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Student Information

Booklet 2015-2016

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Welcome from the Principal

On behalf of all the staff I would like to welcome you to Shetland College,

and we sincerely hope you enjoy your time studying here. Whether you

are starting or continuing your studies with us, please read this Student

Information Booklet as it contains very useful information which is designed

to help you through your student journey here at Shetland College.

As we are a partner of Scotland’s newest university, the University of the Highlands and Islands,

we are able to offer our students the opportunity of studying further, higher, degree and post-

graduate level courses. Furthermore, many of these courses can be studied in a flexible manner

at times and locations convenient for you the learner, thus increasing opportunities and access

to learning.

The staff team here at the College are dedicated, enthusiastic and fully committed to your

learning.

Above all, we are absolutely committed to helping you realise your potential and we will do

everything we can to ensure you fulfil your lifelong career ambitions.

I wish you well in your studies at Shetland College in 2015/16.

Irene Peterson, Acting Principal

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Contents Welcome from the Principal ....................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 3 Disclaimer .................................................................................................................................. 3 Equal Opportunities Statement .................................................................................................. 3 Students with Additional Support Needs .................................................................................... 3 Student Discount Scheme .......................................................................................................... 3 Term Dates 2015/2016 .............................................................................................................. 4 The Library and Information Centre ........................................................................................... 5 Printing and Photocopying Charges ........................................................................................... 7 Childcare Facilities ..................................................................................................................... 8 Briggistanes ............................................................................................................................... 9 Work Experience ........................................................................................................................ 9 Bus Service .............................................................................................................................. 10 Health & Safety Information ..................................................................................................... 11 Emergency Evacuation and Fire Procedures ........................................................................... 11 Fire Test ................................................................................................................................... 12 Emergency Evacuation / Safe Area Diagrams………………………………………………………12 No Smoking Policy ................................................................................................................... 13 First Aid .................................................................................................................................... 13 Absence due to Illness ............................................................................................................. 13 Attendance at Core and Essential Skills Classes ..................................................................... 14 Signing In/Out Book ................................................................................................................. 14 Extreme Weather Conditions ................................................................................................... 14 Change of Contact Details ....................................................................................................... 14 Withdrawal / Transfer Form ...................................................................................................... 15 Student Support Services ........................................................................................................ 15 Support for Learning ................................................................................................................ 17 Finance / Fees ......................................................................................................................... 18 Student Finance / Fees ............................................................................................................ 18 Financial Support for Further Education Students ................................................................... 18 Financial Support for Higher Education Students .................................................................... 19 Fee Waiver for Part time Further Education Study ................................................................... 19 Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) ............................................................................ 20 Individual Learning Accounts - Skills Development Scotland (SDS) ........................................ 20 Modern Apprenticeship CITB ................................................................................................... 20 Benefits .................................................................................................................................... 21 Discretionary Funds ................................................................................................................. 21 Teaching and Learning Agreement .......................................................................................... 22 Submission Sheet for Assignments / Assessments ................................................................. 23 Plagiarism ................................................................................................................................ 23 Use of College ICT Systems .................................................................................................... 24 Your College e-mail Account ................................................................................................... 24 Online Safety .......................................................................................................................... 24 ICT Acceptable Use Policy ....................................................................................................... 25 Student Disciplinary Code ........................................................................................................ 28 Student Appeals ....................................................................................................................... 29 Student Grievance Procedure .................................................................................................. 33 Change of Contact Details Form (example) ............................................................................. 36 Submission Sheet for Assignments / Assessments (example) ................................................ 37 Student Self Certification (example) ......................................................................................... 38

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Introduction We aim to make student life at Shetland College UHI and its Learning Centres a great experience. With the opportunity to make new friends, access student discounts and to study something you enjoy, we feel the student experience here can make a positive difference to your life. The following pages contain information that you may find helpful, whether you have come to college for the first time or are a returning student. There is a range of information from library opening times to financing your course. If you have any questions to which you cannot find the answer, our staff will be happy to assist you.

Disclaimer While we have made every effort to ensure that information provided in this Student Information Booklet is accurate, it is intended only as a guide for those studying at the College and Learning Centres. Changes are made from time to time and we reserve the right to add, amend or withdraw courses and facilities.

Equal Opportunities Statement We are committed to equality of opportunity and non discrimination in all aspects of our work and study. We seek to promote opportunity for all, particularly for study, employment and involvement in the community, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, socio-economic background, sexual orientation or race.

Students with Additional Support Needs We welcome applications from all prospective students and strive to provide appropriate and

efficient services to students with additional support needs.

Student Discount Scheme Many local businesses offer discounts to students holding a student ID Card. To be entitled to a student ID card, you must be:

Enrolled on a full-time FE or HE course

Enrolled on a part-time FE or HE course (studying towards an overall named

award/course spanning 2 or 3 years such as HNC part-time, SVQs)

Enrolled on a part-time FE or HE course (undertaking a complete SVQ programme, or

part-time course which spans the complete academic year, e.g. New Directions)

Please see the Student Discount Booklet for a list of the local businesses which participate in this scheme.

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Term Dates 2015/16

Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4

Students Mon 31 Aug 2015 - Fri 09 Oct 2015 (FE courses induction and start/HE induction)

Mon 26 Oct 2015 - Mon 21 Dec 2015

Tue 05 Jan 2016 - Fri 25 Mar 2016 (Tues 5 Jan start in line with UHI date)

Mon 11 Apr 2016 - Fri 01 July 2016

Lecturers Mon 17 Aug 2015 - Fri 9 Oct 2015

Mon 26 Oct 2015 - Mon 21 Dec 2015

Tue 05 Jan 2016 - Fri 25 Mar 2016

Mon 11 Apr 2016 - Fri 01 July 2016

40 days 41days 59 days 60 days

Shetland Schools

Mon 17 Aug 2015 - Fri 9 Oct 2015

Mon 26 Oct 2015 - Tue 22 Dec 2015

Wed 06 Jan 2015 - Fri 25 Mar 2015

Mon 11 Apr 2016 - Fri 01 July 2016

UHI Semester

Semester 1 – HN Provision Semester 2 – HN Provision

Dates Mon 07 Sept 2015 – Fri 22 Jan 2016

Mon 25 Jan 2016 – Fri 03 June 2016

Semester 1 – UG/PGT Degrees Semester 2 – UG/PGT Degrees

Mon 07 Sept 2015 – Fri 11 Dec 2015

Mon 25 Jan 2016 – Fri 13 May 2016

Oct Reading Week 12 – 16 Oct 2015

In-service dates - 17 - 21 August 2015 Up Helly Aa holiday Wednesday 27 January 2016 - if lecturing staff take this as a holiday, they must make up these hours at another time throughout the session

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The Library and Information Centre

You’ll find Shetland College’s fully accessible Library and Information Centre straight ahead as you come in the main entrance to the College. The Library services are available to all students and staff. We provide:- Networked PCs with Internet access.

Printing facilities.

Individual study spaces with a quiet working environment.

Most core, recommended and supplementary texts for the courses offered at the college.

