DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
The Essential Guide
2015/16
Welcome to the Department of Computer Science, part of the School of Science. We
hope you will enjoy your time with us. Below we have summarised the most important
information and procedures which you ought to know. Many of the facilities and much
of the information discussed in this document will only become relevant after you have
commenced your studies in the Department, but you should read through the
information prior to your arrival.
1 The Admin Team
1.1 School of Science Reception
Location & Contact
School of Science Reception - Schofield Building (SCH.0.10, ground floor)
Loughborough University
Loughborough
Tel: + 44 (0) 1509 222681
General Admin contact email: compsci@lboro.ac.uk
Opening Hours
Monday – Friday (09.00 – 17.00).
For any queries please report to the Reception Counter (ground floor, Schofield
Building) in the first instance.
2 Where to Find Information
2.1 Notice Boards/Pigeon Holes/Online Resources/Email
The University uses a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Learn
(http://learn.lboro.ac.uk ) containing resources for both teaching and administration.
You will see an introduction to Learn on the induction day and use it regularly
throughout your degree.
Throughout your studies, you must check both your Loughborough student email
account and Learn regularly; these will be your key sources of information and the
key communication mechanisms from University Staff. Staff will assume you are
checking your email every day.
The Departmental Information page, available when you log into Learn, contains
information on a range of topics that will prove very useful throughout your studies and
this acts as the programme handbook.
Noticeboards are located on the ground and first floor of the Haslegrave Building.
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2.2 Where to Get Help with Computer Related Issues
IT Services are responsible for the email service, the printing and scanning service and
your Individual Work Space (IWS). They can be contacted via e-mail to the Service Desk
(it.services@lboro.ac.uk) or via the IT Services PC Clinic located in the Library (01509
222333, http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/it/ )
If you have problems related to Computer Science systems accessed in computer labs
N.0.01, N.0.02 or N.0.03, then please send an e-mail to science.it@lboro.ac.uk. This
e-mail will then be forwarded to the members of the School of Science Support Team.
3 Further Important Remarks
3.1 Academic Staff, their Locations, Email Addresses and Responsibilities
Please consult the staff information on the Computer Science Department website:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/compsci/staff/.
3.2 Assessment
Please see:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/students/welcome/handbook/undergraduateprogrammes/ and the
up-to-date regulations for your course and information about coursework and exams
available from the “Departmental Information” page on Learn. Coursework is submitted in
a variety of ways, this will be told to you by the module lecturer and written on the
coursework specification. All physical submissions of coursework will be at the School of
Science Reception and you will be expected to have prepared your submission in advance
of coming to the counter, including stapling coursework once in the upper left corner and
signing your coversheet. You should print your coversheet online at caspa.lboro.ac.uk. Late
coursework will usually be awarded a mark of zero, unless an extension has been
granted (see the coursework code of practice on the Departmental Information page of
Learn). You must avoid plagiarism in your work, please see the following link for more
information:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/students/welcome/handbook/examsandassessment/plagiarism/.
For information about exams and assessment, please see the Student Handbook
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/students/welcome/handbook/examsandassessment/ .
Examinations usually take place during weeks 13, 14 and sometimes week 15 of
Semesters 1 and 2. Additionally, if you have to resit an examination, then this will happen
in the so-called Special Assessment Period (SAP) in late August/early September of the
corresponding academic year. Examinations are organised by the Exams Office and
information on timetables and exam conduct can be found at:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/student/exams/dates/index.htm.
3.3 Impaired Performance
Examiners and Programme Boards are able to take into account factors which have
affected your performance (illness, for example) provided you have completed an
Impaired Performance Form to explain the circumstances and have submitted supporting
evidence to substantiate your case. If you think you need to submit a claim you should
contact your Personal Tutor. For more information see :
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/student/handbook/section8/index.htm .
NOTE: There is a strict DEADLINE for the submission of these forms. Claims cannot be
made retrospectively after results are published. If more than one of the three
assessment periods i.e. Semesters 1, 2 and the reassessment period are affected, you
will need to submit a form for EACH period.
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3.4 Reading Lists
Please consult the module pages on the Learn VLE or http://lorls.lboro.ac.uk/.
3.5 Students with Additional Needs
Please consult the “Disabilities and Additional Needs” link on the CS Departmental
Information Learn page. If you are in doubt about any support that you may require for
your studies or think you may require special exam arrangements (extra time, use of a
PC), then please contact either the Counselling and Disabilities Service (CDS)
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/disabilities/ or our Senior Tutor, Paul Bell (01509222328),
P.Bell@lboro.ac.uk. Please note that a CDS Assessment is required before any special
arrangements can be made.
3.6 Health and Safety
The Student Handbook provides general information on Health and Safety:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/student/handbook/section21/index.htm.
3.7 Use of Equipment & Software – Professional Conduct Agreement
Registration to use University services implies, and is conditional upon, acceptance of its
Acceptable Use Policy:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/it/about/policies/aup/ .
