1  

Geography – Cornwall

Geography and

Environmental Science College of Life and Environmental Sciences

Cornwall Campus

Undergraduate Student Handbook

2012/13 

  

  DISCLAIMER This handbook is for guidance only. No contract is expressed or implied. It is as far as possible up-to-date at the time of going to press, but the contents are subject to change as the School updates individual modules and its overall structure. Supplementary hand-outs may also be supplied in lectures. Up-to-date information will be posted on the departments web pages which can be found at the following location: http://geography.exeter.ac.uk/geography/ You should also consult the University Teaching Quality Assurance Manual which can be found online at: http://www.admin.ex.ac.uk/academic/tls/tqa/index.htm August 2012

2  

Contents   About Geography and Environmental Science at the Tremough Campus (Cornwall).......................................................................................................................................................   Who Can Help Me?.......................................................................................................................................   Useful Departmental Contacts ....................................................................................................................   How can I communicate with Geography?..................................................................................................   Staff in Geography........................................................................................................................................ Teaching Staff...............................................................................................................................................

What do Academics Do? ................................................................................................................. Study Leave...................................................................................................................................... Communicating with Staff ..............................................................................................................

Personal Tutors ........................................................................................................................................... What can I expect from my Personal Tutor?................................................................................... Can I change my Personal Tutor? .................................................................................................... How do I contact my Tutor? ........................................................................................................... What are my responsibilities as a student in Geography?.............................................................. 

Personal Development planning (PDP) ...................................................................................................... What is Personal Development Planning? ...................................................................................... Why is it important?....................................................................................................................... How does Geography provide opportunities for PDP?.................................................................... Are there any resources that can help me with my PDP? …….........................................................

The Geography and Environmental Science Curriculum...................................................................................................................................................... 

Our overall aim ............................................................................................................................... Structure of the Degree Programmes.............................................................................................. 

Single Honours Degrees .................................................................................................................... Joint Honours Geography and English Degree ................................................................................ Can I change my programme?......................................................................................................... What will I get out of my degree? ................................................................................................... What kind of degree will I get, and how is it calculated? ........................................................... Can I leave my Geography programme?..................................................................................... Interruption to Study and Withdrawal of Study..........................................................................

Modules ....................................................................................................................................................... How do I choose modules? ............................................................................................................. How do I change my choice of modules?........................................................................................ How do I pass a module?................................................................................................................. What happens if I fail a module? .................................................................................................... Module Feedback............................................................................................................................ What are the Teaching methods used in Geography? ....................................................................

The Student‐Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC) .............................................................................................. How can I help change and develop the way Geography operates? .............................................. What Is the SSLC?............................................................................................................................ How Does the SSLC Work? .............................................................................................................. Can I Get Involved? ......................................................................................................................... What do I do if I want to complain? ................................................................................................ Code of Good Teaching Practice......................................................................................................

Health and Safety within Geography and the Campus............................................................................... Working hours ................................................................................................................................ Safety in the Department ............................................................................................................... Safety in the laboratory................................................................................................................... Safety in the field ............................................................................................................................ Fire regulations ............................................................................................................................... 

Orientation.......................................................................................................................................................How can I find the room I'm supposed to be in? ................................................................................

 5 6 7 8 8 9 9 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 11  12 12 12 13 13 13 13 13 13 14 15 15 15 15 15 15 16 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 18 18 18 18 18 19  20 20 

3  

When are my classes and exams? ...................................................................................................... How can I get access to teaching staff in person?............................................................................... What do I do if I have special needs? ................................................................................................. What do I do if I am Dyslexic? .............................................................................................................Does the School have an equal opportunities policy?.........................................................................

Learning resources........................................................................................................................................... Where can I get on to a computer? .................................................................................................... Where can I find my returned work and email?..................................................................................Where can I do my photocopying/printing? ....................................................................................... 

Student Services on the Cornwall Campus .....................................................................................................How can I improve my basic study skills? ...........................................................................................

What is GEOGSOC? ........................................................................................................................................ Assessment Basics .......................................................................................................................................... 

Understanding Assessment ................................................................................................................ What exams and tests will I be taking?............................................................................................... Common Styles of Assessment ........................................................................................................... How much work is involved?............................................................................................................... Your needs in Teaching and Assessment ............................................................................................ 

Submitting Assessments.................................................................................................................................. BART ................................................................................................................................................... Turn‐it‐in ............................................................................................................................................. Assessment and your Responsibilities ................................................................................................ What are the rules for students handing in work?..............................................................................Will I be penalised if I hand work in late? ........................................................................................... College procedure for handing in and return of coursework ............................................................. Plagiarism ...........................................................................................................................................

Returning of Assessments and feedback........................................................................................................ Marking Criteria .................................................................................................................................. Guideline Marking Scheme..................................................................................................................Word Counts .......................................................................................................................................Appeals against marks......................................................................................................................... Examinations....................................................................................................................................... How will I find out my exam results?...................................................................................................