A selection of magazines and journals related to courses offered at the college

A selection of books for leisure reading – mainly novels- on loan to us from Shetland Library. These can be borrowed from us whether you are a Shetland Library member or not.

Students can book the small group study room in the library for groupwork or practising presentations. This room has three computers plus a wall mounted screen linked to a fourth. Please contact us if you would like to book this room (free of charge)

Support from a Chartered Librarian including study/research skills, inductions into use of all online and printed resources, guidance and advice on appropriate resources for your assignments, instruction and advice on referencing and avoiding plagiarism.

We have two laptops available for students who need to work in a group. These can be taken into the small group room if needed. Please speak to the librarian if you would like to use this facility.

Free WiFi is available for students and visitors. You are welcome to bring your own devices into the library. Detailed instructions for setting up connections for your own laptops, tablets and smartphones can be found on the UHI Website - www.uhi.ac.uk Library Opening Times Library opening hours vary according to the time of year, and from time to time are affected by staffing limitations. For the current information on opening hours, take a look at the library pages on the Shetland College website www.shetland.uhi.ac.uk/library/openinghours Our direct line is 01595 771258 Email staff on duty – zclibrary@uhi.ac.uk Borrowing Students may borrow up to 15 items. The usual borrowing period is one month. Membership is automatic for all staff and current students, as well as current students from any of the Academic Partners in the University of the Highlands and Islands. External users and former students may arrange to use the facilities and borrow up to 2 items. The library catalogue is part of a shared service between the University of the Highlands and Islands partner institutions and our users can search for and request items from anywhere within the partnership. These are then posted to our library for you to collect. Many books are now also available as e-books. These can be found via the library catalogue alongside paper copies.

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Staff and students also benefit from access to a huge number online information sources via the

UHI E-Resources collections. These include full text of thousands of journal articles, referencing

software, encyclopaedias and statistics. Your Librarian will be pleased to show you how to

access these.

We make every effort to ensure equal access to our staff and students – even if it is difficult for them to come into college; therefore enquiries, requests and renewals are welcomed by phone or by email. Books can be posted to students living in remoter areas, or to anyone with difficulty coming to Lerwick to use the library facilities at the college.

Books and other materials for engineering students, whose courses are undertaken at the NAFC Marine Centre, can be found in NAFC Marine Centre Library, Port Arthur, Scalloway.

NAFC Library Opening Times: Mon - Fri: 9:00am - 5:00pm There is an extensive collection of books and journals on mechanical, electrical and marine engineering. In addition, students from Shetland College are able to use the library facilities there during opening hours. To contact the library staff at NAFC Library: Direct line Tel: 01595 772350 Email: nclibrary@uhi.ac.uk You may access the University of the Highlands and Islands library catalogue, e-resources or see other library related information at www.uhi.ac.uk/en/libraries/library-home Our website contains detailed information and links relating to the library services. Visit us at

www.shetland.uhi.ac.uk/students/library-services

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Printing and Photocopying Charges As a student you receive a generous print allowance, suitable for the amount of printing your course requires. This varies from course to course. Your allowance is designed for printing or photocopying your college work, but not for printing or copying that is unrelated. It will be sufficient for your course needs, provided you print responsibly and take care over print settings before you click ‘Print’. If your print credit gets low, you will receive a message warning you that you are running out. Please contact the library staff if that happens and they will advise you how to purchase credit for your account. You are responsible for all pages printed from your account, even if you are not happy with the print produced. You must make sure you select and set your printer preferences correctly each time you print. The cost of prints and photocopies are:

A4 A3

Black and White 4p per sheet (single sided) 8p per sheet (single sided)

Black and White 6p per sheet (double sided) 12p per sheet (double sided)

Colour 10p per sheet (single sided) 20p per sheet (single sided)

Colour 20p per sheet (double sided) 40p per sheet (double sided)

Photocopy facilities for student use are available in the library. Please ask the library staff to assist you – they will deduct the number of copies from your account.

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Childcare Facilities There are a range of childcare facilities available in Lerwick, including Isles Haven Nursery which is based in the centre of town. For students who have young children, Isles Haven will try to accommodate your childcare needs, so that you can still study with Shetland College UHI. For students undertaking Health & Care courses, you may have an option to have a work placement in the nursery.

This nursery is conveniently located next to the Islesburgh Community Centre, with good

access to local transport routes. As well as an extensive indoor area, children can access the

local town park, Lerwick library, and Islesburgh Community Centre's garden.

The nursery is led by manager Marina Eva whose enthusiasm for her work and inspiring nature

comes across in the wide variety of topics and visits which make up the nursery’s curriculum.

The nursery is highly regarded for successfully engaging children in learning through play,

enjoyment and individual needs.

If you’d like to visit the nursery to find out more about us, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Contact numbers are: 01595 745398 or 01595 745399.

Opening hours

Monday to Friday

Full day: 8.45am to 5.15pm

Morning session: 8.45am to 1.00pm

Afternoon session: 1.00pm to 5.15

Location

Fees Fees are payable monthly on receipt of invoice. Cheques should be made payable to Shetland Islands Council. Fees are available on request. Pre-school children receive 2.5 hours care per day for 36 weeks under the Government Commissioned Placing Scheme. Parents will be charge £4.00 per hour if parents prefer to use the extended hours. Holidays We are open 42 weeks of the year with a six-week break in July/August and a two-week break over Christmas/New Year/Easter. If your child is on holiday outwith these dates you will be charged full fees.

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Briggistanes Briggistanes is a great facility with a range of meals and snacks to suit everyone’s tastes, including soup and “special of the day” as well as healthy options. In Shetland dialect ‘Briggistanes’ means a footpath of flat stones leading up to a house. This is an apt name for the social area, as this area is frequently accessed by students and the public before going elsewhere in the college building. Opening Times: Mon to Fri: 8.45am to 1:30pm We also have a vending machine providing snacks outside Briggistanes opening hours.

With a tasty selection of food at very reasonable prices, Briggistanes is an excellent choice for

breakfast, lunch and snacks. It is also designed to be a comfortable place for students to relax

between classes and a good venue for college activities. Please note that the café staff can only

accept cash payments.

Work Experience An integral part of most FE Courses is some element of work experience. Opportunities exist throughout Shetland and in recent years the college has been able to offer vocational work placements in Voss, Norway, for a small group of FE students. If you are studying a Further Education course in art & design, business, construction, digital media, health & care, hospitality or music then you may be eligible to apply! If you are interested in this opportunity, applications are invited from Mon 21st Sept until Mon 2nd Nov 2015.

