Student Handbook 2019/20 - UNIVERSITY CENTRE AT BLACKBURN COLLEGE
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Student Handbook
2019/20
UNIVERSITY CENTRE AT BLACKBURN COLLEGE
1
Welcome to Contents
the University Academic Structure 3
Centre at
Your Campus 4
Personal Tutors 5
Blackburn
Student Support:
The Student Engagement Team 6
College (UCBC)
The Hub Support Services 7
(Careers Team & Finance Team)
Emotional Health and Wellbeing 8
Whether you are a new or Chaplaincy 8
returning student we aim to Accommodation 8
make your experience with Students’ Union 9
us enjoyable, supportive and Disability Advice Service 12
fulfilling. So welcome. University Centre Library 16
This handbook provides you with the Microsoft Office 365 18
information you will need to help you
Graduation 20
successfully complete your studies.
It also includes advice on where, and how, Examinations 22
to access further guidance during your time Moderation & Examination 23
here at UCBC. Extensions & Mitigating 24
We will support you academically but we are Circumstances
also here for you in other ways; to help you Attendance & Sickness 26
navigate your route through education and
Complaints & Academic Appeals 27
to get the most from your ‘student journey’.
We can provide additional assistance, College Policies & Procedures 28
signposting and advice, to ensure your Transferring & Withdrawing 31
experience is the best it can be.
Work-Based Learning 32
As a University Centre, we help you prepare Staying Safe 33
for the next stage of your life and we want
you to know about, and take advantage of, What to do in an emergency 34
all the opportunities available to you. Car parking & Travel 36
Additional Financial Support 37
Best wishes,
Dr Stephen Malone
Executive Dean of
Higher Education
2
Our Academic Structure
and Qualifications
We offer a range of qualifications to suit your individual
needs and career aspirations.
We have one of the largest bodies of Higher Education studies for a college in England
and have over 50 years’ experience of offering Higher Education courses.
What types of course are available?
At the University Centre at Blackburn College we offer over 100 Higher Education courses.
These include:
• Higher National Certificates (HNC) • Honours Degrees with Foundation
Entry BA (Hons), BSc (Hons), LLB
• Higher National Certificates (HND)
(Hons), BEng (Hons)
• Higher Level Apprenticeships
• Honours Degrees (BA (Hons), BSc
• Degree Level Apprenticeships (Hons), LLB (Hons), BEng (Hons)
• Foundation Degrees (FdA/FdSc) • Masters Degrees
• Professional Qualifications
Degree and Higher Level Apprenticeships
You will be able to develop your career Entry Requirements
whilst earning a wage. Your employer
will also benefit through the professional To be eligible you will need to have
development and expertise of their staff. achieved one of the following qualifications
or be able to demonstrate that you have
Degree and Higher Level Apprenticeships suitable relevant and recent occupational
offer an excellent alternative to the experience. Qualifications include:
traditional route to gaining higher level
• A-Levels
qualifications, by offering you practical
industry skilled training combined • Vocational Level 3 qualifications
with study. • An Advanced Apprenticeship
Please note: There are no fees for a Degree or Higher Level Apprenticeship but you will not be eligible for
the financial support or Government loans and grants detailed in other areas of this prospectus. Higher and
Degree Level Apprenticeships can start throughout the academic year. You do not necessarily have to start in
September 2020.
3
Blackburn
College 1 University Centre
Campus 2
3
The Futures Centre
The Sixth Form and
St Paul’s Centre
4 The Elizabeth Building
5 The Victoria Building
Lancashire Access Centre
6 Construction Centre
7 Beacon Centre
8 Regional Automotive
Technology Hub (RATH)
9 Blackburn Sports and
Leisure Centre
10 The Harrison Centre
Entrance
Entrance
Entrance
4
Personal Tutors
At the start of your course you will be allocated a Personal
Tutor who is your first point of contact for academic advice
and personal/professional development. They are there to give
a personalised approach to your Higher Education experience.
Your Personal Tutor will meet with you to discuss your progress. You will usually have at
least two scheduled one-to-one meetings over the year, one in each semester.
Individual tutorials are key to building a good relationship with your Personal Tutor and
provide you with an opportunity to discuss any emerging issues you feel are important.
Agenda items for individual tutorials may vary depending upon your programme of study
and your individual needs.
In addition to the one-to-one scheduled meetings which are specifically tailored to your
needs, you will also attend and participate in group tutorial sessions that cover a range of
topics including all you need to know about studying effectively.
Your tutor can provide you with guidance in academic matters, as well as information
about where to go for any additional and specialist help and advice you might need e.g.
careers, study skills, counselling, etc.
5
The Student
Engagement Team
“Here to Help You”
The Student Engagement Team provide individualised advice regarding academic
study skills and pastoral (welfare) support, to help you deal with the common pressures
associated with Higher Education study.
The team help with a range of study skills topics, including:
• Assignment writing at degree level • Research skills
• Exam preparation • Organisational and time management
• Presentation skills • Stress management
• Referencing
To arrange an individual appointment or Further information about the team’s
if you have any general enquiries, email offer can be accessed via the Student
SET@blackburn.ac.uk and your Student Engagement Team “What we can do for
Engagement Officer will get back to you. you” leaflet and/or the UCBC Student
Engagement section, on Moodle.
If you are unable to attend an appointment
in person or if you can’t access support
during business hours, distance support
can also be arranged. The Student
Engagement Officers are here throughout
the year to help and support you.
The team work closely with the Students’
Union to promote student opportunities Gemma Irving Zara Eccles
such as Student Voice and enrichment. HE Student Engagement HE Student
We also support a number of other Co-ordinator Engagement Officer
activities throughout the year including the
Freshers’ event, Graduation, the College
Festive Fair and various fundraising events.
