Introducing the Student Life and Learning Team

Well a couple of posts in and I guess I should really introduce the new team and say a little bit about what we’re all about. Basically, our being has been the result of a merger between a couple of central posts within student support & academic guidance and a faculty-specific learning support post. Together, we reckon we can achieve something quite wonderful and are getting quite excited about the impact we hope to make on student life here at Keele. Aiming our work at both undergraduate and postgraduate students, and supported by new leadership of the newly titled Student Support and Development Services (SSDS), we are well placed to provide an all encompassing developmental service to meet a range of needs. Sound good? … But what does it actually mean?

OK, so in line with many of the key priorities of the University, and with the sector as a whole, the Student Life and Learning Team core activities will include:

• Supporting and enhancing student academic development (academic writing, research skills, referencing, exam performance, managing the dissertation process)
• Supporting and enhancing student personal development (personal organisation, time management, dealing with stress, confidence issues, motivation)
• Developing and delivering effective and innovative learning services and resources, ( for example online resources, skills workshops, sessions for specific groups of students)
• Supporting students through transition, for example by providing effective induction and orientation events and activities and by coordinating peer mentoring
• Providing targeted support for underrepresented student groups and specific student groups, for example care leavers, mature students, postgraduates, students with disabilities
• Enhancing the student experience (through the provision of co-curriculum relevant workshops and the organisation of social events underpinning the academic year)
• Supporting Staff to Support Students

Wow wee - that all sounds really rather grand. And we will keep you updated as some of this work rolls out into reality. But to boot, we’re a friendly bunch and hope to forge partnerships across the university to provide a joined up, student-centred service that holistically enriches the student experience. We welcome any ideas from staff or students so here are our names and numbers. If you want to get in touch, please do!

Student Life and Learning Team:

Student Life and Learning Manager - Claire Slater-Mamlouk, Tel (01782) 734365

Student Life and Learning Developers - Verity Aiken, Tel (01782) 733599 and
Ian Ronald, Tel (01782) 733912

Student Life and Learning Administration & Reception Manager - Sue Hughes, Tel (01782) 734347

Web Pages and Online Media

And don’t forget, you can find us online in other places too. Our web page is currently under construction (because it’s brand new and shiny like us!), but in the short term, you can keep abreast of our activities via Twitter and/or Facebook. Go on - like and follow us!

Bye for now, The Student Life and Learning Team (aka Claire, Ian, Verity and Sue)