Academic Joint Service Definition – Academic Partnerships and Disability
Assist Services (DAS) May 2014
Academic Partnerships (AP) within Plymouth University houses some 15,000+
students studying Higher Education regionally, nationally and internationally.
Our overall vision is to support the creation, development and sustainability of high
quality partnerships with organisations that serve to advance the reputation of
Plymouth University and deliver of academic excellence (Academic Partnerships
Strategy 2013). AP is committed to being an enterprising multi skilled and integrated
team delivering the University strategy for the development, management and quality
oversight of regional, national and international academic partnerships and
supporting Faculties and Schools to deliver that strategy.
This aim of this Service Definition is to identify and map responsibilities between AP,
its partner institutions and Disability Assist Services (DAS) within Plymouth
University main campus. AP acts as the convenor between the central University
and the partner institution. This action plan outlines key activities and responsibilities
mapped against the current movement. It is expected that additional factors or
changes may arise so do contact AP (julie.swain@plymouth.ac.uk) in the first
instance who will signpost your enquiry.
The following support may be available from DAS to our partners to a reasonable
level and where resources allow.
1) Provide general consultative phone advice for disability advisers within
partnerships, subject to the level of resources available.
2) Provide templates of letters, meeting minutes etc. to AP QA Co-ordinator to
support the partners in communication with students.
3) Provide opportunity for partnership staff to attend inclusivity training based on
the PU campus and access Learning Support and Wellbeing online resources
4) Contribute to AP communications to the partners on an occasional basis.
5) Write to Partner Institution students with regards to their progression to
Plymouth University and attend Progression Days
6) Support some* partner colleges with admissions by providing students with
information about the Disabled Students Allowance and contact details of the
relevant partnership disability adviser.
* Note: Currently Disability Assist support the following colleges with admissions as
Plymouth University manages their admissions process: Bicton College; City College
Plymouth, Tor Bridge High, Strode College and Weymouth College
Julie Swain – QA Co-ordinator Academic Partnerships – Julie.swain@plymouth.ac.uk
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Activities to be provided to students by Academic Partnerships (AP) or Partner
Institutions (PI)
Activity
1)
2)
Liaise with disabled students regarding during admissions,
including organising and chairing information meetings,
where appropriate.
Liaise with Disability Assist when making offers of a place
for overseas students with a disability
3)
Liaise with students regarding information provided on
disability proformas sent by Disability Assist during the
admissions process*.
4)
Access a student’s needs assessment report and to put into
place modified assessment provisions where appropriate.
5)
Disseminate information regarding a students’ disability to
relevant members of staff who have a need to know (once a
signed disclosure form is received from the student) via
Student Support Document or equivalent process.
6)
Liaise with Funding bodies, Access SW and Claro Learning
to organise support and explore any difficulties relating to
support.
7)
Offer support for students prior to funding agreement being
approved, where reasonable
8)
Chair and record medium or high risk case conferences.
9)
Where necessary, organise the reformatting of materials
through partner college library services
10) Signpost to relevant support services within their institutions
Responsibility
of
PI
PI
PI
PI
PI
PI
PI
PI
AP
PI
* Note: refers only to colleges where Plymouth University provide support with admissions:
Bicton College,Tor Bridge High, and Weymouth College.
AP will have strategic oversight for developments and change management and
takes responsibility for communications and dissemination to partners.
Julie Swain – QA Co-ordinator Academic Partnerships – Julie.swain@plymouth.ac.uk
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