School of Geography and Environmental Studies:
CODE OF PRACTICE
The code of practice indicates desirable behaviour by both staff and students in their
joint quest to increase their own and total knowledge. Past students and staff as a
whole have agreed with the details of the code after discussion and consultation. The
code may be changed at any time through the same process.
Both students and staff agree to:
1.
respect the interests of fellow staff and students by returning literature and
equipment borrowed from the department promptly, and by taking due care of
university property;
2.
avoid direct or indirect discrimination or harassment on the basis of social
class, race, ethnic origin, sex, age, religion, status or physical disability*;
3.
be on time for all classes.
*
The School actively supports University policy on harassment. Any student
concerned with a problem of this kind should approach one of the University’s
harassment officers or the Head of School. Students also have responsibilities
to each other, and are expected to respect the rights of fellow students.
Students agree to:
1.
attend classes and field trips*;
2.
be adequately prepared for tutorials;
3.
submit work on time or accept the penalties for lateness**;
4.
submit only original work***;
5.
not disrupt the learning of other students.
*
Lectures, tutorials, practicals and field trips are compulsory. Non-attendance
may result in important information being missed. Persistent absence from
classes may result in students being barred from examinations. (University
rules allow staff to exclude from examination any student who does not attend
two thirds of classes in any unit). Absence through sickness or disability
should be verified through documents lodged in the School office. Absence
through clashes should be approved on enrolment.
**
Fairness requires that all students are treated equally with regard to
coursework submissions and students should note coursework deadlines
carefully. All essays must be placed in the submission box outside the School
office (NOT HANDED TO INDIVIDUAL LECTURERS) with an
accompanying completed submission slip. This procedure ensures that all
submitted work is registered and hence provides a safeguard against losses.
Extensions to coursework deadlines will only be given in exceptional
circumstances (for example, illness at a critical time or other severe personal
difficulties). If such circumstances arise, it is the student’s responsibility to
contact the appropriate staff member as soon as possible, explain the
circumstances, provide a medical certificate if illness is involved, and request
a written note specifying the length of the extension from the staff member.
School Policy is:
1.
Late essays/coursework will attract a penalty as specified in course handouts.
Extension of time without penalty may be granted only after consultation
prior to the due date.
2.
Students whose circumstances necessitate submission of an essay more than
two weeks after the due date must negotiate some other topic with the staff member
concerned prior to the due date.
3.
The box will be cleared at 5.00pm daily. Items cleared with be stamped with
the submission date.
4.
Staff have agreed not to return marked essays before two weeks after the due
date.
5.
Staff have agreed to return marked essays before three weeks after the due
date.
6.
No assignment will be accepted on a particular topic after the work of other
students has been marked and returned.
Coursework subjects to such penalties will be returned to students showing both the
actual mark for the work and the level of penalty awarded.
***
All course work must be the original work of the student. Plagiarised work
(ie: that copied without proper acknowledgement from other students or
published sources) is given a mark of zero. Students should also be aware that
close paraphrasing of a limited amount of source material is not likely to be
regarded as satisfactory work.
Staff agree to:
1.
distribute detailed and clear written information about the course program,
content, assessment requirements and submission deadlines – this material and
reading lists will be distributed in adequate time for preparation;
2.
make every effort to teach classes to a published timetable – if a class has to
be cancelled for some reason such as illness, alternative arrangements will
ensure that students are not disadvantaged;
3.
be available for consultation for a reasonable proportion of normal working
hours during the teaching and examination periods*;
4.
return submitted work promptly (within 3 weeks) with constructive
feedback**;
5.
make sure that adequate reference material is available;
6.
gain both public and confidential feedback on teaching, and to use this
feedback to improve courses and supervision***;
7.
deal fairly and promptly with personal problems and grievances****.
*
Staff have other responsibilities during these time periods apart from teaching,
such as research, university and outside committee work, and postgraduate and
honours supervision. They may also be undertaking work outside their
offices, but within the University. The School Office staff will be able to
inform students wishing to see a particular absent staff member of their
location, if appropriate, or a mutually suitable time for consultation.
**
Staff will return all coursework that contributes to overall assessment with
marks and comments as quickly as possible. In any event, all such work will
be returned within three weeks of the relevant deadline. Students should
retain assessed coursework until courses have been finally assessed.
***
Students have the opportunity to comment on most courses fairly regularly
through end-of-course questionnaires or Student Evaluations of Teaching and
Learning (SETL), and are encouraged to do so. Staff take student comments
into account in course revisions. A School staff/student committee meets at
least once per semester. It is well suited to the discussion of matters which
may have implications for groups of students or the School as a whole.
Representatives are elected from each year and are encouraged to seek out
student opinion on current courses. The committee’s recommendations are
submitted to the main School staff meeting.
**** If possible, grievances with any aspect of a course should first be taken up
with the staff member concerned. Should a satisfactory outcome not be
achieved, then students should seek advice from one of the first year
coordinators (Dr Kevin Kiernan and Dr Emma Pharo) or with any staff
member with whom they feel comfortable. If further action is required then
the issue should be raised in writing with the Head of School. Normally the
Head of School would consult with appropriate members of staff in an attempt
to solve the problem and report back directly to the student. If the student is
still dissatisfied there is a number of other avenues in the University open to
the student, which include an approach to the Dean as a next step.
The School has a long history of successful and friendly relationships with students
and the number of complaints is very few indeed. Experience suggests that the best
guarantee of continuing close working relationships is for issues to be raised, as soon
as possible, with a staff member and to seek to have them resolved before they
become serious.
If you are experiencing difficulties with your studies or assignments, have personal or
life planning issues, disability or illness which may affect your course of study, you
should discuss these with your lecturer and/or one of the following Student Services
Staff as soon as possible:
Learning Skills Adviser
Careers Adviser
Student Counsellor
Disability Adviser
Student Services is located on the top floor of the Student Union/Association
Buildings.