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Bus Service Central Lerwick to Shetland College UHI

Shetland College UHI to Central Lerwick

Route 6 Mon - Fri

Route 21 Mon - Fri (term time)

Route 6 Mon - Fri

Route 6 Mon - Thur

Shetland College UHI 1327 1618 1650 2110

South Road (Tesco) 1336

Esplanade 1353

Viking Bus Station 1630 1710 2116

Scalloway Bus Service The Scalloway service passes through Gremista hourly in both directions. Please note, to catch buses heading for central Lerwick you will have to walk to the Leasks Filling Station (see map). If you want to travel from central Lerwick to the college (via the Scalloway service) the closest bus stop to the college is the Lerwick power station. Buses to/from the North and West mainland may also pass through Gremista. For more information see: http://travel.shetland.org

Route 6 Mon - Sat

Route 6 Mon - Fri (term time)

Route 6 Mon - Fri (not term time)

Route 1 Mon-Fri

Anderson High School

0845 *

Commercial Street (Harrison Square)

1313

Viking Bus Station 0750 0850 0845

Shetland College UHI 0755 0858 0853 1327

Lerwick to Scalloway (Mon to Sat)

Viking Bus Station 0750 0840 1010 1110 1210 1310 1415 1510 1610 1715 1910

Esplanade 0751 0841 1011 1111 1211 1311 1416 1511 1611 1716 1911

Gremista (approx.) 0759 0849 1019 1119 1219 1319 1424 1519 1619 1724 1919

Scalloway to Lerwick (Mon to Sat)

Gremista (approx.) 0745 0835 0955 1055 1155 1255 1355 1500 1555 1655 1800 1955

Viking Bus Station 0749 0839 0959 1059 1159 1259 1359 1504 1559 1659 1804 1959

*please note: you may have to change Route 6 buses at the Viking Bus Station. Please confirm with driver.

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Health & Safety Information The following pages contain important information regarding the college’s health and safety procedures. Please make sure that you take the time to read them. Please remember that all staff and students are responsible for the safety of themselves and others. Some of you may be working in areas with tools or equipment with the potential to cause harm e.g. the construction workshop, the creative industries section or the hospitality training kitchen. Please do not carry out practical jokes or horseplay that may put you or your colleagues in danger. If you do see anything that is damaged, faulty or dangerous please report this to a member of staff so that appropriate action can be taken.

Emergency Evacuation and Fire Procedures Emergency Evacuation notices showing the assembly points and the locations of temporary refuge areas are located in classrooms and notice boards throughout the college. Please take time to read these and familiarise yourself with the evacuation procedure as there will be no time to read them in an emergency situation. See page 12.

Fire Drill The fire alarm is a single tone klaxon sound.

When the fire alarm is activated, remain calm and leave the building by the nearest safe emergency exit.

Do not stop to pick up belongings.

Lifts are NOT to be used.

Students should assemble at the Assembly points (see map on page 12) and report to your class lecturer.

Students must NOT re-enter any buildings on the campus, unless they have been told to do so by the Manager in Charge.

Every time you hear the fire alarm you need to evacuate the building, you should take the alarm seriously as it may not always be a drill. Apart from a Friday afternoon at 3.45pm (see Fire Test on page 12). If you discover a fire

Operate the nearest fire alarm by smashing the glass and leave the building.

Do not attempt to fight the fire.

Students who are working outwith the Gremista campus e.g. Local Learning Centres should familiarise themselves with the evacuation procedure for the building they are in. Students should follow that procedure in the event of an emergency evacuation.

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Fire Test A fire test is carried out every Friday at 3.45pm; you do not need to evacuate the building. The test is purely to make sure that the fire alarm is working correctly. Map showing locations of Assembly Points and Emergency Evacuation Routes

Map showing locations of Temporary Refuge Areas

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No Smoking Policy No smoking is allowed on the College campus. The College campus is defined as the building and the surrounding areas, including the car park. This includes no smoking is allowed within cars parked in the car park.

First Aid First Aid boxes and gloves are located in all classrooms throughout the college building, as well as at Reception. Notices are located in each room with the names of staff who are qualified first aiders and their contact numbers. If you require a first aider either speak to a member of staff or contact Reception. Reporting of Accidents and Near Misses It is important that the college is aware of accidents in order that action can be taken to make the college a safer place to work and study. If an accident or near miss occurs, please complete a PIN form (Personal Incident Notification). This form is available from Reception. The PIN form is in two parts; both parts must be completed and handed in at Reception as soon as possible. The PIN Form Part 1 concerns the incident only and should be completed immediately an incident happens. It must be submitted at the earliest possible opportunity after the accident/incident. This form may be completed by the injured person, a supervisor or a work colleague. The PIN Form Part 2 is to be used for the recording of the investigation into the incident. The form should also be signed by the relevant Head of Section (or the Acting Principal / Operations Manager if the Head of section is not available).

Absence due to Illness Absence from Class If you have been absent from class you must complete a self-certification form. If your absence continues for more than 5 days you will be required to produce a doctor’s certificate. Self-certification forms can be collected from College Reception and should be returned to your Course Lecturer. An example is shown on page 38 Failure to comply with this process will mean a non-explained absence, which in turn may affect Bursary payments. Absence from Examinations If you miss an examination due to illness or any other legitimate reason (for example bereavement), you are required to notify the College that you will be absent prior to the examination (and in the case of illness you may be required to produce a doctor’s certificate). Please note that failure to notify the College that you will be absent from an examination

is counted as a failed attempt.

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Attendance at Core and Essential Skills Classes It is very likely that your course of study will include attendance at Essential Skills classes for subjects such as:

Communications

Information Technology

Numeracy

Employability Many of the assessments for these subjects are integrated with assessments in your vocational subject area and the skills you learn are crucial to you being successful in your course. It is therefore very important that you attend all the classes for any Essential Skills unit on which you are entered as part of your college course. Any non-attendance or progress issues will be reported to your Course Leader and could lead to your education bursary being withdrawn. It is also important to realise that completion of these Essential Skills units will be required to allow you to progress onto higher level courses.

Signing In/Out Book The signing in/out book is located at Reception. Signing the in/out book means we can ensure that everyone is accounted for in the event of an emergency. Please remember to sign the in/out book:

• If you leave the campus during class time.

• If you arrive late as class registers are usually taken at the beginning of each class.

If you are going to be absent from any class for whatever reason and are unable to sign the

book please notify College Reception on 01595 771000 who will inform your Class Lecturer.

Extreme Weather Conditions You should note that when schools and the college are to be closed because of extreme weather conditions this information is broadcast in the early morning bulletins of local radio stations (SIBC and Radio Orkney). A bulletin regarding the closure of the college and or classes cancelled will be posted on the Shetland College website, and an e-mail sent to students via their Outlook account. It is important that you regularly check your Outlook e-mail account as all official communication (including from UHI) will be through that medium. Sometimes news summaries refer only to the closure of schools. You can safely assume

that in the event of all schools in Shetland being closed, the college will also be closed.

Change of Contact Details It is important that you tell us if your contact details change, such as your home address, your home telephone number, your mobile telephone number. Please complete a Change of Contact Details form, available from Reception and return it to Reception as soon as possible. An example is shown on page 36.

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Withdrawal/Transfer Form If you decide to leave before the end of your course, you must complete a Withdrawal/Transfer Form. This form is available from Reception. When you have completed the form, please return it to Reception as soon as possible.

Student Support Services Most students require a little extra help from time to time. Shetland College UHI offers help in a number of different areas. Personal Adviser You will be allocated a personal adviser who will introduce you to the academic courses and assessment procedures, in addition to providing regular support and guidance on academic matters.

