Help! - Keele University

Helpful Information

Got a problem, but don't know who to talk to?

This list is to help you know who to see if you have certain problems; it is not exhaustive. Remember that your personal tutor is your first port of call for any personal or academic issues. The staff in theLawSchoolare all very friendly and willing to help you whatever your problem. If we can’t help you, we will point you in the direction of someone who can.

1: Personal Issues

You are having personal problems or you are very stressed:

  • Your personal tutor can give advice and help you deal with the academic consequences of your problems. S/he also knows who might be able to help you in the wider Keele community.
  • The Counselling Service provides free counselling with male or female counsellors and are really really nice
  • The Chaplaincy give advice and support to students of all religions, not just Christian. They will also be able to direct you to other religious groups not based on campus. There is a mosque on campus for Muslim students.

You are having problems with your accommodation:

  • Resident Tutors are postgraduate students and are your first point of contact if you live in Halls. They live in flats and houses in Halls and are available from 17.00 to 09.00 daily and all over the weekends during term time. They deal with all welfare/ noise/ disciplinary aspects of living in halls.
  • Residential Support at 42 The Covert are are responsible for all students in university residences and oversee the residential tutors
  • The Independent Advice Unit in the Students’ Union can advise you of your legal rights and intervene with your landlord/lady. They will be particularly useful for students living off campus.

You are in debt/ having financial problems:

  • The Independent Advice Unit in the Students’ Union can provide debt counselling and advise you of what your options are. They can also help you speak to banks/student loans companies etc
  • The Student Support and Development Services at 42 The Covert can offer advice on sources of student funding and general budgeting advice around expenditure - see here

You fought the law and the law won:

  • The Independent Advice Unit in the Students’ Union organise free legal surgeries for students several times a month

2: Academic Issues

You want an essay extension:

  • Your Year tutor for Semester 1 2012/13 - Fiona Cownie - is the only person who can authorise an extension in Semester 1. Your Year tutor for Semester 2 2012/13 - John Danaher - is the only person who can authorise an extension in Semester 2. You should contact her/him initially by email, although she/he may ask to see you in person. You will need to show your progress so far with the essay and provide evidence to support your request. This evidence could be a doctor’s or counsellor’s note or a letter from a funeral parlour or religious leader.

You want to change course:

  • Staff in the Student Life and Learning Centre can help - see here

You think you might have specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia:

  • Disability Services, part of Student Life and Learning can assess you for learning difficulties and make arrangements to support you with the correct equipment/ assistance if necessary. Assessment is confidential. They will only tell School with your express permission. It's a good idea to be assessed because it opens the door to support.
  • John Danaher is is the Law School's liaison for disability issues.

More general study problems e.g essay writing or note-taking or revising:

  • Your personal tutor. If you are not sure who this is, look on your year’s noticeboard, where all the personal tutors are listed, or ask in the main office. If your personal tutor is not in his or her office, please email them – all members of staff check their email very frequently, wherever they are – to arrange a suitable meeting time. If your personal tutor is on sabbatical, you will have been reassigned to someone else and this should be on the noticeboard too.
  • Student Life and Learning Centre give tuition on study skills and runs various workshops throughout the year

Insufficient library facilities:

  • Your module leader. S/he is responsible for ensuring that there are sufficient materials. Do tell us because otherwise we genuinely don't know
  • Your student representatives (StARs). They can raise the issue at departmental or staff-student liaison committee (SSLC) meetings. Lara McMurtry is the staff contact for the SSLC

3: Absence

You are considering taking a leave of absence (for a semester or year):

  • Again Student Support and Development Services advises on procedure for taking a leave of absence and fills in the necessary forms - see here
  • The Independent Advice Unit can advise you of any financial or other effects of taking a leave of absence.

You are going to be absent for more than a week:

  • Your year tutor for Semester 1 2012/13 - Fiona Cownie and your year tutor for Semester 2 2012/13 - John Danaher will give permission for absence.

Need a reference for a job:

  • Your personal tutor. S/he will write a reference for you based on your student records and his or her knowledge of you. It is department policy that only the personal tutors write references but they usually ask other members of staff about their knowledge of you!

Need some careers advice or application assistance:

  • Sarah Longwell in the Careers Service, is the careers advisor specialising in law careers and can give general advice on training, jobs and CVs.

4: International or Mature Students

Problems understanding English:

  • International Students (only) can see the English Language Unit for help. They can assist in understanding certain materials, and help with grammar and spelling and are based in the Walter Moberley Building.

You are an international student and are having problems:

You are a mature student and you are having problems:

  • The Mature Students’ Representative on the SSLC can raise representation issues at School meetings or staff-student liaison committee.