To improve retention, achievement and
success, the team assist your tutors to
monitor and track attendance. If you
experience problems with attendance;
academic and pastoral/welfare support will Terry King Jacqueline
be offered to you, to attempt to re-engage HE Student Rimmer
you with your studies. Engagement Officer HE Student
Engagement Officer
6
The Hub Support Team
Careers Team Student Finance Team
Our friendly and professionally qualified Our Student Finance Team is here to help
Careers Advisers are here to help you plan you budget, plan and explore the financial
your career and make the most of the support available to you during your study.
graduate opportunities that will be available
to you after your studies. We are here to:
• Ensure you are aware of your full
We can help you explore: funding entitlement from Student
Finance England and UCBC
• Career options related to your studies
• Support you with your application for
• Graduate vacancies and employers funding
• Postgraduate study options • Support you in resolving any issues
you may be experiencing with Student
If you would like to see a Careers Finance England
Adviser for personalised Information,
Advice and Guidance, we can help • Provide budgeting information to
with: help you avoid experiencing financial
problems
• CV development
For more detailed information please visit
• Personal statement writing The Hub Moodle pages.
• Sourcing job vacancies
• Applying for work You may also find the following
websites useful:
• Preparing for interviews
Student Finance England: www.gov.uk/
• Interview practice and feedback
student-finance
Graduate Careers: www.prospects.ac.uk
The Hub Support Services
To arrange an appointment, call us on 01254 292929 to check
availability or come to one of our Drop-In sessions which run
Monday - Friday 11am - 1pm in the Beacon Centre.
For help and advice, please book in for an hour long appointment,
in a private interview space on 01254 292929.
https://www.blackburn.ac.uk/careers-programme/
7
Emotional Health and Chaplaincy
Wellbeing Service The College Chaplaincy is a service available
for all students no matter what faith or belief.
We have an Emotional Health and Wellbeing
The College Chaplain is available for students’
service (EHWB) situated within the University
worship and spirituality needs and can also
Centre.
link students with different faith communities
and interfaith groups and events.
The EHWB service can be accessed by
students for many different reasons. The Chaplaincy service provides a room
in the University Centre for reflection and
Changes and pressures in our lifestyle can, contemplation – UC128, located on the first
at times, affect our wellbeing and emotional floor.
health and you may feel you need some
support. At UCBC our Emotional Health The College Chaplain is available to:
and Wellbeing service is available for one to • Explore faith and spirituality individually
one appointments in a safe and comfortable or in groups
environment, where you can speak to our • Celebrate religious festivals
EHWB Officer.
• Offer a compassionate listening ear
regardless of your faith or belief
We can support you and if necessary,
signpost and refer you to other specialist • Provide advice and guidance on faith
services that may be able to help. related issues
• Help you make a positive contribution
If you wish to make an appointment you can to society
contact us via email: You can contact the Chaplain by emailing
ehwb@blackburn.ac.uk, telephone 01254 chaplaincy@blackburn.ac.uk or by
292269 or alternatively you can ask your tutor visiting the Beacon Centre reception –
to make you an appointment. please refer to the student information
boards for dates, times and locations.
Accommodation
Your local student accommodation ‘The Dwelling’ is based only a 5 minute walk from the
campus. The landlords are committed to the College’s “Landlord Registration Scheme”. The
Dwelling consists of 18 study bedrooms which include a choice of single or double bedrooms,
en-suite rooms and Pods (which are self-contained flats) and they include a desk, wardrobe and
chest of drawers.
All applications for Student Accommodation should be made directly with the Landlord at The
Dwelling by calling Maxine on 07804640054. See link below for more information:
https://www.blackburn.ac.uk/university/support-student-life/accommodation/
8
Students’ Union (SU)
Your Students’ Union President exists to
promote, represent and protect your welfare
and interests.
Our mission is to enhance your student
experience whilst you’re at our University
Centre. We do this by working with the
College to ensure that you’re getting the best
experience whilst you’re here.
Your SU is involved in a range of activities for
example, running events and societies, trips,
drop in clinics for advice and fundraising for a
range of charities. We’ve tackled issues such
as getting new social seating in The Curve,
replacement laptops and helping to set up a
sustainability forum.
National Union of Students Students’ Voice and
(NUS) Campaigns
Don’t forget to buy your Totem card online at Across the whole of Blackburn College,
www.nus.org.uk. All Totem cardholders students are represented on different
receive discounts in many stores and online committees and panels and are members
shops from Topshop to Ticketmaster, Amazon of the Corporation Board. If you would like
to Vue, you can really save wherever you your voice and other students’ voices heard
spend, with over 150 exclusive discounts right then take part in any of the meetings or
at your fingertips! even become a member of the corporation
board. Talk to your head of school for more
You can now choose an address to have your information.
Totem card delivered to. It’s only £12, not bad
for something that’s going to save you a whole Various events occur throughout the year
load of cash throughout the year. that run in conjunction with the Students’
Union. For example, the ‘You Said We
Did’ campaign. These campaigns provide
blackburncollegestudentsunion feedback and are also used to share
information with you. Focus groups on
specific topics are also set up in response to
feedback.
9
Clubs and Societies Events
The SU is constantly expanding and growing. We hold regular social events for students
We currently have a range of societies you such as fairs and comedy nights. We want to
can get involved in, or you could start your put on events that appeal to you so please let
own to cater to you and your friends’ needs, us know what you would like.
For more information contact:
studentunion@blackburn.ac.uk We can also support you if you want to hold
an event yourself – maybe you want to raise
Clubs that you may want to get involved money for charity or to organise an event for
in include … your course – let us know and we can advise
or assist you.