Absence/Non submission of Assessments ..................................................................................................... Illness................................................................................................................................................... What happens if I get too ill to take a test or exam?...........................................................................Referred/deferred examinations/assignments. ................................................................................. Late submission of coursework .......................................................................................................... How do I apply for an extension to the deadline? ..............................................................................Mitigation ‐ How do I apply for mitigating circumstances? ................................................................ Mitigation committee .........................................................................................................................

Jobs and Work Experience .............................................................................................................................. Work Experience..................................................................................................................................Geography Ambassadors.....................................................................................................................Undertaking paid employment during term time .............................................................................. What Next? Skills, Employability and Your Career After Your Degree ................................................Employability ...................................................................................................................................... 

 

20 20 20 20 20 21 21 21 21 22 22 22 23 23 23 24 24 24 25 25 25 25 25 26 26 27 28 28 28 28 28 29 29 30 30 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 33 33 34 34 

4  

Any Questions?

Please visit:

Geography Office in Peter Lanyon A054 or

Email: geographycornwall@exeter.ac.uk 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5  

Welcome Welcome to Geography – part of the College of Life and Environmental Sciences. The Geography department is located in the Peter Lanyon Building at the Cornwall Campus. Some procedures and practices will change during your stay at Exeter, but we will endeavour to keep you informed of these as they occur. This handbook should be your first point of reference for any queries that you may have. Please note that the administrative centre for the College in Cornwall is room A054 in the Peter Lanyon building. This handbook is a quick reference to information about the Department of Geography and provides guidance for those studying

BA/BSc Geography BSC Environmental Science BA Geography and English

It is organised to answer FAQs (frequently-asked questions) under five main headings: basic survival, the social stuff, technical details, about the degree, exams and tests. It covers what we think you will need to know in your day-to-day life and will link to more detailed information about specific issues on the Geography web pages or the Student Union and University web pages I would be happy for you to contact me about this booklet or any of the information in it. Dr Simon Naylor Director of Education

http://geography.exeter.ac.uk/index.html

_________________________________________________________________________

About Geography at the Tremough Campus (Cornwall) Geography is a dynamic and friendly environment in which to study, with a presence on the University’s campuses in both Cornwall and Exeter. Ranked 8th in the UK for world leading research in Geography and Environmental Studies and 12th in The Times Good University Guide 2010, we are committed to pursuing world-class research and to providing outstanding teaching through our wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes. The University’s Tremough Campus is shared with University College Falmouth, the product of a £100 million investment by the European Union and the UK government. This investment also incorporates programmes of study from the University of Plymouth, University College Falmouth, The Open University, The College of St Mark & St John, and the Peninsula Medical School with Cornwall’s Further Education Colleges – Cornwall College, Truro College and Penwith College.

6  

Who Can Help Me? Virtually everybody needs advice at some point. In the department, your main point of contact will be your personal tutor. Your personal tutor will be member of the staff/research team who is used to being asked questions large and small. In addition, many routine matters can often be dealt with by the Programme Administrator in the departmental office - just ask. There is also a University Student Help website. Outside the Department, the Student Union FXU represents students of University College Falmouth and Exeter University Cornwall Campus. The FXU offers student welfare advice on issues such as housing, finance, legal and academic issues. They also organise events for students, facilitate volunteer experience, and provide sporting opportunities. The FXU office is in the Annex opposite the refectory and is open year round from 9am to 5 pm. You can contact them by phone at 01326 370447 or by email at advice@fxu.org.uk. See the FXU website. Source Example topics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7  

Useful Departmental Contacts

Name  Roles/Area of Academic Interest  Phone  Email 

Dr Kirsten Abernethy  Lecturer in Sustainable development  TBC  TBC 

Dr Karen Anderson Director of BSc Environmental Science, Senior 

Lecturer in Remote Sensing 01326 371854 

Karen.anderson* 

Dr Kate Brown  Professor of Sustainable development TBC  

Katrina.brown* 

Prof Chris Caseldine Professor of  Quaternary Environmental 

change 01326 253708 

c.j.caseldine* 

Dr Caitlin Desilvey Senior Lecturer in Historical and Cultural 

Geography 01326 254161 

c.o.desilvey* 

Dr Janet Fisher  Lecturer in Sustainable development TBC  

j.fisher* 

Dr Stephan Harrison Director of MSc Climate Change and Risk Management, Associate Professor of 

Quaternary Science 

01326 371871 

Stephan.harrison* 

Dr Catherine Leyshon Associate Professor of Historical and Cultural 

Geography 01326 371810 

c.brace* 

Dr Mike Leyshon Senior Tutor, Senior lecturer in Social and 

Cultural Geography 01326 371867 

m.leyshon* 

Dr Xi Liang  Lecturer in Energy Policy 01326 371866 

x.liang* 

Hayley McCormack Programmes Administrator ‐ Geography 

Environmental Sci & PG Taught Programmes. 01326 253786 

h.l.mccormack* 

Prof Catherine Mitchell 

Professor of Energy Policy 01326 253788 

Catherine.mitchell*

Dr Larissa Naylor  Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography 01326 253617 

l.a.naylor* 

Dr Simon Naylor Director of Education, Senior Lecturer in 

Historical Geography 01326 371864 

s.k.naylor* 

Dr Gail Reeves  College Administration Manager 01326 255822 

g.reeves* 

Dr Liam Reinhardt  Lecturer in Physical Geography 01326 371868 

Liam.reinhardt* 

Dr James Ryan Director of MSc Sustainable Development Associate Professor of Historical Geography 

