Released: 31.03.09

Staff in Student Support at UCP Marjon have been described by students as “unsung heroes” in a glowing report following their re-accreditation to a prestigious national quality standard for information, advice and guidance services.

In order to achieve success against the Matrix Standards, the eight Student Support teams were subject to a rigorous review process over three days during which an external assessor conducted 21 one-to-one interviews and six group interviews and focus groups with service delivery staff, service users, UCP Marjon colleagues and external partners; reviewed information provision, including on-line resources and hard-copy materials and conducted an extensive document review of policies, procedures and guidelines.

Key strengths identified include:

• An overwhelmingly positive response from student users, confirming the values and focus expressed by our strapline ‘Putting students first’
• Proactive in promoting our services within UCP Marjon
• Providing a “coherent blend of specialist teams sharing a common purpose” and seamless service provision

One interviewee was so impressed they said the provision should be “cloned”; another described Student Support as “the conscience of the University College”. A student user told the assessor that “They [Student Support] are the unsung heroes of the University College”.

Head of Student Support, Jenny Barnicoat, said: “I am really proud of the whole team who consistently work to ensure students receive the best possible quality of support throughout their studies. The comments highlighted in the report reflect this.”

Student Support comprises eight teams: Academic Counselling, Accommodation, Careers, Campus Support Team, Counselling, Disability Advice and Support Service (DASS), Finance & Welfare, Study Skills, all of whom took part in the re-accreditation.