• Law Society
• Enterprise Society Call 01254 292829 or email:
• Interfaith Society studentevents@blackburn.ac.uk
• Research and Scholarship Society
• Football Club
• Sustainability Club
• Gaming Club
10UCBC Student Class Representatives
Students and their views are very important to This voice will be heard locally at relevant
Blackburn College and the University Centre, committees in the College from Single
not only views on student experience but Equality Committee, Learning, Teaching and
even on how classes are run and what the Assessment Committee, thematic focus
management can do to make it better. groups, course representative meetings,
Academic Board, Safeguarding Committee
This is why we need you! Become a Student and even the Corporation Board. Equally
Class Representative and join in with the the Student Voice will be heard nationally at
Students’ Union to create a strong voice meetings and conferences with the National
for students at Blackburn College and the Union of Students and other official bodies.
University Centre.
What is expected from a Student Representative at UCBC?
• To attend monthly meetings arranged • To attend and participate in College
by the Students’ Union President forums that are in place to hear your
views
• To attend Class Representative
Meetings arranged by your • To be an ambassador for Blackburn
Programme Leader College and promote the Student
Voice
• To attend Student Representative
Training at the beginning of the
academic year
What can you expect from us as a Student Class
Representative?
• Employability skills, a reference and • Training that can assist you in your
something to put on your CV for when career, such as team work, problem
you are looking for a job solving and debating
• To be part of a student voice and to • To be part of a strong team and have
have your opinions and ideas heard fun whilst doing it
locally and nationally
• To gain knowledge, experience and
• Special incentives such as Amazon skills
vouchers or drink vouchers to spend
at the College’s Starbucks
11Disability Advice Service Examples of support include:
At UCBC we pride ourselves on our A digital voice recorder: so you can
inclusive culture and we are committed record lectures, for your personal use only.
to supporting all our students to access This is particularly useful if you are living
education. with pain or taking strong medication which
may affect your ability to concentrate.
Any long term condition which may have
a significant impact on your day to day A 1:1 Study Tutor: who can support you
life and subsequently your ability to study, with research and developing your study
may be classed as a disability (Equality Act skills.
2010 definition).
An ergonomic chair: in the classrooms
Please do not hesitate to come and speak and lectures to reduce pain levels when
with one of our advisers. sitting for any duration.
Do you think you may have support Please note some support is dependent on
requirements? an assessment.
Dyslexia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, How do I get support?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cancer,
Anorexia, Post-traumatic Stress If you have Disabled Students Allowances
Disorder, HIV, Hearing Impairments, in place you will need to contact your non-
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, medical helper provider every September
Depression, Arthritis, Dyspraxia, ME, to arrange your one to one support.
Visual Impairments, OCD, back conditions,
Diabetes, and Autistic Spectrum Disorder,
for example, are all disabilities, medical How do I review my
conditions or specific learning difficulties
which may have a significant impact on
support?
your day to day life and consequently your If you would like to review any aspect of
ability to undertake a period of study. your support do not hesitate to make an
appointment with one of our Disability
There is a range of support options for Advisers.
students with disabilities.
Your Disability Adviser will be able to
discuss an appropriate package of
support, including access to funding
(where applicable) e.g. Disabled Students
Allowance (DSA)
12I am in my Second or An ICE card can be collected from your
tutor or Disability Advice Service. Details
Final Year; is it too late to should be completed on the reverse of the
disclose a Disability or card and placed behind your student ID
card.
request support?
In case of an emergency where a first
It is never too late to arrange to meet with aider is called and you are too unwell to
one of our Disability Advisers. communicate, they will check the reverse
of your ID card to identify any medical
If you have recently received a diagnosis conditions requiring emergency treatments
which is impacting upon your ability to and details of your emergency contact.
study or you have only just decided that Your lanyard containing your ICE card must
you may benefit from support, do not be worn around your neck and it is your
hesitate to make an appointment with us. responsibility to update the information as
and when necessary.
Exam concessions and
alternative assessments Mobility Difficulties
Some students may be eligible for If you have difficulties with your mobility, a
adjustments in exams, or require alternative physical disability or a medical condition
assessments. Make an appointment with which may affect your access to and
one of our advisers to discuss this further. exit from our buildings, please contact
the Disability Service so we can discuss
this and, if required, complete a Personal
Car Parking Permits Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP).
Alternatively, your tutor can complete a
UCBC operates a permit system for PEEP with you.
students who are Blue Badge holders.
How to contact us
Contact the Disability Advice Service for
more details. Phone:
01254 292269
In Case of Emergency Text phone for the hearing impaired:
07891481383
(ICE Cards) Email:
hedisabilityservices@blackburn.ac.uk
If you have a medical condition that may
require emergency medical intervention
then we require you to complete an We are available for appointments in the
ICE card. We may also complete a risk University Centre between 9am - 4pm
assessment/care plan with you to ensure Monday to Friday and outside these hours
that your support requirements are fully by prior arrangement during term time and
addressed. holidays.
Appointments can also be booked via the
Hub in the Beacon Centre.
13What are Exam Access with the College’s Academic Regulations.
Evidence can be an assessment report or
Arrangements? a GP letter.
Arrangements are any additional It is your responsibility to apply for exam
adjustments we can put in place to enable access arrangements before the advertised
you to access your exams due to a submission date. If you do not apply by
disability or temporary injury. the submission date, we may be unable to
implement your approved requests for the
For example: first sitting of the exam.