Student Finance Before you enrol on a course of study through Shetland College UHI, it is important that you know how it is going to be funded and have submitted your application for fees and any personal financial support you may be entitled to.

Full Time Further Education (SCQF Level 1-6)* Full time further education courses are funded by a bursary from the Shetland Islands Council (SIC). An application form is sent out to all successful applicants with a college offer letter. The SIC will pay tuition fees for all eligible students and family income will not be taken into account. Applications for maintenance and travel allowances (if applicable) should be included in your bursary application and an award will be dependent on your level of income.

Full Time Higher Education (SCQF level 7-12)* Full time higher education courses are funded through the Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). All application should be made online at www.saas.gov.uk. SAAS will pay tuition fees for all eligible full time students; the level of family income will not be taken into account. Support for living costs will mainly be through a student loan, Young Student’s bursary or Independent Student’s bursary (where applicable) and will be dependent on your personal circumstances.

Part Time FE Study (SCQF1-6)* A part time student is defined as anyone who is studying less than 16 hours per week in class, or 21 hours per week in total made up of 16 hours in class with remaining hours using structured learning packages supported by teaching staff. Part time FE students will normally have to pay for their own fees unless they have secured other sources of funding through an employer, an ILA Account (see page 20) or are eligible for a fee waiver

Classes are free and you should apply for a fee waiver if:

You are in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Severe Disablement

Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Attendance Allowance or Contributory Employment and Support

Allowance.

Your family is in receipt of Working Tax Credit, Income Support, Pension Credit, Housing

Benefit, Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance.

The net income of your family is equivalent to, or below the threshold for receiving Income

Support.

You are in receipt of Universal Credit

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On-going reform of Welfare Benefits means that there are a number of changes in these areas which are being phased in over a period of 3-5 years. If the benefit you are in receipt of is not listed please check with ourselves rather than assume you cannot get support.

Please contact the college directly to apply for a fee waiver. Evidence of allowances or income must be submitted with the application form and must cover the first day of study. Classes which involve literacy, numeracy and learning English for Speaker of Other Languages are free up to SCQF 4.

Part time students on a full time course, in receipt of an FE fee waiver (studying courses at SCQF

levels 1-6) can apply for a bursary to meet the costs of travel and materials. Applications should be

made on the SIC Bursary application form and a signed copy of the fee waiver should be included

with the application. Copies of completed fee waiver applications may be obtained from the college

office or Guidance Room on production of identification.

Students Receiving Benefits Some students can remain on benefits whilst studying. You should seek advice from JobCentre Plus, Department of Work and Pensions or the Citizen’s Advice Bureau prior to starting your course.

Discretionary Funds At Shetland College UHI we understand that many students struggle to cope on a very low income

and so we are keen to help students who are in real need before they reach crisis point. The

discretionary fund will accept applications from full time and part time Higher and Further Education

Students. Applications will be assessed according to mode of study and level of income and all

applicants will be required to submit supporting evidence prior to any award being made. The

discretionary fund is a cash limited fund and is aimed at helping those in most need.

Childcare Funds Shetland College operates a childcare fund for full time and part time students using registered childcare. Applications are income assessed and are not repayable on completion of the course. Applications will be assessed according to mode of study and level of income and all applicants will be required to submit supporting evidence prior to any award being made. The Childcare fund is a cash limited fund and is aimed at helping those in most need.

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Support for Learning The college is committed to providing an inclusive learning environment and we aim to make

the most of every student’s learning opportunities. It is important that all students feel welcome

and supported throughout their time with us.

We offer support for all full-time and part-time students to overcome barriers that may affect

their learning. Students who have a physical disability, a hearing or visual impairment, a mental

health problem or specific learning disability, for example dyslexia, can access additional

support with their studies.

Examples of support available:

Individual support to help organise college work.

Tutor support for individual subject areas.

Support to overcome specific difficulties, for example dyslexia.

Special arrangements for assessments and exams.

Timetabled drop in periods for additional support, for example essay-writing techniques,

numeracy and computing skills.

Access to enabling software such as ‘My Study Bar’ designed to support students with

literacy difficulties.

Assistance for HE students applying for DSA (Disabled Students Allowance).

If you would like to find out more about the kind of support available or if you feel that you might

need additional support, please get in touch with:

Bob Campbell

Tel: 01595 771441

Email: bob.campbell@uhi.ac.uk

Alexis Jamieson

Tel: 01595 771402

Email: alexis.jamieson@uhi.ac.uk

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Finance / Fees The following pages contain financial and fees information that you may find helpful. The rules about student finance and fees are complicated but all students are welcome to make an appointment to speak to Student Support Services staff who will be more than happy to give assistance or guidance.

Student Finance/Fees

Further Education Fees 2015/16 Higher Education Fees 2015/16

Full-time £1008.00 Degree Students Full Time £1820.00

Part-time per module (40 hrs)

£56.40 HN Students Full Time £1285.00

Part-Time Degree

Unstructured (per 20 credit module)

£ 215.00

Part-Time per HN Credit £86.00

The above fees do not apply to specific courses such as European Computer Driving Licence, etc. If you are enrolling for one of these courses you will be informed by your lecturer of what the course costs will be. Before you enrol on a course of study you must be sure that your fees will be paid. Some students are sponsored by their employer or another agency. In other circumstances you should make an application to either Shetland Islands Council if your course is FE or the Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) if it is HE. You do not have to apply for a student loan or a full bursary award, including maintenance. However, if both you and the course of study are eligible for funding your fees will be paid directly to Shetland College UHI. You should make a “fees only” application to avoid having to pay the fees yourself. HE students requiring more information regarding fees should see: www.uhi.ac.uk/fees-and-funding

Financial Support for Further Education Students Full-Time Courses The Shetland Islands Council’s Schools Service provides bursary support to full-time further education students.

You will be expected to maintain 100% attendance of your course.

Fees will be paid directly to the college and the level of your household income will not be taken into account. Maintenance allowances (dependent on your circumstances) will be paid in regular instalments throughout the year provided your attendance and attainment are satisfactory. Materials will be paid in your first instalment.

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The following are amongst some of the things which will affect the amount payable to you as a student:

Will you be 18 before the start of the course?

Will you be 21 before the start of the course?

Do you still live at home with your parents?

Have you been self-supporting from employment or training allowances for three years or

more?

Are you married?

Do you have any dependents?

Have you received bursary support previously?

Contact: Student Funding, Education and Social Care Department, Hayfield House, Lerwick, ZE1 0QD Telephone 01595 743844

Financial Support for Higher Education Students Higher Education (HNC/HND/DEGREE) Full time higher education courses fee are funded through the Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). SAAS will pay tuition fees for all eligible full time students; the level of family income does not matter. Support with living costs are available through SAAS. Your award is dependent on your household income. Please go to www.saas.gov.uk for more info. Part Time study Part-time students will normally have to pay their own fees unless they have secured other

sources of funding e.g. employer, SDS Individual Learning Account or SAAS Fee Grant.

