PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY: PERSONAL TUTORING 2014-15 I am writing to you about the arrangements for personal tutoring. It is UCL policy that all students are assigned a Personal Tutor with whom they should meet regularly so that their progress, academic and otherwise may be monitored, and consequently any problems hopefully can be picked up early. UCL specifies minimum requirements for personal tutoring activities conducted in academic departments, including the number of formal meetings with personal tutees in each year of study. In a student’s first year, there needs to be five of these timetabled (at least 3 of which are individual face-to-face) and in each of the following years three formal meetings are required to be held. The Personal Tutor should support your learning and provide pastoral care. If deemed appropriate, they may steer you towards the Programme Tutor for more detailed consultations. They are not academic tutors, although they may be able to help you with some of your questions. An important aspect of the role of the Personal Tutor is to steer the student in the direction of enhancing their Personal & Professional Development, or PPD. More information about the role of the Personal Tutor and your PPD can be found at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ppd. Please take a few minutes to acquaint yourself with this important aspect of your student career. If there are any issues that you think may need further attention, please contact the Programme Tutor (s.zochowski@ucl.ac.uk). And please, let us know of any problems you may encounter, or suggestions you may have, with this tutoring scheme. Also attached below is a timetable for meetings between tutor and tutee for the various years. Try to keep to it! It is the responsibility of the tutor to ensure that contact is attempted. However, if you do not hear from your tutor near a scheduled date, please contact him/her! If that still does not help, get in touch with me. The fact that a meeting took place will be recorded by your tutor. Thanks for your cooperation and, again, please contact me (s.zochowski@ucl.ac.uk) if you have any questions about the Personal Tutoring programme. P&A Personal Tutoring 2014-15 1 Summary of Suggested Personal Tutor Meetings 2014-15 1st Year Meeting 1: Tuesday 30 September, afternoon Meeting 2: Tuesday 4 November Meeting 3: Wednesday 14 January, afternoon Meeting 4: Tuesday 17 February Meeting 5: Wednesday 25 March, afternoon 2nd Year Meeting 1: Wednesday 1 October, afternoon Meeting 2: Monday 3 November or Tuesday 4 November Meeting 3: Tuesday 17 February 3rd Year Meeting 1: Wednesday 1 October, afternoon Meeting 2: Wednesday 12 November, afternoon Meeting 3: Wednesday 25 February, afternoon 4th Year Meeting 1: Wednesday 1 October, afternoon Meeting 2: Wednesday 12 November, afternoon Meeting 3: Wednesday 25 February, afternoon If the suggested dates cannot be accommodated, set something up which is mutually acceptable, as close to the suggested dates as possible. In the first instance, it is the responsibility of the tutor to ensure that contact is attempted. If a meeting is not recorded within two weeks of the suggested date, a reminder may be sent to both the student and tutor. Of course, meetings between tutor and student can take place at any date outside of these scheduled sessions, if necessary! P&A Personal Tutoring 2014-15 2