Help and InformationThe American Studies degree course is administered by the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities (CISH) which also provides support for students taking European Studies, Humanities, and Latin American Studies. CISH Office:Room 6.130 Located along the corridor from the Registry on level 6 above the Campus Shop on Square 4. Opening Hours:General Office open Monday to Friday 10 am to 4 pm CISH Administrators available Monday to Friday 10am-4pm, except Wednesday 10am-1pm CISH Administrators:Lyn Loaring / Dawn Mott Tel: (01206) 872688
or (01206) 873845 E-mail: cish The Course Director:Dr Owen Robinson The Course Director is responsible for the management and co-ordination of the degree course, for monitoring the progress of students and for quality assurance issues related to the degree. If you need any help or advice regarding your degree course, if you have complaints or queries about the courses or you are experiencing academic problems, please consult the Course Director as soon as possible. RegistrationFurther information is available on the Academic Section website. Communication MethodsImportant information is communicated to students by means of land mail, electronic mail and on University notice boards. The University makes increasing use of electronic mail to advise students of deadlines and to communicate information on various aspects of student life. You are expected to access and check your University e-mail account at least once per week in term time. Details of computing facilities and basic training are available at the Computer Service web page. Important information is also posted on the notice boards, outside the Examinations Office (Room 6.105), on departmental notice boards and in the LTB foyer. Students are advised to check these regularly. myEssex – the Student PortalmyEssex is a student
web portal which offers
you a structured set of
links to online services
and information that
have been customised
with your needs in mind,
eg myEssex automatically
provides links to
information about your
scheme of study and
modules, as well as
links to the relevant
departments. You can
personalise myEssex
further by adding and
hiding links, adding
personal contacts and by
changing the look of the
pages. For more
information log on at
MyEssex Online Coursework Submission (OCS)Most modules now use OCS and therefore for each module on which you are enrolled, you must ensure that you check with that individual department regarding their deadlines and specific requirements for submissions. You can use these links to familiarise yourself with OCS: Study RoomCISH students are welcome to use the SPAH Common Rooms - Thomas' Room - 6.143 and room 5B.137. Online Services for StudentsThe University is constantly expanding the range of services and transactions which can be conducted online. Students are now required to check and amend online some aspects of their personal student record, such as their term time and home addresses. These services are all accessed through password protected web pages. Teaching WeeksFor standard modules teaching takes place during the Autumn and/or Spring terms and the early part of the Summer Term. The University uses a week numbering system that covers the 52 weeks of a calendar year, beginning with Freshers’ week as week 1. Teaching in the Autumn Term takes place in weeks 2-11, the Spring Term teaching weeks are 16-25 and the first week of the Summer Term is week 30. A table setting out dates and corresponding week numbers is available online. TimetablesThe University lecture timetable is managed centrally by the Systems Administration Timetable Office (Room 6.105). The lecture timetable is available online. Information about classes, laboratories and seminars is available on departmental noticeboards. Students also have access to their personal online timetable which is accessible via myEssex. Recording lecturesIf a student requires tapes for any reason (such as a disability which prevents note-taking), the request should be sent to the Student Support Office. Academic Staff Office HoursAll members of academic staff teaching during the academic year will have regular times when you can see them. Details of when they are available will be posted on their office doors. It is recommended that outside office hours or in vacations, academic staff should be contacted by email. Rules of AssessmentAt the start of the academic year 2007-2008 the University introduced new undergraduate Rules of Assessment designed to apply to all students in all disciplines across the University. Rules of Assessment are used to determine whether you can progress from one year of study/stage to the next, and also your degree classification in your final year of study. Note that your first-year results do not affect your degree classification which is based on second- (or second- and third- in the case of four-year courses) and final-year results. First Year MonitoringProgress monitoring of first-year students is carried out by the CISH Office in respect of attendance and coursework submission. Students with a poor progress record will be referred to the Course Director. Students with recurring progress problems may be referred to the Faculty Dean/Administrator. Availability of Coursework for External ExaminersAt the start of the Summer Term second and final-year students will be asked to bring all assessed coursework to the CISH Office so that it will be available for the External Examiner to read if necessary. This is essential for the meeting of the Board of Examiners in June. Careers Centre EventsFurther details are available on the Careers Centre website Copyshop and Print CentreCopy CentreThe Copyshop is situated on Square 4 and provides a comprehensive photocopying and binding service. Print CentreThe Print Centre
offers a complete design
and artwork service,
together with good
quality printing on
single or two colour
print machines. Telephone: 01206
873141 Support services for studentsThe University has a range of support services designed to help students to achieve their full potential and to get the most out of their studies. These form a co-ordinated network of support, and are an important part of the overall student experience at the University of Essex. Support services aim to be accessible to students and responsive to their needs. Should you be experiencing academic, personal or financial difficulties, it’s as well to be aware of where you can go to resolve potential crises. Further information on the wide range of confidential student support provision on offer, and up to date contact details can be found on the web pages. If you are concerned about a specific module, essay or deadline you should, in the first instance, see your module tutor to explain your situation. For any personal difficulties you may wish to first approach the CISH Director, your Course Director, one of the Centre Administrators or the CISH Student Advisor. Students with DisabilitiesIf you have a disability, specific learning difficulty or long term medical condition you are encouraged to disclose this to the University so that individual arrangements can be made. Arrangements for disabled students are co-ordinated by the Disability Service based within Student Support. On the Colchester
campus you can also
e-mail disab (@essex.ac.uk)
or drop in to Student
Support during opening
hours and ask for the
duty disability adviser.
Full contact details for
Student Support on all
campuses is on the
web. There is
a Departmental
Disability Liaison
Officer (DDLO) within
the Centre. Details
of your DDLO and their
role are available on
the
Student Support Website. Other important information is also available in the CISH Student Handbook which is available from the CISH Office.
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