Student Services

It is understood that good academic performance is linked to improved career opportunities and quality of life. However, we recognise this is not always possible due to factors including illness, family responsibilities, financial challenges, personal difficulties and unforeseen events. We also acknowledge that academic performance cannot simply be achieved with just a strong foundation in curriculum, but we need to be flexible and responsive to the evolving needs of our students.

Following the recent Professional Services restructure, we have established a coherent, consistent approach to providing support to our students, ensuring they get the support they need all in one place. Whilst all departments were previously doing an excellent job of supporting our students, uniting all our student facing departments into a single cohesive department has created an ideal platform for delivering more seamless support.  This is now delivered by our Student Services Department, which consists of 7 teams – Student Admissions, Educational Support, Student Advisory Services, Student Funding, Student Records, Student Retention and Student Services.

The following outlines a number of ways the Student Services Department support our students.  

• • Student Records Team oversees the collection and management of student data which is used to track and monitor progress of students from each protected characteristic. Having access to this data allows staff to regularly review admissions, retention, progression and attainment figures.
    
    
  • To ensure our students are supported at every stage of their academic journey our Student Retention Team works closely with students, lecturers and Academic Leaders to monitor attendance, achievement and progress. This helps us to identify those who are experiencing difficulties to progress and offer support to maximise their attendance.
    
    We offer an early intervention service to support learners, encourage students to take responsibility for self-authorising absence and monitoring attendance. Departments can also contact the Team if they are concerned about a student’s attendance, which the Team follows up with by contacting the student. If required, we also refer students to other support services within the college.
    
    A key development is our Priority Status Register which identifies potential students who may be at risk of early withdrawal. The priority status is calculated based on information related to the student and the level of course, which provides the team with an indication of the risk that a student will withdraw (e.g. 10% very low risk, 90% very high risk).  Any student with a risk of 50% or more is categorised as a priority, helping the college to understand the profile of the student and offer crucial interventions.

• • The Educational Support (ES) Team has staff based in our Motherwell, Coatbridge and Cumbernauld campuses. They work collaboratively with all academic departments and professional services teams to ensure that the needs of individual students are met. Following the needs-led model, our aim is to identify and provide appropriate support measures which will aid, develop and encourage all learners to fulfil their academic potential.
    
    This support includes access to a named Educational Support Adviser, Adult Literacy and Numeracy support, classroom and communication support, as well as having a range of equipment and assistive technology which may benefit individual learners. All applicants who disclose a disability or additional support need at application stage, are contacted and offered the opportunity to meet with a member of the team. We also support applicants during the interview process as required.  Learners can also self-refer to the team at any stage of their journey.
    
    
  • Student Advisory Services Team offers students pastoral support and a listening service. They are offered a confidential space to discuss issues or concerns impacting on their focus and concentration at college. Advice, Guidance and support is student led and is tailored to the individual. Support is unique to the individual student, but could include: emotional support/listening service; support with academic issue; support with disciplinary matters; signposting/referral to both internal and external services and practical emergency fund support.

• • Our Student Advisory Services Team have also been working in partnership with Action for Children who offer 1:1 support through the STAY Mentoring Programme. The service aims to help care experienced and other vulnerable students who are at risk of not sustaining their college place due to external barriers or difficulties. Young people can receive support to give them the best possible chance of re-engaging with their course or alternatively, progression to a positive destination whether that be employment or further study. Stay Mentors assist and support our students across a variety of areas including, budgeting, housing support, learning support, mental wellness, job applications and advocating on a student’s behalf.

• • The Student Funding team process students funding applications in line with Scottish Funding College Policy. They are responsible for making payments of Bursary, EMA, Discretionary and Childcare to our learners and follow SAAS Policy for Discretionary and Childcare for our HE Students. Recently, as part of the Financially Fit Campaign, the Team have been involved with developing a funding roadmap which guides students, step by step, through the funding process ensuring students can access the appropriate financial support. In addition, given a significant proportion of our students are from SIMD backgrounds, the Team have taken proactive measures e.g. regular communications, to ensure eligible students receive the appropriate support through the college’s discretionary funding scheme.