• A reader/access to IT
• Assistive software or a scribe First Panel Sitting
(someone to write your answers)
Submission Date: 5pm Saturday 2nd
• Extra time or rest breaks
November, 2019 - You may submit
• Taking the exam in a smaller room applications to the Panel for semester
• Adapted paper - font style, size or A or B exams. If you only have exams
colour during semester B, you may still submit an
• Access to an ergonomic chair application to the first panel.
• BSL Interpreter
Late submissions for Semester A exams
will be heard at the Semester A Re-sit
You must apply for exam access Panel. Late applications must be received
arrangements as soon as you by Monday 2nd December, 2019.
have evidence of your disability
or temporary injury and within the Access arrangement applications heard by
published deadlines. the Panel will only be implemented for re-
sit and future exams and not for Semester
Once you have applied you will not need to A exams (first sitting).
reapply again during the remainder of the
higher education course you are enrolled Second Panel Sitting
upon, unless you wish to amend your
original request, or if your arrangements
Submission Date: 5pm Saturday
have been cancelled due to non-
29th February, 2020 - You may submit
attendance of an exam.
applications to this panel for Semester B
exams only.
If you are doing a GCSE course, please
speak to your tutor about access Late submissions for Semester B exams
arrangements at the start of your course, will be heard at the Semester B Re-sit
as GCSE deadlines differ from university Panel. Late applications must be received
deadlines. by Monday 27th April, 2020.
The granting of requests is an evidence Access arrangements applications heard
based process and as such you must by the Semester B Re-sit Panel will only be
submit appropriate evidence in support of considered and implemented for re-sit and
your application. All applications are heard future exams and not for the Semester B
by a Panel, which is convened to consider exams (first sitting).
applications and evidence in accordance
14The Academic Registrar will record all Changes to Assessment
decisions formally and you will be notified
of the Panel’s decisions via your student Practices
email account. Please note that personal
email addresses are not accepted for this All UCBC programmes have a mix of
purpose. Please make sure you know how assessment methods that were approved
to access your student email account and at the time the programme was validated.
that you check your account regularly.
Inevitably you will like some methods more
TOP TIP: Synchronize your student than others but the mix of methods on your
account to your personal email programme has been carefully designed to
account. be fair to all and to meet the expectations
of the award. For this reason they are not
To assist you in making an informed varied lightly.
decision as to which exam access
arrangements you require and to However, we do make reasonable
facilitate you in completing the online adjustments to assessment practices
application, please ensure that you make where students provide up-to-date
an appointment with a Disability Adviser. independent evidence of need. This is
It is important, if you wish to meet the usually brought about by a student where
submission date, that you book an early there is a particular method of assessment
appointment. that might not be suitable because of a
disability or additional need.
You can complete the online application
independently, if you do not require There are two opportunities (one in each
guidance as to the most appropriate semester) for you to disclose a need and
access arrangements. to ask the Assessment Arrangements
Panel to make whatever arrangements
Visit Moodle Quick Links to locate the might be needed to ensure that you are not
exam access arrangements online disadvantaged.
application.
It is up to you to disclose any needs you
may have, comply with UCBC’s procedures
and to provide adequate supporting
evidence.
In order to apply for a change in
assessment practice you must email the
Academic Registrar at:
hequality@blackburn.ac.uk.
All applications must be received in
line with the exam access application
submission dates. If you would like to
discuss any difficulties you may encounter
in undertaking assessments and options
available to you, please contact the
Disability Advice Service.
15University Centre Library
(UCL)
Our Library is one of the best resources for information around.
Our library is stocked with the relevant Just some of the facilities that you
materials for your course which includes can benefit from in the University
books and periodicals as well as online Centre Library include:
databases and journals.
We liaise with your lecturers and tutors • 29 Bookable PCs
to ensure there is a wealth of relevant
materials to help you complete your course • 30 Laptops
successfully. Spread across two floors, • 4 Mac PCs
there are also silent and private study
areas, laptops, bookable PCs and group • 15 iPads
study areas including ‘The Boardroom’ with • Printing, photocopying and
floor to ceiling glass walls which can be laminating facilities
booked out for groups of up to 8 people.
With a large screen PC and whiteboard this • Stationery shop
room is perfect for practising presentations • Bookable groups study room
or working on group assignments. We
• Groups study spaces
have a clear code of conduct so that
we can ensure the library is a conducive • Online Catalogue
learning environment for all. The library
• 24/7 online Library – accessible on
is open throughout the week including
and off campus
4 evenings until 8.00pm, convenient for
those with day-time commitments. You can
also access our large collections of online
resources 24/7, by logging on via Moodle.
16Library staff are available whenever we are
open to give guidance on how to search
and retrieve the most relevant and reliable
UCL Opening Times
information for your studies. Term Time
We have a team of knowledgeable Monday - Thursday 8.30am - 8.00pm
and helpful staff who can facilitate and
Friday 9.00am - 4.30pm
support you in your learning and studies
by providing guidance and training on *Check for extended hours in the run up to
information skills.
exams
If you need a bit more help you can always
book a one to one or small group session
with a member of staff.
Vacation Time
Monday - Thursday 8.30am - 5.00pm
Friday 9.00am - 4.30pm
Online Study Skills resource
The content of these courses will help you in preparing for your higher education
studies. There are lots of subjects to choose from, such as communication and
revision skills, but we suggest that you try to work through them all of them during
your first few weeks of your degree programme. These courses are just one part of a
wide range of support available to you at the University Centre at Blackburn College.
During your induction your Programme Leader and Personal Tutor will advise you of
the other aspects of our College support.
Sometimes, the content of these online courses may differ slightly from the specific
teaching on your degree (for example, referencing) – your tutors will advise you
about this where relevant. If you have any questions about this course please
contact your Personal Tutor or a member of the Student Engagement Team.
