Student Welfare

Tutorials

Every student at Lakes College West Cumbria is given a personal tutor who is responsible for helping you through your programme of study and recording your progress.

• If you are attending college on a part time course (less than 6 hours per week) your personal tutor is likely to be your subject tutor.
• If you are studying for a substantial amount of time, your tutor will see you at least three times during the year for individual tutorials.

Full time students get regular individual tutorials and a weekly group tutorial. Your personal tutor will:

• Ensure that you are on the appropriate course
• Introduce you to the College and your course
• Help you to set targets for yourself
• Review your progress
• If you do not attend classes or tutorials for three weeks without a satisfactory explanation it will be assumed that you have left the College.

"I don't feel I'm on the right course - how do I go about changing it?"

Any of your courses can be changed if you feel they are not right for you. Your first individual tutorial (the right choice review) will give you the chance to discuss your programme with your personal tutor. You can also change course by talking to:

• Our careers advisor
• Student Services Staff
• The Counselling Service

Whatever the problem, the counselling service enables you to discuss it in confidence. For more information please speak to student services or reception and they will be able to contact a counsellor for you.This service provides initial counselling to any student who needs it and will make referrals to other agencies where necessary. Many problems are brought to the counsellors such as:

• Anxiety
• Sexual abuse
• Depression
• Anorexia
• Relationship problems
• Course work worries
• Bullying and harassment

Whatever the problem, the counselling service enables you to discuss it in confidence. For more information please speak to student services or reception and they will be able to contact a counsellor for you.

Student Code of Conduct

We are sure you will want to join us in protecting the environment in which we learn. The College code has been drawn up in the interests of all students and staff. Observing it will make the College an enjoyable place to share.

The Students' Association, the Academic Board and the Governors have given it their full support. Disregarding the code will result in disciplinary action and may end in your dismissal from the College. To this end you are required:

• To respect the interests and wellbeing of all persons in College regardless of religion, gender, race, disability or sexual orientation
• To move in a quiet courteous manner, minimising the disturbance to others working in the immediate vicinity
• To eat, drink and smoke only in the areas specifically provided
• To submit course work as required by course tutors
• To arrive for classes punctually
• To familiarise yourself with fire evacuation procedures, health and safety and examination requirements.
• These details should be made available to you on your induction to the course
• To pay fees and charges promptly
• To notify your personal or course tutor of any change of address
• To attend tutorials
• 100% attendance. If you cannot attend a class, where possible inform your tutor in advance. Students who are frequently absent without reason are likely to be withdrawn from the course. An unauthorised absence of more than three weeks will also lead to withdrawal.

You must not:

• Misuse safety equipment
• Possess, use or supply illegal drugs
• Take anyone's property (including college property) without permission
• Verbally or physically attack anyone
• Copy anyone else's work and claim it as your own
• Cheat in assessments
• Send offensive or abusive e-mails
• Access the internet for non-college use
• Smoke in any of the college building
• Show anti-social or alcohol induced behaviour
• Leave litter around
• Zero Tolerance - we operate a zero tolerance policy for illegal drugs, theft and carrying offensive weapons. The police will always be informed of criminal behaviour.

Comments, Complaints and Suggestions

The College welcomes any observations on any aspect of the service it provides. You are advised where possible to approach your personal tutor in the first instance. However you may at any stage, including the first instance, enter a formal complaint. This should be enclosed in an envelope marked for the attention of the Principal's Secretary. It should be posted or handed in to student services or the reception desk. The College will issue an initial response within five working days.