SOLE Page Unavailable

The SOLE page will be unavailable between 13:00 and 13:30 today (17/12/2009) due to essential maintenance,

Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Network Services

All Network Services will be unavailable between 07:00 and 12:30 on Sunday 13th December for essential maintenance to the power supply. Services will be at risk until 14:30.

Apologies for the inconvenience.

University Scholarship Scheme – 2nd deadline 1st March 2010

If you missed the 1st December deadline to apply for a University Scholarship (details below) there will be a second opportunity to apply with a deadline of the 1st March

Are you involved in voluntary work, do you compete at a national level, want to attend a summer school, or volunteer to coach or teach overseas?  We may be able to help you achieve your goal 

The University runs a University Scholarship Scheme each year to assist students with participating in extra-curricular activities.  You can apply for funding, up to £1000, to finance extra-curricular involvement in activities either directly related to or distinct from your course of study. 

Some examples of students who were successful:- 

Category 1 – Voluntary activities which are community based

In 2009 a group of students received help with funding a trip to Thailand to provide voluntary teaching and another student received help with funding a trip to Sri Lanka to coach football and cricket. Other students were funded to assist them travelling to voluntary placements in the UK with charities such as Turning Point and Save the Children.

It is important when applying for a scholarship for this category that you include information about the charity you are working for, the hours involved and the location of the work.  You should provide evidence that you have been accepted as a volunteer.

 Category 2 – Activities relating to a pastime or interest in which the student is involved (e.g. music or some other arts based area; elite sport)

Last summer students received scholarships to assist them in participation in national sports competitions in a variety of sports including: rowing, golf, swimming and trampolining.  A student also received help in funding a trip to New York to participate in the Centenary of Guiding celebrations.

It is important when applying for a scholarship for this category that you include information, and evidence, of the costs involved. 

Category 3 – Activities which are course related but voluntary but, if undertaken, are likely to contribute to the scholar’s academic performance

This year a student has received a scholarship to assist her in attending a drama course outside of the University. She has undertaken to feed back to her peers the knowledge she gains.  Other students have received funding to assist them in attending archaeological digs which will supplement their learning experience. Again these students will provide feedback to their peers on the knowledge they have gained.

It is important when applying for a scholarship in this category that you provide written evidence of the costs involved and quantify the impact the activity will have on your academic performance.

 To apply for a University Scholarship please complete a form which you can access here or from the Student Records Enquiry Counter in Woodbury. The deadline for applying is the 1^st December 2009. You will need to supply supporting documentation with your application e.g. details of any study visit, invitations or bookings. 

Please note that successful applicants will be required to participate in some form of feedback on their activity and the form this will take will be notified in the award letter.

 All applications will be considered by the Scholarship Panel and applicants will be notified of the outcome before Christmas.

 Completed application forms should be submitted to the Student Records Enquiry Desk by the 1^st December 2009.  The next opportunity to apply for a University Scholarship will be March 2010.

 Please note that this fund is not available to pay for the cost of courses run by the University.  If you are struggling with course costs or have other financial difficulties please contact the Student Welfare and Financial Advice Service http://www.worc.ac.uk/wfa/  who will be able to advise you.

Closure of Dining Hall

Refurbishment works on the Dining Hall floor will shortly be undertaken and, as a result, it will become necessary to close the Dining Hall for a period of 5 weeks, from Saturday 12^th December 2009 until Sunday 17^th January 2010 inclusive.

During this period, the dining facilities, including vending machines, will be relocated to the Students’ Union. Please find attached the proposed opening times of these facilities.

Cafeology will not be affected and will remain open as normal for the duration of the works, as per attached opening times schedule.

Please note that there will be no authorised access to and through the Dining Hall during the works and all sets of doors into the Dining Hall will be barriered off.

Facilities Management apologises for any inconvenience these essential works may cause.

Opening Times Christmas & New Year – Cafeology

Opening Times – Xmas New Year 09-10 – The Rest

Exam Timetable

The timetable for the end of semester one exams (January 2010) is now available on the Registry Services web page and can be accessed via the following link:

http://www2.worc.ac.uk/registry/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=66&op=page&SubMenu

Please note that if you are entitled to additional support during your exams, you will be contacted individually with details of the arrangements.

If you have a clash in your exams, or have any other questions, please contact Hannah Pipkin, the Exams and Awards Officer, on h.pipkin@worc.ac.uk or 01905 855032.

Follow us on Twitter….

You can now follow the posts on this blog via Twitter at www.twitter.com/regservices

Car Parking

Due to further parking restrictions in the residential streets surrounding the University, please take extra care to park considerately.

May we remind you that parking permits are available for Coppertops car park on the Oldbury Road for just £25. There is now a shuttle bus service operating early in the morning and late afternoon between Coppertops and the Campus.

Thank you.

Innovate Ideas Competition

The Enterprise Hub at the University of Worcester is pleased to announce entries are now open for the:

JUST THE TICKET – Innovative Ideas Competition

Entries close 4pm 16th November 2009
A prize of £100 is up for grabs for the idea that is judged to be the most innovative and realistic entry in this competition. Entry forms can be downloaded from http://registryservices.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/just-the-ticket-entry-form-2009.doc.

Simply send your idea to enterprise@worc.ac.uk or drop it in to HB 1003. Your entry should state:

1. What your idea is
2. Why you think it is a good idea (who or what will it benefit and how)
3. How it could be achieved
4. Include your name, email, course and year.