We hope that you enjoy these courses and find them beneficial for your studies.
17Microsoft Office 365
and storage space for
students
When you establish your Blackburn College email account you will
have access to the following facilities:
Microsoft OneDrive for The College email system
Business and Moodle for UCBC
This will give you 1TB of cloud storage for communication
your files.
It is imperative that you access your
College email account at least once a
Access to Microsoft Office week (or on specific dates if you have
been notified to expect vital information
applications regarding your course and progress). It
You can download and install the full is preferred that you do not write to any
version Microsoft Office on your own member of staff about College matters
devices. There is a limit of 5 installations from any another email address. Likewise,
per user. You also have access to the staff should only write to you from their @
online versions of Microsoft Office blackburn.ac.uk email account.
applications such as Microsoft Word,
Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint. Moodle is also used as an important and
New features are added by Microsoft on a secure way of communicating with you so
regular basis. you must check it regularly. It also keeps
you in touch with your peers and tutors.
Please note: you will lose access to all of these
facilities automatically after you leave College so “I much prefer Gmail / Yahoo!, Hotmail
be sure to back-up your files before you leave. - why is this necessary? “
We ask you to use your College email
address because we need to contact
you easily, sometimes on very important
matters. We can address an email to you
from the University Centre system very
easily, but we can’t keep track of your
other email addresses reliably.
18If you don’t check your College email
regularly you might just be inconvenienced
If you experience
(like travelling in for a class that has been difficulties with Moodle
cancelled or relocated) or more importantly
you miss out on receiving important Moodle records all access and accurately
notifications about your assessment or tracks activity by date and time, including
outcomes of mitigating circumstances. assignment submissions.
It is also for your safety. People can easily If you have an issue whilst in the Moodle
pretend to be you just by getting a Hotmail system, you can use the Moodle
/ Gmail / Yahoo! account or similar and messaging system or the Help Desk link
by then claiming to be you. However, we from the menu at the top to report the fault.
know your College account is authentic as
we created it from your enrolment details. In the event that the Moodle service is
If you have protected your password inaccessible or unavailable, the fault can be
(which you are required to do) then reported on (01254) 292345 during normal
communication will be safe. We can’t working hours or via Twitter (@bbcollege)
authenticate your personal email accounts or Facebook (BBColl) outside of normal
in the same way and we can’t keep track working hours.
of everybody’s changes to their email
The staff responsible for Moodle’s
addresses.
operation endeavour to repair faults within
NB: These are safeguarding precautions. These 30 minutes of notification although it can
steps to protect you won’t work unless you keep take longer outside of normal working
your login details secret, as you are absolutely hours.
required to.
Please note that academic tutors are not able
to provide any assistance with these kinds
of technical problems so please report the
problems using the channels above only.
19Graduation
Each year we hold a Graduation Registration
Ceremony in October.
In order to attend your Graduation
At the University Centre at Blackburn Ceremony you will need to register your
College we strive to make your graduation attendance electronically when registration
extra special and an unforgettable opens after you have received your results.
experience.
In order to graduate at the ceremony
We have a dedicated web page and you must meet the following criteria:
Graduation Team available to provide you
with all the information you will need in • You must have successfully completed
relation to your ceremony. your course
You will need to refer to this information • You must have registered your
several times before the event, so make attendance by the deadline set
sure you bookmark www.blackburn. • You must have paid your fees in full
ac.uk/graduation in order to enable easy and any other outstanding debts to
access to all the information you will need. the College
20Guests Tickets Robe Hire and
In addition to your own ticket of admission
Photography
you are guaranteed two guest tickets
It is compulsory to wear the appropriate
providing you register by the deadline.
academic dress (gown, hood and
Guests must be seated prior to the start
mortarboard) in accordance with the
of the ceremony as late admittance is not
University’s regulations. Gowns are
allowed in any circumstances.
hired from the official robe supplier and
graduation photographers will be available
Extra guest tickets may be available at
for the day. The cost of the gown hire
an additional charge. Extra guest seats
varies depending on the level of your
cannot be guaranteed and any advance
award.
arrangements regarding your party’s travel
or accommodation are made at your own
Professional photography is not
risk. All extra guest tickets will go on sale
compulsory, however different
for a limited time once registration has
photography packages are available to
closed and are issued on a first come first
suit different budgets.
served basis. You should stay up to date
by regularly visiting the Graduation web
pages to ensure you don’t miss out. Access Arrangements
If you require us to make any additional
access arrangements due to a disability
either for you or a guest/s it is essential
that you state this when you register online.
Our Disability Advice Service will then be in
touch to discuss arrangements.
Please visit www.blackburn.ac.uk/
graduation for information.
21Conduct during
examinations
Before the examination During the examination
you must: you should:
• Obey all instructions by the invigilator
• Enter the examination room only when
• Place your UCBC ID card on the desk
authorised by the invigilator
so that it is visible by the invigilator
• Put all coats and bags at the front or
• Use only UCBC stationery for all work
back of the room as instructed
in the exam, including rough work
• Switch off any mobile phones, and
• Check that you only have authorised
other devices capable of transmitting
material on your desk
and receiving data, MP3 players,
iPods or other items which may
distract other candidates and leave These could include:
them in your bag • a small selection of writing and related
• Ensure that you only have with you the implements - in a clear plastic bag
papers which may be permitted within only
the exam – all other papers must be • a bottle of water, items of
given to the invigilator confectionery (other food materials
• You will not normally be allowed into will be permitted only in the case of
the examination room if you arrive students with approved additional
more than 1 hour after the exam has needs)
started • any other items (calculator, data
tables, pre-released materials etc.)
that are explicitly permitted in the
You must not: examination
• any items approved for use by a
• Start writing until told to begin by the student with previously approved
invigilator additional needs
• Attempt to read the work of any other
students
• Talk or communicate in any way with
any other student
22Internal moderation, external
examination and external
examiners’ reports
Internal moderation is a process used to ensure that the marks
awarded for coursework and examinations are reliable and
fair. It involves a second opinion on assessment being sought
from another tutor belonging to the programme for a sample of
assessed work using an agreed approach.
