Data Protection Third Parties
Information for parents, family members and other 3rd parties
At the University, we do understand that as a parent, partner or family member of a student you may have concerns and we do respect the fact that generally you will be acting in what you believe to be the best interests of the individual.
If you do contact the University, we have to be mindful that as our students are usually over 18 we are prevented by the Data Protection Act from sharing personal information with parents, partners or other third parties, even where you may be contributing to tuition fees. This may be a very different approach from the relationship you may have held with schools and colleges.
Please don’t be offended, therefore, if you phone or email the University to ask about your partner/daughter/son and no-one will give you the information you are seeking. We are simply fulfilling our legal obligations and don’t wish to be unhelpful or seem uncaring.
Staff will be happy to signpost you to information on the web (see below for details of the range of policies, procedures, information advice and guidance available to all our students).
Common queries:
Questions have been asked in relation to assessment marks, tuition, contact time with tutors, placements etc. You may find the following information useful, available on the University website to you and all our students, please see the FAQs below.
Settling in or keeping on top of studies
University life can be overwhelming and add to that a personal life, it can be difficult to juggle everything. Students are strongly encouraged to speak to their Personal Tutor, another tutor they feel comfortable with or the Students’ Union if they are at all worried about meeting the various demands.
Often concerns can be resolved and quickly; sometimes there might be a Student Progress Review. The key advice is to speak with someone as soon as possible. Staff will be happy to provide information, signpost to relevant services etc.
Assessment Marks
When assessment marks have been confirmed by the Boards, students can find their marks via the Student Portal, logging in with their University user name and password. Awarding of marks is governed by the University’s academic regulations and if a student is unhappy with a mark, they are advised to look at the Academic Appeals procedure and we would recommend the student contacts the Students’ Union for information, advice and guidance.
See our Assessments page for more details.
Tuition Hours
Tuition hours vary according to the course of study. It is important to be aware that tuition is both direct delivery from a tutor and independent student-learning. If a student has any queries about the level of tuition hours they are advised to speak with the module tutor or their Student Rep. Course handbooks may also set out what students can expect from tuition hours.
Academic improvement
There is a range of study guidance available to students, provided both via course staff and through Library and Student Services. Students should be familiar with Blackboard – an online teaching and learning resource which often hosts lecture notes, reading lists as well as advice and guidance, tips on avoiding malpractice etc.
Similar information is also available on University web pages.
Placement details
Courses where placements are arranged normally have a placement office where initial queries can be made. Students often have a specific placement-contact, a tutor within the University who liaises between students and the placement provider. This tutor can also be contacted by the student with queries.
Finance
The University has trained and experienced ‘Money Doctors’ who can provide information, advice and guidance through the web electronically and via appointments. There are a range of funds that students may be able to apply for as well as hints and tips about budgeting, minimising debt etc.
When students register on a course with the University, they are signing up to abide by a range of policies, procedures and regulations. They are responsible for familiarising themselves with the details, the University’s Student Code of Conduct and Adjudication Procedure is one example.
If students are found to have breached the Code they can be fined (other sanctions may also be applied). When each of these judgements is made students are notified of the steps they can take through the appeal procedure. Non-payment of fines can result in restrictions to student IT accounts and, if after the reminders payment is still outstanding, debt can be referred to a debt collection agency. It is difficult for the University to reconsider a fine if the student has not used the relevant appeals procedure.