Policy on Academic Support Tuition
INTRODUCTION
1.
This policy sets out the University’s approach to Academic Support Tuition and
outlines the responsibilities of departments and faculties and appropriate service areas.
AUTHORITY
2.
The University Learning, Teaching and Assessment Committee is the final arbiter
of the application and interpretation of this policy.
SCOPE OF THE POLICY
3.
This policy governs the approach to be taken to individual Academic Support
Tuition and the information provided to students regarding Academic Support Tuition.
APPLICATION TO COLLABORATIVE PROVISION
4.
This policy does not apply to collaborative provision.
PRINCPLES
5.
A key commitment of the University is to develop a systematic, institution-wide
approach towards ensuring that ‘an outstanding student experience is at the heart of the
University of Hull’ (Strategic Plan 2011-2015).
6.
“The University of Hull wishes to ensure that every student enjoys a consistent,
excellent and appropriate standard of service and support - from their first, pre-entry,
point of contact with the University, throughout their time at Hull and, subsequently, as
graduates of the institution. This will be achieved primarily through committed and
competent staff who both recognise their own individual roles in delivering the student
journey and are equipped to contribute to this important institutional objective”(The
Student Journey: Key Design Principles).
7.
The focus of Academic Support Tuition should be academic support, however an
Academic Tutor should be in a position to signpost tutees to the University’s pastoral
support mechanism. Clear guidance should be readily available to both tutors and tutees
that establishes what Academic Support Tuition is and what it is not.
8.
Academic Support Tuition programmes should include structured and purposeful,
academic development activities that promote a sense of belonging and enable students
to develop academic and disciplinary/professional skills for improved academic success,
better employability prospects and career progression.
Academic Supervision
Version 1 00 – June 15
For implementation from September 2015
9.
All schools and departments must ensure that the requirements and responsibilities
outlined in this policy are embedded into their Academic Support Tuition programmes.
REQUIREMENTS
10. The terminology around Academic Support Tuition should be clearly defined and
consistently used across all areas of the institution. In this context the terms, ‘Academic
Support Tuition’, ‘Academic Tutor’ and ‘tutees’ must be used.
11. Personalised Academic Support Tuition should provide every student at the
University of Hull with a stable and consistent point of contact and support during their
student journey. Academic Tutors should therefore be allocated for the duration of a
programme of study (accepting that a mechanism for changing tutors where necessary
will be in place).
12. Academic Support Tuition should be carried out by individuals who have a
background in the appropriate academic discipline.
13. The expectation is that all academic staff (i.e. those on Teaching and Research,
Teaching and Scholarship and Teaching contracts) will act as Academic Tutors. However,
it is recognised that exceptions related to individual workload allocations will exist.
14. Academic Support Tuition should be recognised in institutional workload models (for
example a fixed number of student contact hours per year).
15. A mechanism should be found so that Academic Support Tuition hours can be
captured in KIS data sets where applicable (for example connected to a student’s named
programme).
16. Academic Support Tuition should be an opportunity to build supportive relationships
between tutors and individual tutees and among students in the same tutor group, creating
a sense of disciplinary identity and belonging.
17. Academic tutors should contact their tutees as soon after confirmation as possible
(electronically), and Academic Support Tuition meetings and activities (individual and
group) should be part of the process of induction.
18. There will be a minimum of two individual meetings per semester and four group
meetings per year and we would encourage Schools and Departments to exceed this
requirement.
19. Academic Support Tuition should provide a space in which tutors can assist
students in the interpretation of the feedback that they have received (on formative and
summative assessments) and where individual plans for the enhancement of academic
skills can be developed.
Academic Supervision
Version 1 00 – June 15
20. Although Academic Support Tuition should be proactive (tutor–led) it should also
be responsive to individual student needs (allow open-access time for students to see
their Academic Tutor).
21. Academic Support Tuition should be aligned to other institutional programmes
which aim to develop the skills of students (e.g. Hull Award etc.).
22. Training/support for Academic Tutors will be made available (to new and
established tutors) and steps must be taken to increase staff awareness of the support
that is available.
RESPONSIBILITIES
23. Where possible Academic Tutors should establish email contact with their tutees
prior to registration, and must establish contact as part of the induction process.
24. Line managers are responsible for monitoring compliance with participation in
initial and on-going training for Academic Support Tutors and must monitor compliance
with this policy.
DISCIPLINARY VARIATION
25. It is acknowledged that different and established practices apply in HYMS.
Approved by:
Review date:
Contact:
Academic Supervision
Version 1 00 – June 15