External examination involves an For these reasons, you must understand
experienced academic from another that marks, grades and feedback given
Higher Education Institution (i.e. a person to you early (because prompt feedback
independent of the University Centre with is beneficial) is PROVISIONAL and may
considerable experience of the subject subsequently change. This is normal
and its standards) inspecting a sample of throughout UK Higher Education.
students’ assessed work and reporting
formally on standards being applied. Each year External Examiners write a
report on assessment standards for
Each programme has an external examiner. consideration by the College and its
There are systems in place to ensure that University Centre staff. You can obtain a
we apply standards correctly and our copy of the current and recent reports
standards are equivalent to those on similar for the programme you are studying. To
Higher Education programmes across the do this, simply make a request to your
UK. Either might cause a mark, a grade, or Programme Leader or Head of School.
feedback to change. How this change is
determined is not predictable: it does not,
for example, involve any kind of average
being calculated from the original grade,
moderated grade and externally
examined grade.
How results are announced
You will receive an email to your College email account after the mid-year Assessment
and Award Board in February and end of year Assessment and Award Board in July
giving details of your academic results and details of any re-assessments that you need
to undertake. Reassessments will be scheduled after the end of Semester B. These
arrangements will vary for mid-year start students with the mid–year board in July and
end of year board in March.
23Extensions and
mitigating circumstances
Extensions
In individual cases where there are Blanket extensions across your course due
circumstances justifying late submission of to the fact that you may have a disability
coursework, an extension of up to 1 term are not given. Extensions due to a disability
week beyond the original deadline may be may be negotiated at the discretion of your
granted by the Programme Leader (not module leader. Evidence of entitlement
the module lecturer) if requested by the will be required, for example: medical
student before the expiry of the original evidence, an Educational Psychologists
deadline. Report or an Assessment of Need.
If the extension agreed would result in Please be aware that the University of
the assessment being submitted after South Wales does not permit extensions
other students have received marks and/ where reasonable adjustment has been
or feedback on the original assessment, already made. Once the original deadline/
an alternative assessment of equivalent examination date has passed, extensions
difficulty will be substituted. will not be granted.
There are sometimes circumstances
where it is known in advance that it
would be reasonable for a student not to
take an examination on the normal date.
Programme Leaders are not permitted to
make this decision alone and the consent
of the Dean’s nominee is needed before
a change can be made. If you want to
seek a change of examination date you
should apply for the change through your
Programme Leader in exactly the same
way as for extensions in coursework
deadlines and should include any written
supporting evidence that you would like to
be considered. Your Programme Leader
will take the matter forward from there. You
should be aware that examination dates
are not normally changed without strong
supporting evidence.
24Extensions to Deadlines Mitigating Circumstances
for Different Awarding Sometimes things happen that might
Bodies prevent you from submitting an
assessment or attending an examination
For courses leading to Lancaster on the due date. The process for
University or Pearson BTEC awards, extensions described above should
your Programme Leader can authorise be used where the problem is known
extensions of coursework deadlines of up in advance. Where the problem arises
to 1 term week, providing that you request too late for this, students can make an
the extension before the original deadline application to the Mitigating Circumstances
has expired. You can expect to be required Panel for consideration of their individual
to provide evidence of a genuine need circumstances.
before an extension is granted.
The MCP meets regularly during term
Coursework extensions over 1 term week time. Applications are considered on their
in length can be authorised by the Head merits and the MCP can recommend
of School. Any changes to examination whatever actions it feels are justified in the
dates require authorisation by the Head circumstances.
of Quality & Standards - Higher Education
and are not given without good supporting The MCP requires good written evidence
evidence of need. In all cases, your first to support applications. The necessary
step is to discuss the matter with your application form and explanatory guidance
Programme Leader. can be downloaded from Moodle. Please
note that you are expected to apply to the
Students on courses leading to awards MCP at the earliest practical opportunity
from University of South Wales, University and normally within 48 hours of the
of Central Lancashire and University of submission deadline.
Cumbria are subject to the rules of their
awarding institution. Please contact your
Programme Leader for details.
25Attendance and Sickness
We set extremely high let your Personal Tutor know. Absences
for things like illness, family crises, medical
expectations for our
or other appointments, educational visits,
students. job interviews etc. all need to be notified
as soon as practical. Where a disability,
Research shows that lack of attendance medical condition, mental health issue or
in class can affect studies and ultimately the effects of medication are affecting your
student achievement. Obviously, we attendance or punctuality please discuss
expect 100% attendance and a minimum this with your Personal Tutor or a disability
of 90% if you experience extenuating advisor so that we can make reasonable
circumstances. adjustments if appropriate. You should
inform your Personal Tutor in the first
If you can’t attend one of your sessions instance when attendance is not possible.
you’re expected to notify your Personal
Tutor by telephone. If the absence is due to Please see page 12 for information
sickness only, a central system is operated. about the Disability Advice Service.
You should phone 01254 292929 as early
as possible and at least half an hour before It is our aim to offer a supportive
your session starts. You’ll need to state environment to ensure that when returning
when you first became ill and provide an after a period of sickness you are offered
indication of how long you expect to be the assistance you require to resume your
away. studies successfully.
