Assessment Receipts and Item Report Forms

Assessment Receipts
Last year we asked students their views about obtaining receipts when they submit coursework, unsurprisingly students confirmed that they wanted a receipt and that a significant number of them wanted these to be available to them electronically through their SOLE pages.
http://registryservices.wordpress.com/2008/05/22/assessment-item-receipts/

This summer we piloted online receipts in Student Records for receiving reassessment items and we learnt a number of important lessons before rolling out this semester. We are now at the final stage of testing and have worked closely with staff in the Academic Support Units in preparing the implementation.

Students will shortly have the ability to access and download a new coversheet to insert with their assessment item (such as coursework, Independent Study, Dissertation etc); this coversheet includes a unique barcode that the ASU staff will scan. Once scanned and saved, the student will see the date the item was received. In addition, module tutors will be able to see the numbers of items that have been submitted via the staff SOLE pages.

New students were made aware of the receipt system as part of induction and students are being reminded of the system as part of the census week module check.

Item Report Forms (IRF)

We have implemented a new IRF for the start of this session. The new form includes a foldable edge where the student writes their name and that can be sealed. This allows for the fast identification of a student once the item has been marked and enables work to be returned and filed more easily. The new form now includes only two copies rather that the three with there no longer being a ‘tutor copy’. Once students have had adequate time to discuss their feedback the second copy should be return to Student Records for filing.

Census week 6th – 10th October

In the third week of each semester, full-time students studying degree courses which include a number of optional modules are asked to check and confirm that they have the correct modules recorded for the semester.

By having accurately recorded modules means that the correct details are made available to Blackboard and that grades for assessed work can be recorded accurately and results made available in a timely way after the Board of Examiner meetings.

Students will find that access to other services available from the SOLE pages are temporarily withdrawn until the census has been completed.

Slow access to SOLE pages?

Are you experiencing slow response times when using your SOLE page?

Are you using a computer with Microsoft Vista?

Are you using Internet Explorer as your web browser?

If the answer is yes to both these questions, a number of students have found using Firefox offers faster browsing of the SOLE pages.

Assessment item receipts

Thank you for all your feedback, we had over 500 responses to our poll, with an overwhelmingly response supporting the introduction of receipts for coursework with a clear majority preferring this to be via the SOLE pages.

We are now developing a new system and we hope to pilot it this summer for reassessment items, and if successful, we intend to roll it out from next September/October.

We plan to allow students to download a new coversheet to insert before the Item Report Form which will be unique for each item of assessment, this will include a unique bar code which will be scanned by staff when submitted. Once scanned, the submission date will be recorded and you will be able to view this through your SOLE pages.

Please keep your suggestions and comments coming in, they are very helpful and enable us to prioritise areas for development.

Modern Foreign Languages

Undergraduate Modular Scheme Students

Did you know that in your first and second year you can take open choice modules in a modern foreign language? Each module counts for 15 credits towards your degree. Why not increase your employability, open your mind to other cultures and increase your opportunities to study abroad?

Click here for more information

Deadline for Independent Study Proposals

UMS BA and BSc students intending to start an Independent Study in academic year 2008/09.

The deadline for submitting an Independent Study Proposal Form is Monday 21st April. Forms can be found on the SOLE page on the ‘My Course Information’ tab under ‘Independent Study Information’ or are available from the Student Enquiry Counter in Woodbury.

Race for Life

On Sunday 1 June 5,000 female runners and their families and friends will congregate on Pitchcroft Racecourse to raise money for Cancer Research UK by running, jogging, walking or crawling the 5k course which will finish in Worcester High Street.

Alongside Worcester City Council, Wyvern FM, and the Worcester News, the University of Worcester is now an official Local Partner of Worcester’s Cancer Research UK ‘Race for Life’.

How can you help?

Join Our Team

We recognise that many students and staff have participated in this event in previous years. This year, we are hoping that a sign of collective strength will be achieved by creating a University of Worcester ‘Race for Life’ team. If you are planning to take part this year, please contact Catherine Steele (Institute of Health and Social Care, x 5390), to join the University of Worcester’s team. You will still need to register with Race for Life on an individual basis; Catherine will be happy to provide guidance on this.

Sponsor our Team

There will be the opportunity to sponsor our group of runners both online and through the finance office (please note that individuals can still raise their own monies through friends and family). Once a team of runners has been established, details of how to sponsor the team will follow.

Support our Team

If you can’t run the event for any reason i.e. you’re male (!), but would like to support the event, please contact Richard Medcalf (Graduate Research School, x 5416). We need a group of volunteer race marshals who will line the route, directing and supporting all runners. Last year there were 6 people from the University of Worcester in this role; we’re hoping to smash this number this year with your support. It’s a really invaluable role on the day, and also great fun!

So please get involved in one of these three ways – we can’t do it without you!

Are you looking for work or accommodation during the Summer holidays?