This competition is open to all registered students at the University of Worcester. For more details please contact Kat Jones, Enterprise Manager enterprise@worc.ac.uk

Assessment Arrangements for Disabled Students including guidance on Sensitive Marking

Please note that the University has revised the guidance on how disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties, like dyslexia or dyspraxia, apply for alternative assessment arrangements.

The guidance also explains what is meant by sensitive marking and how to request this provision from tutors. This might be relevant to you so please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the document.

You can find details at http://www.worcester.ac.uk/equalopps/

Swine Flu

For the latest Information and advice regarding swine flu for students and staff at the University of Worcester please visit: http://www.worcester.ac.uk/flu/

What you should do if you feel ill, or know someone who is ill:

• Anyone who is experiencing flu-like illness should stay at home to limit contact with others. You should access the National Pandemic Flu Service at https://www.pandemicflu.direct.gov.uk or telephone 0800 1513513. If you have severe symptoms which are not like flu you should contact your GP or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

• Staff and students should also notify the University via email ( goodhealth@worc.ac.uk ) if they have flu-like symptoms

Important information regarding car parking

Open Afternoons, Wednesday 28th October, Thursday 29th October – 1pm – 5pm

The main long stay car park will be reserved for open day car parking on both the Wednesday and Thursday. All other car parks on Campus will be open as usual, as well as the car park at Coppertops. Additionally, the University has negotiated the use of the car park at Oldbury Park School which can accommodate approximately 100 vehicles. Clear signage will be visible outside the School over the two days.

A shuttle bus will run from the Coppertops car park on Oldbury Road. This will run in the morning and evening (between 8:00 and 10:00 and 16:00 and 18:00). Students and staff who choose to park on roads around Campus are reminded to do so courteously and of course legally.

Dyslexia Screening

Do you want to find out if you may be dyslexic?

Did you know the University now has a campus wide dyslexia screening test (LADS), which you can take in your own time?

All you need is a networked computer, a pair of headphones and a valid student photocopy card (to print your results).

Click here for Instructions

Blackboard maintenance

Blackboard Services will be unavailable from 11pm 30th August to 11pm 3rd September – All other student network services will be unaffected.

Thank you.

Road improvement work

Due to essential road improvement work on the St John’s campus, the main road between the long stay car park (Car Park ‘M’) and the new student residences / atroturf will be closed from 3rd August to 14th August (inclusive).

This will mean that the only access to the long stay car park will be from the Severn Gate entrance, and you will not be able to reach any other area of the University, by road, from this Gate. Pedestrian access may be affected however, should this be the case, an alternative route will be clearly marked.

Road access to the remainder of the University will only be possible via the Malvern Gate – you will not be able to enter the long stay car park from this direction.

The main approach road to the Charles Darwin Building (and the associated car parking spaces) will also be unavailable.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Capital Development Projects

Blackboard Maintenance

Blackboard services will be unavailable today (15th July) between 10pm – 11pm, this is in order to carry our some essential maintenance work.

Thank you.

Catering Survey

The University is constantly reviewing its catering provision, and is keen to know what possible improvements and changes in the service are important to you.

To help us in this process, we would like to hear your views and would be grateful if you could spare us a few minutes of your time to complete the 2009 Catering Survey which you will find at http://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/ucw/catering09

Each person completing a survey between now and 15th May will be eligible to receive a FREE Cadburys Snack Cereal Bar!

To claim your chocolate bar, print out the last page of the survey and hand it over to a member of staff at the Grab & Go section of the Dining Hall, located next to the sandwich counter.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to be entered into a free prize draw to win meal vouchers for use in The Rest, by simply filling in your contact details at the end of the survey.

Facilities Management and Aramark would like to thank you in advance for your help in improving the service we provide.

Mark Entry Update

Following the successful implementation of assessment receipting by barcode, we have also now introduced a new feature to web mark entry.

This new function gives a visual indication next to each assessment as to whether the relevant piece of work has been receipted or not.

If you have any queries or comments, please email them to solehelp@worc.ac.uk.

Do something funny for money

Friday 13th March 2009

Batak Challenge

12pm-2pm

Woodbury Spur

£1.00 Per Go

Prize For Highest Score & Lowest Score

Have Fun While Raising Money!!!

For further information please see Jenni or Rosemary in Registry Services

UCAS Convention, Friday 13th March

Please note that on Friday 13th March 2009 the University will be hosting the Hereford & Worcester UCAS convention. This is a major event and as such, there will be severely restricted access and car parking on campus for the day (see restrictions below).

The Severn Gate will be closed on Friday 13th March 2009. All Staff and Students are asked to use the car park at Coppertops pub, or access the campus via the Malvern Gate. Where possible, please use public transport to travel to the University that day.

We hope disruption will be kept to a minimum, but apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Many Thanks For Your Co-Operation & Patience

Dominic Crawford

COMMUNICATION & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

Royal Literary Fund writer-in-residence

Heather Dyer, the Royal Literary Fund writer-in-residence, is here to help students with their written work. Heather Dyer is a professional writer who can help students structure their work, and improve their style, grammar and punctuation. Heather is based in room 7, Woodbury building. Free, one-to-one appointments can be made by contacting her via email at h.dyer@worc.ac.uk. She is on campus on Mondays and Tuesdays. Further information can be found on the University web site.