It is our expectation that if you are off sick Tutorials will also offer you the opportunity
for longer than a day then contact every to voice any concerns that you have and to
three days should be made unless a sick be briefed on any information that you’ve
note is forwarded to your Personal Tutor missed should you have been absent.
indicating the duration of your sickness. Tutorials will also be an opportunity for you
to raise concerns and be signposted to
If you cannot make contact in person due the relevant service if additional support is
to serious medical reasons you must make required after a period of absence.
sure that someone else does so on your
behalf. If you are unable to attend UCBC
and/or placement because of an infectious Arrive on time
or contagious disease you must notify
UCBC immediately via the Personal Tutor. Please do not be late for timetabled
sessions. If you do arrive late in class
It is most important that you monitor it will be disruptive for those present
your attendance just as we do and bring especially if you interrupt during lectures
any issues or concerns to the attention and presentations. If there is a specific and
of your Personal Tutor or your Student good reason why you might be struggling
Engagement Officer. You can check your to attend sessions on time, please speak
attendance on Moodle. You should do this to your Personal Tutor / Programme
regularly and if there are any discrepancies, Leader for advice.
26Complaints and
Academic Appeals
Naturally, we hope that if you You are first advised to discuss your
concerns with the relevant programme
are dissatisfied with your leader.
course or a service provided
by the College you will speak The appeals process starts with an
application to the Head of Quality &
to staff immediately to try to Standards - Higher Education. If you are
resolve the matter. not happy with the outcome of the initial
appeal you will have the right to have your
If the informed attempt to resolve the case considered up to three further times,
problem has not resolved the issue to by the Learning, Teaching & Assessment
your satisfaction then you should refer Committee (Higher Education), the
to the College’s Complaints Procedure university whose award you are studying
which is located on the College website. and, if you remain unsatisfied, by the
The procedure provides a guide to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator. You
acceptable grounds for a complaint, the can get advice on your rights and details
difference between raising a concern and of the process from the Head of Higher
making a complaint and how to complain. Education Quality.
It will also give details of how your
complaint may be dealt with. Please note that there are time limits on
appeals, normally requiring an appeal to
We also welcome positive feedback – if be lodged within 14 days of the decision
you feel something has gone particularly you are appealing and that the grounds for
well, please let us know. appeal are limited.
In particular, you should note that you do
not have a right to appeal on the grounds
Academic Appeals that you do not agree with the academic
judgement of your assessors so long
These procedures are designed for as this judgement has been arrived at
students who believe that their examination properly.
or assessment results are inaccurate and
who wish to appeal, for instance, on the Only award board decisions can be
grounds of a departure from the regulations appealed. Students cannot challenge any
during the examination or an irregularity of other type of decision by this method.
administrative procedures.
The Complaints and Compliments Procedure can be found at:
https://www.blackburn.ac.uk/about-us/corporate-information/publication-scheme/
our-policies-procedures/complaints-and-compliments-procedure/
27College Policies and
Procedures
We aim to provide you with clear and full information on a
variety of topics, including relevant College policies, which
relate to your studies.
Smoking and E-Cigarettes Responsibilities
The College Smoke-Free Policy is available All staff are responsible for advising and
on Moodle, but this summary should help reminding smokers using ‘inappropriate
you. areas’ such as building entrances and
exits, to use the designated shelters
Smoking and the use of E-Cigarettes
is prohibited: All College staff and learners are required
to adhere to, and support the Smoke-
• in all College buildings Free Policy. New staff and learners will
be informed of the policy at recruitment/
• at all entrances and exits to College induction
buildings
• in all College vehicles and hire vehicles
used for College business Non-compliance
• College disciplinary procedures will
Smoking Provisions be followed if learners do not comply
with the smoking and E-Cigarette
Designated smoking shelters and waste prohibitions, and the request to use of
bins are provided on campus which the smoking provisions
smokers are required to use with the • Anyone breaching smoke-free laws
expectation that they do not smoke in may be liable to a fixed penalty fine
any other area on campus. Waste bins and possible criminal prosecution
to dispose of smoking materials are
provided next to the shelters and smokers
are requested to dispose of materials
responsibly.
28Cessation Support
Photo ID
The College recognises that for some
On enrolment you will be issued with an
people giving up smoking can be difficult.
identity/swipe card. This card will allow
you access to University Centre, at the UC
NHS provide advice and support for
Library and select other Blackburn College
smokers who want to stop. For more
buildings. You are required to display
information visit: smokefree.nhs.uk.
your ID card at all times whilst on College
premises. There will be spot checks by
Other local support services include:
College security.
Blackburn with Darwen Stop Smoking
Please take care of your ID card. The loss
Services
of the card will incur a replacement fee of
Tel: 01254 682037 £5.00. If you cease to study at UCBC, then
Email: quitsmoking@blackburn.gov.uk you must return your card to your personal
tutor immediately.
Visit: refreshbwd.com/information/stop-
smoking-service.html If you need to access the first floor of the
library and will require to use the lift due
Quit Squad - East Lancashire NHS to a disability please contact the Beacon
Stop Smoking Service Centre reception desk who can arrange to
Tel: 0800 328 6297 or 01254 283370 programme your ID card.
Email: stopsmoking@lancashirecare.nhs.
uk or quitsquad@lancashire.nhs.uk Personal Property in
Visit: www.lancashirecare.nhs.uk/services/ College
adult-community/stop-smoking.php
Your personal property and possessions
are your responsibility when you are at
UCBC. UCBC cannot accept responsibility
Data Protection for any loss/damage to personal
belongings. You are strongly advised to
Students sign on the University Centre’s insure your possessions against loss or
enrolment form to acknowledge that the damage.
