Personal Tutoring Statement for Students
The School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences runs a Personal Tutor system to support all of its undergraduate students. As part of this, each student (tutee) will be assigned a Personal Tutor (PT), who is a member of the academic staff. The primary function of this relationship is to provide academic guidance and a context in which to reflect on academic progress. In PPLS, Personal Tutors work with the Student Support Officers (SSO), who are members of the administrative staff. The Student Support Officers will serve as the initial point of contact for the majority of queries from students.
Your Personal Tutor
Your Personal Tutor and the wider support network will work with you in partnership as you:
- become a confident learner in your discipline and play an active part in your academic community
- develop and reflect on the range of graduate attributes required for success at University and beyond
- meet the challenges and opportunities of University life.
How the system works
Main Mechanisms of the Personal Tutor System in PPLS:
- regular one-to-one meetings between personal tutors and tutees: welcome meetings, welcome back meetings and progress review meetings.
- group meeting for students on a variety of topics such as study skills, study abroad opportunities, career services, feedback, dissertations, CV preparation, etc.
- a student support team that provides student services and teaching administration for undergraduate courses.
- IT tools to record that meetings have taken place, providing opportunity for further reflection, comment and electronic communication.
Key People in the Personal Tutor System
Your Personal Tutor (PT)
- You can find your personal tutor's name and contact information on MyEd. (For Freshers this is posted several places in the Dugald Stewart Building and 7 George Square.)
- Tutees and their personal tutors will meet regularly, usually once at the beginning of each semester. Meetings can be arranged by email/phone or, in many cases, by signing up on your personal tutor's door at the beginning of the semester. (It is best to meet with your personal tutor after you have registered for all of your courses unless you need more advice on your course choices.)
- The goal of these meetings is to assist students in reviewing their academic progress and performance, to provide opportunities for students to reflect on how their learning can help them in pursuing their longer-term future development, and to help foster in all students a sense of belonging to a community of learners.
Senior Tutor
- Dr Matthew Chrisman oversees the Personal Tutor System in PPLS. He can address any issues you may have with your Personal Tutor.
- His office is rom 5.11 in the Dugald Stewart Building. He can be reached by email (ppls.senior.tutor@ed.ac.uk) or phone (0131 650 3648).
Student Support Officers
- Moira Avraam and her deputy act as the primary points of contact and deals with the majority of queries from students about curricula, regulations, procedures, course changes, transfers, study abroad, and special circumstances.
- The Student Support office is in room 4.03 of the Dugald Stewart Building. There are a number of drop-in hours each week and meetings can also be arranged by appointment. (See the school's student support webpage for up to date information about these.)
- Moira can be reached by email (Moira.Avraam@ed.ac.uk) or phone (0131 650 3661).
Student Support Team
- The main point of contact for administration and support of teaching in PPLS are the offices for Student Services – Undergraduate, which houses the Student Services Advisors.
- This is located on the 4th floor (room 4.05) of the Dugald Stewart Building
- Opening hours are 9:30 - 16:30 Monday to Friday.
Further Resources and Information
- Institute for Academic Development (IAD): The following sources of support are available for students who want to improve their approach to academic work and their general academic skills:
- Study development resources on LearnBetter
- Study development workshops, bookable two weeks in advance via MyEd
- Bookable one-to-one appointments with a Study Development Advisor
- For details, see the IAD website undergraduate pages
- Please note: Study Development Advisors cannot check or proof read students' work. For English Language support, see the ELTC web site.
- Writing Records and Confidentiality: Writing notes of your meetings with your Personal Tutor and Student Support Team will help you get the most out of your discussions about your academic and personal development. You are encouraged to do this using the notes facility in the Personal Tutor channel in MyEd.
- Some information may be sensitive. Although it may be necessary to consult colleagues, University staff will treat such information as confidential and will limit disclosures to the minimum necessary. By marking notes and comments as confidential when required, access is limited to you, your Personal Tutor, Senior Tutor(s), your Student Support Team, the creator of the note and the Dean of Students. Records Management Section.
- The University wide Roles and Responsibilities within the Personal Tutor System are set out online. (Please note in particular that students are expected, in line with paragraph 24 of the Undergraduate Degree Programme Regulations, to attend regular meetings with their personal tutors.)
- The University has adopted Academic and Pastoral Support Standards and Guiding principles.
- Who to Ask What, Guidance Table.
- PPLS’s full School Personal Tutoring Statement
- Progress Review Meeting Questionnaire: This should be filled out before meeting with your Personal Tutor in Semester 2.
- Subject Area Handbooks have more detailed information about academic procedures within the school. This includes the special circumstances procedure, which the SSO and PTs help to administer.