can. John Dare PCSA President So whether you are interested in finding a job or work related opportunities, thinking of further study, or need to develop your CV or interview skills, we can help you. Our Course and Progression Advisors is available through appointment with Student Services or at a Tuesday morning drop in see www.perthnet.uhi.ac.uk/ jobshopplus for more information on our services. This site will give you information on all work-related opportunities. Counselling Apple App Store Google Play Store The Students Association The Students Association is here to represent the views of all students and to empower you to shape, enhance and enjoy your experience as a student at Perth College UHI. It is managed on your behalf by a team of elected Student Officers, based in room S101 in the Brahan Building just beside the library reception. What does a Student Rep do? Listen to the views of class members. Represent the views of the class at Student Representative Council and Course Committee meetings. What will you get out of being a Student Rep? If you are experiencing any personal difficulties or need to seek support or counselling, please make an appointment with one of our Student Counsellors. We also run a range of support workshops each year, have a range of self-support resources and have excellent links with external local agencies and supporting organisations. You can email pc.studentservices@perth.uhi.ac.uk or call 01738 877379. See our Student Services website (student support team) for more details on our provision. Additional Support for Learning If you know you need some additional support for learning, or would like to discuss possible support needs, please contact our Additional Support Coordinator in Student Services. You can email pc.studentservices@perth.uhi.ac.uk or call 01738877379. The Learning Zone (On the top floor of the Study Centre in Brahan) Our Learning Zone can help you with a wide range of study skills, one-to-one appointments, and workshops. Contact us through your Personal Academic Tutor. You can come up and see us, or make an appointment by contacting maureen.paris@perth.uhi.ac.uk or call 01738 877704. We can support you with information on academic, welfare and social issues, and provide an opportunity for personal and professional development through helping us run the Association, it s clubs and societies. We also offer fun social activities that promote a culture of community and shared identity across the College and beyond. Drop in and see us with your ideas, or contact us - via email at studentsassociation@perth.uhi.ac.uk or call us on 01738 877319. Keep up to date with what s happening via: PerthCollegeUHISA @PerthStudents The Union - Link Your friendly and modern Students Union - Link is based in the Webster Building. It is the main social space on Campus. We have something for every student: live music sessions, games, Bingo and a variety of other activities. We host events such as Freshers Fair, Diwali, Christmas Party and summer BBQs. You can use the Union - Link if you wish to organise your own event ask us for more information or just come here to relax, enjoy our big screen and have a Costa Coffee with friends, or use our computer suite which is also a comfortable quiet study area and is open until 9pm Monday to Thursday. We are a registered C-Card distributor so can sign you up for a C-Card here. Pop into see Sam, Angela and Jane for lots of useful information. Develop new skills and experiences - listening, speaking, negotiating - we give you training in these and more. Improve your CV and become more employable. Help make things better, for you, your class and future students. Have fun and meet new people. Be in with a chance of winning an award for taking part. How much time will it take? Introductory Training when you take up post, lasting about an hour or you can complete this online in your own time. SRC meetings for about an hour, 3 or 4 times per semester. Course Committee meetings with the staff on your course, twice a year for about an hour. Additional training opportunities on topics such as Preparing for your Course Committee Meeting and Assertiveness. Ask your Personal Academic Tutor how to get involved. We need you in place before the October Recess! Get Involved - Tell us what it s like to be a student here. You could: Put on an event Do some fundraising Volunteer we can help Use our Student Rep you find opportunities system Start or join a club or society Join a committee or Tell your teaching staff about focus group your learning experience Complete our student surveys We are open 08.30-21.00, Mon-Thu and 08.30-16.30 on Fri.
808 Induction Resources and Information: Reminders You can find out about what happens at induction from our website under Student Support. www.perth.uhi.ac.uk/support The UHI website has some very useful resources. www.uhi.ac.uk/home/students/new-to-uhi Our student intranet, PerthNet, has lots of information about life at the College. It automatically pops up when you re using a computer on our network. www.perthnet.uhi.ac.uk Join us on social media and keep up-to-date with our latest news. Opening Times Our normal office opening hours are 8.45am 4.45pm Monday-Friday. The Library Mon-Thu 8am-9pm Fri 8am-4.45pm Non-term time 8.45am-4.45pm The Food Court, Brahan Mon-Fri 8.30-11.30am, Breakfast 11.30am-2pm, Lunch Mon-Thu 4-7.30pm, Hot food and snacks The Shop, Brahan Mon-Fri 8.30am-3.30pm The Learning Cafe, Brahan Mon-Fri 9am-4pm Costa, The Union Mon-Fri 8.30am-3pm The Gallery Restaurant, 3rd floor Brahan Watch out for posters and information on PerthNet about lunches and evening opening. Costa and the Cafe, Goodlyburn Refectory Mon-Fri 8.30am-3pm STUSER9 Perth College is a registered Scottish charity, number SC021209. The information in this publication is for your guidance only and is subject to change as part of our policy of continuous improvement.