Centre holds certain information and will
be processed in accordance with the
Data Protection Act 1998 and from 25 Health and Safety
May 2018, the General Data Protection
Regulation. Sitting in corridors can create a trip hazard
and cause serious harm. Please ensure
Under the Data Protection Act you are able you keep corridors free from obstructions.
to access the records UCBC holds on you.
If you would like to obtain a copy, please
contact Registry (located on the first floor
of the Beacon Centre). There is a charge of
£10 for a copy of the information.
29Other Policies and
Procedures
Awarding Body If you have a disability or learning difficulty,
which is affecting your ability to recall
Regulations information or to physically take notes,
please contact a Disability Adviser to
All UCBC programmes operate within discuss your support requirements.
formal regulations and procedures
approved by the relevant awarding body Only disabled students have an entitlement
and these differ significantly between to record lectures and must sign a contract
awards and awarding institutions. outlining conditions of use. It will be
considered a disciplinary matter where any
As part of your induction you will be told student is found to be recording or filming
the key points of the regulations that apply aspects of a lecture or a tutorial without
to your course. If you have questions that permission whether through the use of
aren’t answered at this time you can get laptops, mobile phone or recorders.
further information, including copies of
the formal regulations that apply to your All information shared within a learning
course, from Moodle. If you would like environment is done so for educational
some help in interpreting regulations then purposes for the benefit of sharing,
our Higher Education Quality Team will be confirming or clarifying ideas, views or facts
happy to advise. and as such can be recorded for study
purposes. If you wish to share information
which is personal to you in a lecture, you
Use of Digital Recording have the right to state that the information
is personal and to request that your peers
Devices in Sessions
do not record or make notes of what you
In accordance with the Equality Act, choose to share or to repeat the content to
disabled students have an entitlement to others outside of the session.
record lectures/classes. There are many
reasons why a disabled student may find it
beneficial to use a digital recording device
in lectures i.e. due to dyslexia, a visual
impairment, a physical disability, impaired
concentration, or recall difficulties due to
mental health conditions, extreme pain
levels, or high levels of medication.
30Transferring, Suspending
and Withdrawing from
Courses
Transferring Withdrawing
If your circumstances change and you Should you decide that you want to
need to relocate, a Careers Adviser withdraw from your course and to enable
can inform you about the possibility of you to make an informed decision, you
transferring to another University or Higher will need to understand the financial and
Education Institution. A meeting will also academic implications. You will need to
be required with a member of the Student make an appointment to meet with a
Finance team to discuss the financial member of the Student Finance team and
implications of transferring. the Careers Team. Contact details are
listed below.
Suspending Studies If you decide to withdraw from your
course, it is important that you inform the
If you find that you are experiencing
University Centre at Blackburn College of
significant problems that are making
your decision. We would also recommend
it challenging for you to continue with
you speak to a member of the Student
your University course, you may want to
Engagement Team (SET@Blackburn.
consider suspending your studies.
ac.uk) before making a final decision on
withdrawing to ensure there is nothing else
A suspension of study period will generally
we can do to help in terms of supporting
be up to a year and students would
you to continue and achieve.
normally return at the beginning of a term
or semester as appropriate. Whilst your
studies are suspended you will no longer
be a student at the University Centre and
will therefore be unable to access/use
Careers Team
College facilities. Phone: 01254 292929
A meeting with a member of the Student
Email: careers@blackburn.ac.uk
Finance team will be required to discuss
the financial implications of suspending
your studies, the contact details are on Student Finance Team
this page. Following the meeting with
the Student Finance team, the next step Phone: 01254 292839
will be to speak to your Course Leader/
Email:
Personal Tutor. You may also wish to
studentfinance@blackburn.ac.uk
speak with a member of the Careers Team
to explore other options.
31Work-based Learning
Whether you are already employed and Undertaking Work Based Learning,
wanting to progress your career or are Work Placements and Voluntary Work
setting out to find your first dream job, are excellent ways to develop links to
“employability skills” will play an essential industry.
part in your ability to achieve your
ambitions for the future. Whether your course has a work based
learning module or not, if you are not
Use your time wisely at the University currently in employment or you are wishing
Centre by being aware of the essential to change sectors, links to employers are
skills you need for your chosen career and a really good way of getting noticed and
then take advantage of every opportunity enhancing your CV. Employers will want to
to develop these. Students rightly focus on see how you have linked to industry whilst
achieving the qualification but sometimes undertaking your studies. Any references
overlook the employability skills required to you gain as a result of your placements or
convince employers to employ them. work with employers are valuable when
you start to look for employment.
According to a recent report from the
UK Commission for Employment and In 2019, the University Centre at Blackburn
Skills: “Employability skills centre on College hosted and participated in a major
personal communication skills, using entrepreneurship competition sponsored
numbers, words and technology, by a number of high profile businesses.
team-working and customer care.
The Young Enterprise North West Start
Also needed is a “positive approach”: Up Final featured competitors from eight
being ready to “participate, make universities – including the University of
suggestions, and accept new ideas Liverpool, University of Chester and the
and constructive criticism”. University Centre at Blackburn College.
The prestigious competition – sponsored
We put the employability of our students by Bentley Motors, Manchester Airports
at the heart of everything we do. When Group, Market Place Shopping Centre,
we say ‘employability’ we use a simple DWF and Home Bargains – saw twelve
and personalised definition – we aim to teams vying for three places at the Young
give each and every one of our students Enterprise National Start Up Final.
the best possible chance of joining, and
sustaining, their chosen career path.
32You can also read