Fee Waiver for Part time Further Education Study In the following circumstances, you can apply for a “fee waiver” and if you and the course are eligible you will not have to pay the fees for part-time study:

Your family are in receipt of income support or working tax credit or housing benefit

You are in receipt of disability living allowance, severe disablement allowance or incapacity

benefit

You have been continuously registered as a job-seeker for more than six weeks

The net income of your family is equivalent to or lower than the threshold for receiving

income support

You are in receipt of Employment Support Allowance

You are in receipt of Universal Credit

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Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMAs) The EMA is for students aged 16 who could leave school but remain in full-time education either at school, college or have an Activity Agreement. Awards are based on household income and personal circumstances. Contact: Children’s Services, Hayfield House, Lerwick, ZE1 0QD Telephone 01595 743845 In order for you to receive your EMA you must maintain 100% attendance of your course.

Individual Learning Accounts - Skills Development Scotland (SDS) SDS Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) are a Scottish Government scheme that can help you pay for learning that you can do at a time, place, pace and in a way to suit you. It’s for people who have an income of £22,000 a year or less, or who are on benefits. If you are 16 or over and living in Scotland, you could be eligible for up to £200 towards the cost of learning with a learner account. ILAs are available if you are interested in learning something new or brushing up your skills. There are a range of courses to choose from and you can study with any approved ILA learning provider, including local colleges, universities and private training companies. You must have your ILA in place before you start your course. To request an application pack, or to find out more, visit www.myworldofwork.co.uk/funding or call the helpline on 0800 917 8000*. *Please note: charges may apply dependent on your operator. Part-time Higher Education Courses Only To qualify for this funding, you should have an individual income of £25,000 a year or less. You also need to be studying any one of the eligible courses which are:- Part-time Higher Education courses (including PGDE) SVQ3 and SVQ4 Professional Development Awards (PDA) Continuing Professional Development courses (CPD) at levels 7-10 of the Scottish Qualifications Framework (SCQF) and complete at least 30-119 (up to 120 credits for non-campus based universities) SCQF credits per year. Visit the SAAS website www.student-support-saas.gov.uk to find out more and download an application form.

Modern Apprenticeship CITB Construction based Scottish Vocational Qualifications at Level 2 and Level 3 are provided at Shetland College and funded by CITB. Students must be employed in a workplace, which provides the opportunity to work in a construction environment relevant to the course of study, and will attend college on a block-release basis. More information is available from http://www.bconstructive.co.uk/ Or Anthony McLeod, Construction Section, Tel: 01595 771464 or e-mail: anthony.mcleod@uhi.ac.uk

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Benefits Some students can remain on benefits whilst studying. You should seek advice from the

JobCentre Plus, The Department of Work and Pensions or the Citizen’s Advice Bureau prior to

starting your course. Staff at Shetland College UHI will help you with any enquiries you have.

Discretionary Funds In addition to bursaries/grants and student loans there are some additional sources of funding to which students who find themselves in financial difficulty can apply for. Further Education Students

Further Education Childcare and Discretionary Funds. Full time students must be in receipt

of the maximum bursary to access these funds. Part-time students in receipt of a fee waiver

will be encouraged to come forward to help meet additional travel and material costs not

covered by the SIC Bursary Section.

Higher Education Students

Higher Education Childcare and Discretionary Funds. Full time students must have

accessed the maximum student loan/bursary and grants to which they are entitled before

they can access support from this fund.

Part time Higher Education Students may be able to access financial support with travel or

material costs (including the cost of registered Childcare) if they can demonstrate financial

hardship.

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Teaching and Learning Agreement This is a contract between Shetland College and .................................................................... a student on the course ...........................................................................................................

Shetland College agrees to: 1. Teach lessons using suitable tutors.

2. Provide learning and teaching equipment, materials and rooms for the course being studied.

3. Inform students about their course and their progress on the course.

4. Provide guidance and support.

5. Listen to students’ views to make the College better.

The student agrees to:

1. Attend College according to your course timetable and follow College rules.

2. Complete course work and assessments on time.

3. Let the College know if you are absent.

4. Follow the policy for using College computers and equipment.

5. Return all books, equipment and materials to the College when you finish or leave your course.

Signed on behalf of Shetland College ......................................................................................

Student’s signature ..................................................................................................................

Date ......................................................

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Submission Sheet for Assignments / Assessments When submitting assignments and assessments you must fill in a submission sheet and this should be enclosed with every assignment / assessment. Assignments and assessments can be submitted directly to your Course Lecturer, or via College Reception. Submission sheets are available from the following locations:

College Reception

Student Notice Board

Course Lecturers An example of the submission sheet is shown on page 37 Students must ensure that all submissions are made within the deadlines set.

Plagiarism Plagiarism is when you copy someone else’s work, words or ideas, without acknowledging / saying where the words or ideas came from.

Plagiarism is theft and a very serious form of academic cheating

To avoid plagiarism you should at all times acknowledge where you have got your information from by:

Using quotation marks and referencing when you have copied any words exactly from a source

o E.g. “Ageing is associated with a decline in the function of both tissues

and organs, but the age at which this happens and it’s severity vary with the site” (MacLennan 1990)

Referencing every source that you have used to get ideas from, even if you have not

used the exact words from the source

o E.g. The process of ageing is the deterioration of bodily function, the severity of depends on how old you are and where in the body the deterioration is taking place. (MacLennan 1990)

Completing all assignments / assessments by yourself in your own words, unless

your lecturer has asked you to work with a group

For more information regarding plagiarism please go to www.uhi.ac.uk/regulations Contact your lecturer if you have any questions or doubts about plagiarism and what you should do.

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Use of College ICT Systems Students should be aware that all network activities including internet access are monitored and logged for audit purposes. Where it has grounds to believe that the Acceptable Use Policy has been breached, Shetland College UHI reserves the right to monitor by accessing, sampling and/or scanning all network traffic (including web access, file access, email and instant messaging). Any user of Shetland College UHI ICT systems and services found to have wilfully breached any applicable ICT policy will have their ICT systems and services access revoked and may be subject to disciplinary or criminal proceedings. Students are reminded of point number 4 within the Student Section of the Teaching and Learning Agreement: ‘The student agrees to: 4. Follow the policy for using College computers and equipment’.

Your College e-mail Account The college uses a cloud based email system through Microsoft Office 365. This can be accessed from virtually any PC or mobile device using the web interface, a link to this is available on the desktop of all college computers. To login enter your username as your email address, i.e. 01234567@uhi.ac.uk, along with your standard UHI password. As a student you will be expected to check your e-mail account on a regular basis for updates from your lecturers and information on college activities and news. Links to the webmail client and instructions on setting up mobile devices to work with Office 365 are available on the college and UHI web pages.

Online Safety The internet is a fantastic resource for students, not only for researching your studies but as a social and collaboration tool. It’s really a massive community of people connected by computers and mobile devices, but just like any other large community there can be unscrupulous and even dangerous people waiting to prey on the unsuspecting. By following a few simple tips you can stay safe on the internet and not fall prey to the scammers.