Attention All Students

We are recruiting Facilities Assistants @ £6.24 per hour

This type of paid work is an ideal way for students to enhance their CV.

This post is open to current University of Worcester students only and can be viewed at

http://cook.worc.ac.uk/cgi-bin/personnel/displayvac.pl?refno=stu0801a

Also, rooms are available in Chandler from the beginning of June to the end of August.

Please go to http://www.worcester.ac.uk/accommodation/

where you will find full details and the Summer accommodation booking application form

Thank You

Mark Entry: Demonstrations

There will be further demonstrations of the new Electronic Mark Entry system at the following times:

Wednesday 16th January at 12:00 in Cotswold B
Wednesday 16th January at 12:30 in Cotswold B
Thursday 17th January at 12:00 in MB 20
Thursday 17th January at 12:30 in MB 20

This is an opportunity to see how the system works and to ask questions.
We look forward to seeing you there.

Mark Entry: Demonstrations

Demonstrations of the new mark entry system will take place on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 December at 12 noon and 12.30pm

Student bursary payments

Full-time undergraduate students paying the higher rate fee (£3,070) will receive a bursary from the University of either £500 or £725 for each year of the course. The amount of bursary received will depend on whether or you are receiving the maintenance or special support grant. The bursary will be paid in five equal monthly instalments starting in December 2007.

PGCE Students who receive the full maintenance grant will be eligible to receive a bursary of £305 per year from the University, paid in three monthly instalments from December.

Bursaries will be paid directly into your bank account around the 15 day of the month. Any updates to your bank details must be made via your SOLE page by 12 noon on the 1st day of each month. The payment schedule for 2007/8 is planned as follows:

14 December 2007
15 January 2008
15 February 2008
14 March 2008
15 April 2008

New grade entry system being developed

A number of staff in academic departments are currently testing a new web based mark/grade entry system at the present time with Registry Services. If this pilot is successful it is planned to role this out to all staff this semester for mark/grade entry.

This means that at present the ETM option within the staff portal will remain unavailable for the next two weeks pending the results of the pilot. If the new system is considered robust and suitable then a number of training events will be available in the run up to Christmas.

We will post more news as it becomes available.

Census Week – 8 – 12 October 2007

In the third week of each semester, full-time students studying degree courses which include a number of optional modules are asked to check and confirm that they have the correct modules recorded for the semester.

By having accurately recorded modules means that the correct details are made available to Blackboard and that grades for assessed work can be recorded accurately and results made available in a timely way after the Board of Examiner meetings.

Students will find that access to other services available from the SOLE pages are temporarily withdrawn until the census has been completed.

On-line Registration performance enhanced

We were experiencing some technical problems with the new on-line registration systems resulting in poor response times and occasionally users being presented with error messages.

These problems have now been resolved. If you have been struggling to complete the process, please try again. If you are still encountering difficulties, please contact the Student Records Office on 01905 85333 who will be able to assist.

Logout added to SOLE pages

A number of students have asked us why there is no logout link within the SOLE pages and in response to these comments we have now added such a link. The link is available from within the SOLE Options tab and on each page in the top right hand corner. We are working on this also being in the list of tabs on the left hand of the page.

Please remember if you have accessed your SOLE page off campus via the single sign on page you will remain logged in and still be able to access all the services until you close the browser.

Keep your comments and suggestions coming in using the link from the SOLE Home page. We read them all and wherever possible try and incorporate as many of your ideas as possible.

SOLE unavailable: 8th August

Please note that the SOLE pages will be unavailable from 12:00 noon until 6pm on 8th August for a minor upgrade to the server.

Update:
The SOLE pages were available from 5pm.

SOLE unavailable: 4th August

There will be a total shut-down of ALL campus network services between 6am and Midday on Saturday 4th August and therefore SOLE will be unavailable. This is due to the installation of a generator to support the central network room in the event of long term power outage.

Undergraduate Students awaiting Results and Awards

Please note that Pass Lists are no longer displayed for Undergraduate students on the Registry Services website or around campus on Notice Boards. Results and Awards (together with Classifications where appropriate) will be available on your SOLE page from 12:00pm on the 6th July 2007. They can be found by logging on to your SOLE page and selecting the ‘My Results’ link on the left hand side and then either the ‘Grade Report’ link for individual module results, or ‘Award Details’ link for degree awards and classifications.  Those students receiving awards will also be able to print an Award Confirmation letter from within the ‘Award Details’ link to show to prospective employers in advance of receiving an official certificate at the Graduation Ceremony in late October, Early November.

Planned upgrade to SOLE

Please note that the SOLE pages will be unavailable from 16:00 on 7th June until 16:00 on the 8th for a planned upgrade.

SOLE downtime delayed

Due to a delay to the scheduled upgrade, the SOLE pages are now available. We will post again when we are aware of the date for the rearranged downtime.