General Information
Communicating with students
Ensuring an excellent student experience is one of the headline aims of the University. A major part of that experience relates to how we communicate to and with our students. Below is some of the material that new students receive before they arrive here and in their first weeks. Staff may find this useful information for their own benefit or to use with their students.
Before students arrive
Communication with new students begins in May when we launch the Your Portsmouth website www.port.ac.uk/yourportsmouth. This an interactive site, linked to Facebook and Twitter, designed to encourage new students to gather as much information as possible before they arrive. By communicating with other new students and reading posts from the University, we hope to arm students with important and interesting information over the summer so they can more quickly settle into life in Portsmouth in September.
New students will also receive their Your Portsmouth packs when they confirm their place in August. The packs contain the following publications with information about what to do before they arrive and what to do in the first few weeks of term:
Your Portsmouth booklet - undergraduate
Getting Started guide for international students
Your Portsmouth booklet - postgraduate
New for 2012 - students will register online this year - a new system for the University. Please advise any students to visit www.port.ac.uk/welcome and follow the steps to get their computer account, register online and apply for their campus card.
When students get here
Departments will receive three publications to hand out to all new students. Firstly, the Student Handbook for 2012 provides a summary of rules, regulations and guidelines for new students.
Secondly, students will receive the Pocket Guide to Student Services, a useful booklet containing contact details of all our support services.
Lastly, and new for 2012, is the Student Charter. The booklet details our commitment to our students' learning experience at Portsmouth and in return our expectations of their commitment to themselves, their fellow students and to the University and community.
Please use these publications during induction of new students, and refer to them where needed througout the year.
Student induction presentation
A powerpoint presentation has been produced to help staff with student inductions. The presentation provides information on how we will communicate with students, what support services we offer and details the shared commitment between us and our students. Please use the presentation as you see fit to assist in inducting students to the University.
New for 2012 - the LookUP website for students will now be referred to as 'the student website' and can be accessed at www.port.ac.uk/students. Any links to LookUP will still work. The 'LookUP' identity has been removed to reduce the number of different website identities for students with the introduction of the new student portal - Myport. Myport can be viewed by students via www.port.ac.uk/students, along with news and events, student support services and links to Victory and Moodle.
Student Opinion Panel
To assist in ensuring good practice in student communication and to assess the provision of a variety of student services, volunteers will be recruited to the Student Opinion Panel. The panel will consist of cross-section of all types of students studying in various modes and members will be asked to complete surveys or attend focus groups in return for book vouchers or the chance to win prizes.
Future improvements
We are always looking to improve our communication with students, therefore if you have any comments, suggestions or queries please contact
Sarah Avison, Internal Communications Manager
sarah.avison@port.ac.uk