Be aware of scammers. If something appears too good to be true then it’s likely to be a

scam

Treat people you meet online as you would any other stranger

Never give out any personal details, usernames or passwords when requested by email.

No reputable organisation will ask for these details to be sent by email

Don’t trust links in emails, they may take you to “phishing” sites that try to steal your

details

Never respond to obscene, provocative, rude or threatening messages. If you feel

uncomfortable or harassed online speak to your lecturer or contact the college ICT

Service

Use the privacy features on social networking sites to hide your personal details such as

date of birth, phone numbers, address, etc., or at the very least limit this information to

your immediate friends

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Never give your college username and password to anyone. If you suspect someone

knows these then change your password straight away

Don’t believe everything you read on the internet! When citing content from the internet in

your studies ensure the information is from a reputable source

Be responsible and ethical when using the internet wherever you are, be it at home or in

the college. Don’t plagiarise information from the net, don’t flame or cause upset to other

users from your online activities, and use computer equipment responsibly

Most of all use your common sense – if something online doesn’t feel right it probably

isn’t. Be diligent and stay safe!

ICT Acceptable Use Policy

Applies To All Shetland College UHI Staff and Students (Effective from 01 August 2013) 1. Scope

1.1. This policy applies to all persons listed under section 2.1 Compliance (below) authorised to use Shetland College UHI ICT systems and services. Policy scope includes, but is not limited to:

computer equipment;

software;

operating systems;

storage media;

own equipment, e.g. laptops, tablets, mobile and smartphones, USB drives;

network accounts;

email accounts, including UHI Office 365 and any other educational, personal or business email account accessed via Shetland College UHI ICT systems;

intranet access, internet access and web browsing;

any network file transfer/sharing protocols including FTP, NNTP, BitTorrent;

any network file transfer/sharing activities using Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth.

2. Compliance

2.1. This policy applies to all users of Shetland College UHI ICT systems and services,

whether such systems and services are provided by Shetland College UHI, UHI or any other

UHI partner organisation, and extends to all staff, students, contractors, UHI partners, SIC

staff, external organisations, third parties employed by Shetland College UHI and any user

provided with temporary access to Shetland College UHI ICT systems and services.

2.2. Indications of non-compliance with the provisions of this policy shall be investigated in

accordance with the disciplinary or contractual procedures in place within Shetland College

UHI, UHI, Shetland Islands Council or partnership organisations as appropriate.

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3. Policy

3.1. Shetland College UHI has deployed ICT systems and services to allow it to carry out its educational and business objectives in line with its overall strategic plan. These facilities are designed solely for lawful undertakings of the organisation and not for personal, unlawful or otherwise inappropriate purposes. Specifically, ICT systems and services shall not be used: for personal gain or profit;

for personal gain or profit;

with intent to defraud;

to distribute unlawful, offensive, indecent, obscene or other inappropriate material or any data capable of being so resolved;

in a way that interferes with an individual’s work or the work of other users;

with the intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to other individuals;

to transmit unsolicited, commercial or advertising material, chain letters or junk mail of any kind;

for transmission of material in a way that infringes the copyright, including intellectual property rights (IPR) of another person or organisation;

for unauthorised provision of Shetland College UHI services and facilities to or by third parties;

for activities that waste staff effort or networked resources or activities that deny service to others;

to transmit obscene, offensive or indecent images or data or any data capable of being so

resolved;

to create or transmit material that discriminates or encourages discrimination on age, social,

ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability and religious or political beliefs;

to create or transmit defamatory material;

to publish the text of messages written in confidence without express consent of the author;

to transmit any message that could bring Shetland College UHI into disrepute;

to knowingly violate any laws or regulations. Shetland College UHI will co-operate with any

legitimate law enforcement agency in bringing people to justice;

to knowingly breach copyright;

to download, access or distribute pirated software or data;

to deliberately introduce or pass on any virus or other type of malicious code;

to create unauthorised contractual agreements through acceptance or acknowledgement of another party’s offer or conditions. (Emails and messages sent from an organisation can have the same weight in law as though they were sent on headed notepaper).

3.2. Some activities may be limited where they consume limited educational and business resources. Examples include, but are not limited to:

downloading of images or videos, unless there is a specific educational or business related use for the material;

downloading of multimedia files (e.g. MP3, WAV, OGG, MP4, AVI, etc.) unless for educational or business use;

live streaming of video or audio (e.g. iPlayer, catch-up TV), unless for educational or business use.

3.3. Shetland College UHI shall deploy technological controls to protect specific groups of users from accidental access to offensive or inappropriate sites.

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4. Enforcement

4.1. Users should be aware that all network activities including internet access are monitored and logged for audit purposes.

4.2. Where it has grounds to believe that this policy has been breached, Shetland College UHI reserves the right to monitor by accessing, sampling and/or scanning all network traffic (including web access, file access, email and instant messaging).

4.3. Any user of Shetland College UHI ICT systems and services found to have wilfully breached this policy will have their ICT systems and services access revoked and may be subject to disciplinary or criminal proceedings.

5. Mobile Equipment

5.1. Users of Shetland College UHI owned mobile equipment – such as laptops, mobile phones and tablets – are responsible for the security of such equipment and ensuring the security of any data held thereon. Therefore, users shall:

always ensure mobile equipment not being used is stored out of sight;

take steps to avoid being seen by others when, for example, stowing equipment in the car boot;

when staying in hotels, ensure portable equipment is stored securely;

Laptops left in the office or a classroom overnight should be stored securely in lockable cupboards or drawers;

where possible, staff data held on portable devices should be encrypted, particularly if it is sensitive. Where equipment holds sensitive data, it should not be left in public areas unattended at any time;

always use security features provided, including password protection;

report any loss of mobile equipment immediately to the Police and to Shetland College UHI ICT Service.

6. Responsibilities

6.1. All personnel, as described under section 2.1 Compliance, shall comply with this policy.

6.2. The Shetland College UHI ICT Service Senior ICT Technician shall be responsible for ensuring this policy is made available to all authorised users, e.g. through the staff intranet, college website, student handbook, ICT Services Guide and any other medium deemed appropriate.

6.3. Senior staff shall ensure that all authorised users for whom they have responsibility are properly briefed on this policy.

6.4. Academic staff shall ensure that all students are properly briefed on this policy.

6.5. By logging on to any Shetland College UHI ICT system or service users will be deemed to have read and agreed to this Acceptable Use Policy.

7. Policy Review

7.1. This policy will be reviewed each academic year on or before 01 August.

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Student Disciplinary Code

Students are asked to read the Disciplinary Code, and Acceptable Use Policy relating to computing facilities, and sign the student contract (Teaching and Learning Agreement) to indicate understanding and acceptance of the Code and Policy. These documents will be issued at enrolment to all students along with the Student Handbook and Photo Consent Form.

It is a breach of College discipline for any student intentionally to:

1. Obstruct or hinder teaching, study, administration or recreational activities. This includes obstructing or hindering any member of staff or any officer of the Students’ Association in carrying out her/his duties.

