"everything that makes a philosophical beginning possible we must first acquire by ourselves"
Useful information
Useful Dates
Term and Exam dates
University
Term and examination dates (This link will take you to a University web
page, press the back button to return here.)
| Departmental Events in 11/12 |
| Wk.1 |
Freshers' Week - Philosophy Department events:
Tuesday 4 October
2.00 pm: Induction meeting for new research students in 5B.126
3.45 pm: Induction meeting for new postgraduate taught (MA) students in 5B.202
5.00 pm: Welcome reception for all new postgraduate student (taught and
research) in 4SB.5.3.
Thursday 6 October
10.30 am: Undergraduate welcome and induction meeting, introduction to student mentors and
lunch, all taking place in LTB 7.
|
| Wk.4 | Thursday 27
October, 7.00 pm in room to be confirmed: Welcome reception for all philosophy
students and staff |
|---|
| Wk.5 | Meeting for any first
or second year students interested in study abroad - further
information to be provided. |
|---|
| Wk.6 | Undergraduate
Staff/Student Liaison Committee meeting. Wednesday, 9
November at 1.00 pm in 6.126A. |
|---|
| Wk.8 | Philosophy Department's Autumn term
Reading Week (w/c 21 November). |
|---|
| Wk.10 | Christmas Party:
Thursday, 8 December 7.00 pm details to follow. |
|---|
| Wk.18 | Undergraduate Staff/Student Liaison Committee meeting.
Wednesday, 1 February at 1.00 pm in
6.126A. |
|---|
| Wk.21 | Philosophy Department's Spring term Reading Week (w/c
20 February). |
|---|
| Wk. 30 | Wednesday, 25 April
at 1.00 pm in 6.126A: Undergraduate Staff Student Liaison
Committee Meeting. |
|---|
| Wk.30 | Wednesday 25 April, 3.30/4.00
pm (time to be confirmed), module options drop-in
session when staff will be available in their offices to
discuss next year's module choices with first and second
year undergraduates. |
|---|
| Wk. 31 | Wednesdasy, 2 May:
Examination Workshop for undergraduates, details tbc. |
|---|
| Wk.33-36 | w/c 14 May:
main examination period starts and continues for a period of
four weeks. |
|---|
| Wk.36 |
w/c 4 June: School barbecue and picnic
by the lake. Always planned for the last day of the exams -
so come and unwind over some food, drink and, hopefully,
sunshine!
|
|---|
| Wk.38/9 | Undergraduate examination boards (dates to be confirmed). |
|---|
| Wk.42 | Graduation ceremonies. |
|---|
| Wk.49 | Resit examinations |
|---|
Notices will be put up around the School reminding you of these events. Please check for any amendments to dates and
times.
Philosophy Reading Weeks
Under normal circumstances no lectures
or classes will take place during the following
weeks, unless you are notified otherwise by your lecturer or class teacher.
Autumn Term:
Wk.8, week commencing Monday 21 November 2011
Spring Term:
Wk.21, week commencing Monday 20 February 2012
If a member of staff has to miss a
lecture or class due to illness, or for some other reason, Reading Week may
be used to catch up on the missed session.
Communication Methods
School: Notice Boards
School: Notice Boards: General information
relevant for all students will be on the notice board opposite room 6.129.
This will include such information as the school‟s student support system,
school seminars and events, etc. First, second, third and final year notice
boards are outside the Undergraduate Office (6.130). Consult these for
timetables and class lists. Further down the corridor you will find notice
boards announcing seminars and conferences, both at Essex and at other
universities, and a variety of other information.
School : Mail/e-mail
Official letters will be sent to your contact
(term-time) address and via e-mail. It is your responsibility to make sure
that the University has your correct contact address. Should you move house
then please change your address via „myEssex‟ your student web portal, see
below. School fliers and notices are usually sent via e-mail and are posted
on the school notice boards.
When you first register you will be given an e-mail
address. Please check your e-mail at least twice a week, as this is the main
form of communication between the School and its students. An email will be sent
out if a lecture, class or seminar has to be postponed or cancelled.
Common Rooms
The School has two Common Rooms for students to use. One on
floor 5B (5B.137) and the other on floor 6 (6.145) which is also known as
„Thomas‟ Room‟ in memory of a former member of staff. Both rooms are for
students to relax and meet informally with fellow students and staff. Both have
hot drinks available at very reasonable prices. 5B.137 also has The Times and
The Guardian which are provided for both staff and students to read, as are
various philosophical magazines and journals such as Radical Philosophy,
Philosophy Now, The Philosophers and Think. We do ask that these are not removed
from the Common Room.
Philosophy Society
This is a student-run society that aims at creating and
promoting a friendly environment for the practice of philosophical discussion
and debate. On some occasions a paper (normally by a student or occasionally by
an invited member of staff) is read and discussed. Emails will be sent out
advertising events and posters will be displayed around the School. Volunteers
to help run the Society are always welcomed. Anyone
interested in joining should email
philosoc@essex.ac.uk.
Undergraduate Staff/Student Liaison Committee
Every Department, School and Centre in the University is
required to establish at least one Staff/Student Liaison Committee. We have two
such committees, one for undergraduate students and one for graduate students.
The function of the Undergraduate Staff/Student Liaison
Committee (USSLC) is to provide a forum in which undergraduate can, through
their elected representatives, voice opinions on any matters relating to their
studies and experiences in the School.
Membership of the Committee is one member of the academic
staff, Patrice Maniglier from Philosophy, who is the Chair, the Deputy School
Administrator, Libby Armstrong and two representatives (one each from Art
History and Philosophy) from each of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd years. The Committee
meets once a term and its Minutes are received by the following School Meeting.
Student representatives are elected at the beginning of the
autumn term. If only two nominations are received for any year both nominees
will automatically be elected. If more than two nominations are received then a
secret ballot will be held. The USSLC will also be asked to elect one of its
representatives to attend School Meetings and meetings of the Undergraduate
Working Party.
The University‟s „Code of Practice for Student
Representation within Departments‟ can be found at:
www.essex.ac.uk/quality/pages/sslc.htm
Departmental Seminars
Departmental seminars for 2011/12.
Requesting References
The provision of a reference to a current or former student is an important
service provided by the staff of the University and enables the University to
enhance our graduates' employability through the provision of personalised
endorsements of their character and achievements, specific to positions and
study programmes for which they are making applications.
Members of staff expect to be asked to act as referees for their students, but
please ask them in advance and use the Department’s
Reference Request Form. Do not
leave it until the last minute and expect a reference to be produced within the
next day or two. They do have other things to do, or may be away from the
University.
Third/final year students wanting to apply for grants from funding bodies to
support graduate study must make sure that their referees are available to write
references at the required time. Quite often deadlines fall within the Easter
vacation, when staff are away from the University, undertaking research, attending
conferences, or sometimes taking a holiday.
Every reasonable effort will be made to provide a reference for students who
have studied in the Department, within a minimum period of three years following
departure from the University. Requests received outside of this time scale may
be met if a member of staff is equipped with the necessary information on the
student and is willing to provide a reference. Thereafter, factual statements,
including attendance dates and marks, may be provided where no individual member
of staff is available to supply a reference, using records in the departmental
office or central administration.
A copy of any references issued will be retained within the Department for a
period of six years following the date on which the reference was written (ten
years in the case of research students). If you would like the Department to
keep a copy of your references beyond this date you will need to give your
written consent.
Requests for references should be submitted on this
form.