3.8 Other Departmental Facilities
The Haslegrave Building labs can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by
entering the building with your proximity card which can be scanned by holding it over the
keypads near the doors out of hours. If you do not have access, please contact the
School of Science Reception. Please see the “Use of the Haslegrave Building”, document
on the “Department Information” page of Learn for more information.
The main labs used by undergraduate students of the School of Science (including
Computer Science) are called N.0.01, N.0.02 and N.0.03; they are located on the ground
floor of the Haslegrave Building and available 24/7 when not being used for teaching, with
N.0.01 designated as a “quiet lab”. Labs N.0.04 and N.0.05 are University labs available
to all students, including those in Computer Science, that can also be used when no class
is booked in there (timetables are on the doors). Computer Science students are also
invited to use the adjacent open learning space and its various facilities. The first floor of
the Haslegrave Building has a Quiet Study Area for you to use. The top floor of the
building has tables for silent study, please do not use the open areas for group meetings.
All the buildings meeting rooms are available to you, but please book via the School of
Science Reception or by emailing Compsci@lboro.ac.uk before using a room. The
second floor open space is reserved for staff and research students and as such you
should not use this area for private work.
3.9 Student-Staff Committee
Information about this important Committee can be found via https://sci-teach.lboro.ac.uk/.
The Committee meets two to three times a year and the student body is represented by
members from each year of each programme, who are elected by those cohorts. The
elections are conducted electronically, and you will receive notification of this. The
following guidelines should be helpful to members and non-members alike:
•
•
Requests to put items on the agenda are made through your representative.
Agenda items should be accompanied by a paper to be circulated with the
agenda, so that an informed discussion may take place.
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3.10 Attendance
You are required to be in attendance at the University during term time and, if you need to
resit any exams, the Special Assessment Period (SAP). Further information on this topic
can be found via http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/student/handbook/section6/index.htm
and http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/student/exams/dates/index.htm .
Attendance registers are regularly circulated during taught teaching sessions,
please ensure that you sign these so that you are not marked as absent. Please
email your personal tutor and also email compsci@lboro.ac.uk if you are absent,
or will be absent, from any taught session(s) for any module so that a record can
be made on the attendance register.
3.11 Module Feedback
All students are given the opportunity to provide feedback on their modules via feedback
forms that are circulated towards the end of a module. Module feedback from these forms
is collected and may be discussed at the Staff-Student Committee. There is also a
Suggestions Box (drop box dedicated to feedback; and the Dean’s Sounding Board
(http://www.lboro.ac.uk/microsites/sounding-board/ - link on Learn page); Generic exam
feedback is made available and there is opportunity for individuals to discuss their
feedback with Module Tutors and Personal Tutors. Module specifications, which you can
view via Learn, also contain information regarding the type of feedback you can expect to
receive.
3.12 Keeping the University Informed
REMEMBER: If you change your personal contact details, you will need to update
your information from the “login to my.lboro” link at:http://www.lboro.ac.uk/students/
It is essential that we have an up-to-date contact address for sending out results
letters at exam time.
For any other changes, e.g. leave of absence, withdrawal or transferal to another
course, you will need to complete one of the forms available online at:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/students/enquiries/undergraduatestudents/.
Please discuss this with your personal tutor before you undertake any such steps. You
will meet your assigned personal tutor on the Induction Day.
3.13 Departmental Support
All students of the Department are assigned a Personal Tutor who will meet with you,
usually once per semester, to check on your progress and to answer any questions
you may have. You will have the chance to meet your Personal Tutor at the Induction
event and should keep in regular contact with them throughout your studies via emails
and scheduled meetings.
If you have any problems affecting your academic studies, your Personal Tutor is a
good first point of contact to advise you. You should speak with them at the earliest
opportunity. If you have any problems with a particular module, you should also
contact the module leader (lecturer) for advice or with questions.
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General administrative questions about the Department can be sent to the following
email address and will be forwarded on to the relevant person in the Department:
compsci@lboro.ac.uk
There is a Facebook page for the Department. This is not an official conduit for
information or discussion, but may be useful for discussions and information sharing
about the department: http://www.facebook.com/lucompsci.
3.14 University Support
The university has a large range of support available to deal with any problems which
may arise, either related to your academic studies or else your personal life. Some of
the services offered are Careers and Employability, Counselling, Disability Support,
Dyslexia Support, Mental Health Support, Student Advice and Finance, English
Language Support, Faith and Spirituality, the Medical Centre etc. Please see the
following page for more information or speak with your Personal Tutor:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/studentservices/.
There is an Access to Learning Fund for UK students in financial difficulty and the
Emergency Payments Fund for International and EU students in a similar position:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/sass/finance/undergraduatescurrent/moneyproblemsinclh
ardship/.
The Mathematics Learning Support Centre (MLSC) provides support to students with
any problems via study spaces and one-to-one drop in sessions with experienced
mathematics lecturers. If you are having difficulties with the mathematics component
of your degree programme, you can contact them to arrange a session:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/mlsc/.
The Loughborough University Student Charter explains what is expected of Students
and Staff at the University and is available at:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/students/charter/.
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