2. Cause minor damage to any property belonging to the College, the Students’ Association, College staff, students or visitors to the College campus.

3. Make use of any unfair means or practical deceit, or assist another student to behave in this way, during any College test, examination or in the carrying out of any assignment.

4. Use illegal drugs or consume alcohol on any part of the College campus.

5. Take part in any class or make use of any College facility whilst under the influence of alcohol or any other substance, to the extent that it is believed to be to the detriment of her/his appropriate response or behaviour.

6. Abuse, threaten, assault or seriously endanger the health and safety of any College employee, officer of the Students’ Association, student or visitor to the College campus.

7. Cause wilful serious damage, steal any property belonging to the College, the Students’ Association, College staff, students or visitor to the College campus or attempt to defraud the College of any monies.

8. Break any condition of the College’s Acceptable Use Policy for the use of computer equipment.

9. Intentionally plagiarise by copying someone else’s work without acknowledging appropriately.

10. Engage in unwanted conduct against any College employee, officer of the Students’ Association, student or visitor to the College campus, which violates that person’s dignity, or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that person.

11. Victimise or discriminate against any College employee, officer of the Students’ Association, student or visitor to the College campus, on the grounds of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation or religious belief.

12. Bully or harass any College employee, officer of the Students’ Association, student or visitor to the College campus.

Note

a. The above list is NOT exhaustive and includes any other breach of College discipline.

b. Items 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 will normally be seen as a gross breach of College discipline and, even though a student has not previously been given a disciplinary warning, may result in a student losing the privilege of studying at the College and having access to the College premises.

c. A criminal conviction or other unacceptable conduct which in the opinion of the Acting Principal or her representative causes the student to be unsuitable to continue her/his studies at the College, whether or not the conduct occurred on the College premises, will be seen as a gross breach of College discipline and will be treated as such.

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Student Appeals

Policy Units which require continuous assessment constitute the major element in the College curriculum and it is College policy to ensure that all assessments are managed professionally and that administrative procedures are in place to ensure that any dispute, arising from assessment, follows College procedure at all stages and is brought to a conclusion with the minimum of delay. Clearly understood appeals and grievance procedures not only ensure fairness but also ensure the rigour of the assessment system.

Responsibility

Candidate

to consider the facts relating to the situation as objectively as possible, to study the appeals procedures Forms QF14 and QF15 and to follow them

to write down grounds for appeal, evidence and questions for Assessor to raise the appeal with the Acting Principal (College SQA Co-ordinator) when requested, meet with the Assessor and discuss appeal topics if unresolved, meet, when requested, with the Internal Verifier and discuss appeal topics if unresolved, meet, when requested, with the Acting Principal and present appeal

At any stage, the candidate can seek and receive help in gathering evidence and presenting facts and have representation of their choice at an appeals hearing. Representation should be either a student attending the College or a member of College staff.

Assessor

to meet with the Candidate as soon as possible after request to study evidence objectively and seek to resolve the matter if possible to keep written records of dates, personnel, meeting issues and outcome, successful or

unsuccessful to inform Acting Principal of the outcome to meet with the Candidate and Internal Verifier, if requested

Internal Verifier

to study evidence objectively and seek to resolve the matter if possible to arrange a meeting between the three parties to seek resolution to keep written records of dates, personnel, meeting issues and outcome, successful or

unsuccessful to inform the Acting Principal of the outcome

Acting Principal/College SQA Co-ordinator

to assist the Candidate if so requested to check any Awarding Body issues to keep written records of issues for External Verifier set a date for appeal hearing within 7 working days after request to maintain independence, study evidence objectively and seek to resolve the matter by

reaching a decision to invite opinion from other independent sources if deemed necessary to inform the Senior Management Team of decision to have authority to ensure remedial action is taken where an appeal is upheld • to inform the Assessor when the appeal is raised • to ensure that the Assessor meets with the Candidate in a timely manner

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• to inform the Internal Verifier if the situation demands • to ensure the Internal Verifier acts in a timely manner • to act in the role of Co-ordinator as the situation demands • to ensure the Candidate has access to all information required • to assist the Candidate if so requested

Procedure Introduction

Information about the appeals and grievance procedures is an integral part of College procedure and provision at the start of each session; initially at pre-entry interview stage and later in student handout material.

The appeals and grievance procedures are discussed with full-time students at the start of the session as an integral part of the induction process. With SVQ students, these procedures are discussed on an individual basis, at pre-assessment interviews which provides another opportunity for familiarisation with these procedures.

Appeals If a candidate believes s/he has grounds for appeal s/he should contact the Acting Principal, who will ensure that the appeals procedure is followed, as necessary, until the matter is resolved.

Grounds for Appeal When the individual is a Candidate who is registered with an Awarding Body and has been notified by the Assessor that s/he has been found 'not yet competent' in any unit of an award and disagrees with that finding.

The College has failed to make reasonable arrangements to carry out the assessment within the terms and conditions agreed between the Centre and the Candidate.

In addition, a Candidate may also appeal on the following grounds:

the conduct of those providing assessment the duration of the assessment the adequacy of the assessment environment to afford the candidate the opportunity to

demonstrate competence

Appeals System

The structure of the appeal system is as follows:

The appeal should be made within a reasonable time - normally seven working days.

The College undertakes to complete the procedure within a reasonable time - normally within fourteen working days of notification of appeal.

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If Candidates believe they have grounds to appeal against the judgement made by an Assessor they should advise the Acting Principal of this and ask for appropriate action to be taken to rectify the situation. If the matter is not resolved and in the event of the Candidate remaining unsatisfied, the Acting Principal will then refer the matter to the Internal Verifier, with the request that the relevant material be considered. A meeting will be arranged with the Candidate, Assessor and Acting Principal and a solution sought and agreed. If the matter remains unresolved and in the event of the Candidate remaining unsatisfied, the Acting Principal will then undertake Co-ordinator actions and responsibility as appropriate.

The following should be noted:

• any decision given by the Co-ordinator will be regarded as final • all appeals, at all stages, will be recorded in writing, even if successfully resolved • candidates have the right to ask for and receive help to assemble their evidence • the Co-ordinator will make use of evidence gathered during the assessment • the Co-ordinator is answerable to Awarding Bodies

Records Evidence of appeals procedure implementation includes:

• student induction programme • induction programme attendance log • Record of Appeal Forms QF12, QF13

Evaluation/Review Monitoring the implementation of the College’s appeals procedure is undertaken by the College Co-ordinator throughout the session and reviewed by the Quality Improvement Committee. If students require to be made aware of any changes this will be done by the following methods:

student services noticeboard by lecturers to each student group individual email/handout to each student any alteration implemented will be mentioned at first guidance interview following the change

Should you require further information please contact: Acting Principal: Irene Peterson, Tel: 771401 irene.peterson@uhi.ac.uk

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UHI Student Appeals

Introduction Student Appeals or requests for the review of a decision of a Board of Examiners are normally subject to the regulations of the validating authority but the procedure defined within UHI Academic Standards and Quality Regulations 2015-16 will normally be followed.

