Students sitting on grass and smiling

A degree is a shared responsibility, a joint enterprise. During your time at the University you may develop a new approach to learning, sharing the responsibility with us for your academic and intellectual development. This forms the basis of the social contract that we share:


Personal engagement

  • Academic staff are expected to monitor the student experience, and provide pastoral support and guidance through the personal tutoring system.
  • Students are expected to contribute to the positive Department environment by engaging thoughtfully, politely, and considerately, with peers and academic staff.
  • Students are expected to communicate problems and feedback (both positive and negative) through appropriate and constructive channels, such as the Student-Staff Liaison Committee, formal module feedback processes, and meetings with Personal Tutors or other academic staff.

Academic independence

  • All academic staff are expected to deliver lecture content, and offer Office Hours to provide further academic guidance to students.
  • Students are expected to demonstrate their commitment to their own education by participating in all scheduled learning activities. Lectures, practical classes, academic tutorials and personal tutor meetings are monitored for student attendance. Information about non-attendance will be passed on to Year Tutors.
  • Students are expected to undertake the independent study required by their course. In other words, do the recommended reading in good time!

Academic integrity

  • Academic staff are expected to define an appropriate referencing system, and make students aware of University policy and guidelines on plagiarism, by directing them to the relevant handbooks and online resources.
  • Students are expected to acknowledge the work of other academics by referencing their work appropriately.
  • Students are expected to refrain from colluding with their peers on pieces of work, particularly formal assessments.

Professionalism

  • Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, befitting their titled profession, that upholds the reputation of the Department and the University. This includes having a professional attitude towards your work, and engaging professionally with your peers, colleagues, and tutors.
  • Students are expected to conduct themselves appropriately online, especially when using social media. This includes not posting defamatory comments about staff or other students, or breaking patient confidentiality rules. You should apply the same standards of conduct online as you are expected to apply offline. For further information, see Social Media conduct guide for students.

Communication

  • Email is our main form of communication and students are responsible for checking their Exeter email account regularly. Failure to do so will result in you missing important messages to which you need to respond.
  • Any emails should be written in a professional, and respectful manner.
  • Academic staff are expected to respond to email messages within 48 working hours. This does not include weekends or vacation times, when responses will understandably take longer.
  • Email is like any other communication – you should acknowledge receiving a message or reply, and a quick ‘thank you’ is always appreciated!

Most importantly, remember:

Don’t expect to be coached to pass your exams

We want you to benefit from the education we offer, but it is like joining a sports club – you need to put in good effort for maximum benefit.


Don’t expect model answers

There can be an infinite number of ‘right’ answers, many of which could get you a first-class mark. Don’t be afraid to go your own way (within reason!). Please ask the relevant module convener or look on the module ELE page for more guidance.


A degree is not a competitive sport

Helping other people to do well will actually help you, too. The more different ways you have to explain something, the better you will understand yourself. There are opportunities to get involved in various peer-to-peer mentoring schemes. These benefit everyone and if you volunteer as a mentor, it looks good on your CV! Ask the academic team for more details.

Última atualização: quinta-feira, 27 jul. 2023, 10:29