Grounds for Appeal Appeals against the decision of a Board of Examiners will be considered only on the following grounds:

a That a student's performance was adversely affected by illness or other factors that s/he was unable or, with valid reason, unwilling to divulge to the Board of Examiners when it made its decision. The student's appeal must be accompanied by documentary evidence acceptable to the Academic Board.

b That evidence is produced that there was a material administrative error or that the assessments were not conducted in accordance with the programme regulations.

c That evidence is produced that some other material irregularity has occurred.

Appeals that question the academic judgement of a Board of Examiners will not be entertained.

If a student is pursuing a grievance against the College and also wishes to appeal then the grievance shall be resolved prior to consideration of the appeal. However, evidence relevant to the appeal produced during the resolution of the grievance may then be considered if the student wishes to present that evidence.

UHI Appeals Procedure

A student who is dissatisfied with the assessments is advised in the first instance to discuss the matter with the Programme Team Leader and/or the Student Welfare Officer or equivalent in the partner institution at which the student is enrolled.

A student who wishes to appeal should do so in writing as defined in the UHI Academic Standards and Quality Regulations 2015-16 ( SQA awards and degree awards).

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Student Grievance Procedure

Policy

It is College policy to ensure that all matters of concern to students (whether of an individual or general nature) are dealt with fairly and speedily, and that every reasonable effort is made to resolve the matter satisfactorily without the need to go to grievance.

Responsibility

Student

to consider the facts relating to the situation as objectively as possible, to study the grievance procedures and to follow them

to write down grounds for grievance, evidence and questions, and to keep copies to discuss the grievance with the Acting Principal and to be advised on the

appropriate procedure when requested, meet with agreed individual/s and discuss grievance topics if unresolved, meet, when requested, with the Acting Principal and discuss grievance

topics if unresolved, meet, when requested, with the Acting Principal and present grievance.

At any stage, the student can seek and receive help in gathering evidence and presenting facts and be represented, or accompanied, either by a Tutor, or by another student at Shetland College, or in the case of a young person by a parent or guardian.

Acting Principal

Every reasonable effort will be made at this stage to resolve the matter satisfactorily, without the need to proceed further:

meet with the Candidate as soon as possible after matter is raised, explore grounds for grievance and arrange for next stage, if deemed necessary

to inform the Lecturer/Head of Section after reaching agreement with the student to ensure that the grievance progresses through the recognised procedure until a

final decision is reached to keep written records of dates, personnel, meeting issues and outcome, successful

or unsuccessful

Lecturer/Head of Section to meet with the Student as soon as possible after request to study evidence objectively and seek to resolve the matter if possible to keep written records of dates, personnel, meeting issues and outcome, successful

or unsuccessful to inform the Acting Principal of any outcome to meet with the Student and Acting Principal and/or Acting Principal, if requested

Acting Principal

to meet with the Student as soon as possible after request to study evidence objectively, meet with other parties if considered necessary, and

reach a decision to inform the Student, formally, on the decision arrived at to ensure remedial action is taken where a grievance has been upheld

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Procedure

Introduction

Information about the appeals and grievance procedures is an integral part of College procedure and provision at the start of each academic session; initially at pre-entry interview stage and later in student handout material.

Grievance

If a candidate believes they have grounds to lodge a grievance s/he should contact the Acting Principal, who will ensure that the grievance is followed as necessary, until a decision is reached.

Grounds for Grievance

When a student has a complaint about the programme s/he is following, which s/he feels would not be best addressed by the normal evaluation or appeals procedures.

When a student has a general complaint, has been unable to have it resolved and feels that grievance is the only avenue remaining.

Grievance System

The grievance procedure is as follows:

The grievance should be made within a reasonable time - normally within seven days of the cause for grievance becoming known.

The College undertakes to complete the procedure within a reasonable time - normally within fourteen days of notification of grievance.

If students believe they have grounds to appeal they should advise the Acting Principal, and ask for appropriate action to be taken to rectify the situation.

At this point every attempt should be made to resolve the matter without the need to proceed to an official grievance.

If matter is not resolved and in the event of the student remaining unsatisfied, the Acting Principal will then refer the matter to the appropriate Lecturer or Head of Section, as agreed with the student, with the request that the relevant material be considered, a meeting arranged with the student and a solution sought and agreed.

If matter remains unresolved and in the event of the student remaining unsatisfied, the Acting Principal will then refer the matter to the Acting Principal with the request that the relevant materials be considered, relevant parties consulted, and a decision made.

Records

Evidence of grievance procedure implementation includes:

• student induction programme • induction programme attendance log • Record of Grievance Forms QF14, QF 15

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Evaluation/Review

The Acting Principal undertakes monitoring of the implementation of the College’s grievance procedure throughout the academic session.

All aspects of the College’s provision are evaluated continuously and reviewed by the senior management team and Heads of Section throughout the session, and any changes to procedures and responsibilities are communicated to staff during appropriate meetings.

If students require to be made aware of any changes this will be done by the following methods:

student services noticeboard by lecturers to each student group individual email/handout to each student any alteration implemented will be mentioned at first guidance interview following change

Should you require further information, please contact: Acting Principal: Irene Peterson, Tel: 771401 irene.peterson@uhi.ac.uk

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Change of Contact Details Student Number: ………………………………………………………. Course: ………………………………………………………. Address: ………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………. Telephone number: ……………………………………………………….

New Contact Details Address: ………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………. Telephone Number: ………………………………………………………. Please forward to Student Services as soon as possible.

Office use only:

On SITS □ On SQA □

Signature: ……………………………………. Date: ………………

Example

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Submission Sheet for HE Assignments / Assessments

Assessment title

Lecturer(s):

Unit title(s):

Unit code(s):

Outcomes assessed:

Date issued: Date submitted:

Date due: Word-count:

Student candidate number:

Location:

Programme:

Submitting your assessment:

Declaration of originality and authorisation to hold this assessment electronically and verify that it is original: UHI recognises that plagiarism, where deliberately engaged in, is unacceptable and is considered serious academic malpractice. Students are responsible for ensuring the work they submit is their own. If you have any queries you should contact your Tutor or Student Adviser before submitting your assessment. By submitting this assessment I declare that the attached piece of work is my own. I have acknowledged all the sources I have consulted and where I have used words which are not my own, I have clearly indicated this in the references.

Student candidate number:

Date:

Staff use only

Date received: Attempt No.: 1 2

Marked by: Result/Grade:

Sampled for IV: Y / N

Example

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Student Self-Certification

Name

Course

Reason for Absence

Date of first absence date of return to college Absence exceeded 5 days and I have enclosed a Medical Certificate (tick box)

Was your absence caused by an accident in College? Yes No If yes, give brief details:

Comments

Signature Date

Example

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Mission Statement

Shetland College UHI seeks to make a major contribution to the local economy through provision of high quality further and higher education and training which

meets the needs of the population and employers

Shetland College UHI, Gremista, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0PX Tel: 01595 771000, Fax: 01595 771001

e-mail: shetland.college@uhi.ac.uk web: www.shetland.uhi.ac.uk