01326 253761 

James.ryan* 

Dr Kate Smith Lecturer in Physical Geography 

Undergraduate Programme Director 01326 253789 

k.smith* 

Dr Bridget Woodman Director of MSc Energy Policy, Lecturer in 

Energy Policy 01326 254140 

b.woodman* 

Lucy Wright  CLES Laboratory Technician (P/t) 01326 254123 

l.i.wright* 

*All email addresses have the suffix: @exeter.ac.uk 

 

 

 

 

 

8  

How can I communicate with Geography? The postal address is: Geography Peter Lanyon Building University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus Penryn Cornwall TR10 9EZ The phone number for the Geography Administrator is: 01326 253786

If you have any general enquiries, or have an issue that you are not sure where it should be directed to the Administration team (both UG and PG enquiries) where the email will be distributed to the appropriate member of staff: geographycornwall@exeter.ac.uk

Staff in Geography The general atmosphere in Geography is one of informality. Members of the teaching staff either maintain an open door policy with respect to enquiries from students or have a regular set of times when they can be consulted. Integral to Geography are a number of research students, post-doctoral research fellows and support staff. You will undoubtedly have contact with postgraduate demonstrators as well as many members of the support staff team during your time at Exeter. A full list of all staff members (including all Professional Services Support staff, research students, and post-doctoral research fellows) can be found on our website at: http://geography.exeter.ac.uk/staff/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9  

Teaching Staff What do Academics Do? Whether you have come to university shortly after leaving school or college, or as a mature student, your previous formal educational experience will have been mainly in an environment where teachers were almost always readily available to students, and spent most of their time teaching. This is not the case at university. Teaching is a vital concern to all lecturers and we are fully committed to high quality teaching. However, you will soon notice that your lecturers do not spend as much time teaching as your teachers at school or college because it is only one component of their job. Research is just as important, and equally vital to Geography, the University and the quality of your own experience as a student. Lecturers spend time developing, executing and completing research projects, writing journal articles and books, applying for grants and managing the research activity of their postgraduates and post-doctoral research assistants. Much of this activity takes place during the times when you are not at the University, during vacation periods. In addition, lecturers carry out administrative responsibilities that allow the smooth running of the Department and campus. Study Leave It is one of the guiding principles of the British university system that all academic staff involved in teaching should also be actively engaged in research. This is not only the source of much of the research that is actually done in the UK, but it also means that students can be exposed to ideas and debates which take place in their subjects virtually as they happen. It is our belief that the academic quality of teaching at Exeter, and of the option modules in particular, depends upon members of staff being provided with the time to undertake research in their particular fields of enquiry. To this end Geography tries to provide each member of staff periodic relief from his or her teaching commitments. As a result, not all option modules can be offered each year and you should consult the notice board toward the end of your first year to find out which modules are running in your second and third years. Communicating with Staff It is vitally important that you regularly check the notice boards located on the ground floor of the Peter Lanyon Building. This is the place where you will find information about modules, notices about lectures or tutorials and information about exams and field classes. We will also contact you regularly by email – using your University email address. We ask that you check your Inbox on a daily basis. When contacting lecturers, please respect the work that lecturers do outside of the lecture theatre or lab by observing their office hours or emailing them to make a time to see them. Most are usually prepared to see you should you visit their office, but do not be surprised if they ask you to come back or arrange to meet you later. The contact details for staff can be found in the “Useful departmental contacts” section of this handbook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10  

Personal Tutors What can I expect from my Personal Tutor?

You will be assigned a Personal Tutor for the duration of your studies. Your personal tutor will be a member of the staff/research team who can listen to just about any concern you have, large or small. They will be the obvious person to answer your questions and to help sort out academic and, if necessary, personal problems. Your connection with your personal tutor will continue until you graduate, and you will maintain contact by meeting them at least 3 times a year. After graduating, you can ask them to act as a referee when applying for jobs or a further degree.

Can I change my Personal Tutor?

You can ask for a change of personal tutor via the Departmental Administrator; however you will not be able to choose a particular member of staff as tutor groups have to remain balanced. The department’s view is that occasional incompatibility between a student and personal tutor is inevitable and does not reflect badly on either party - a simple change of tutor can be an effective and mutually beneficial solution.

How do I contact my Tutor? Your personal tutor will normally be prepared to see you to discuss problems at any time during working hours and certainly by appointment within 24 hours. Your personal tutor will tell you if they are going to be absent from the Department for a significant period and an arrangement will then be made, via the Senior Tutor, to provide a stand-in tutor for you.

Your personal tutor will record your attendance at scheduled meetings, and will report frequent absences to the Senior Tutor. He/she will also help you with your Personal Development Plan (PDP), which is an on-line system to enable you to evaluate your academic progress.

What are my responsibilities as a student in Geography?

The standard responsibilities towards the department are listed below, but perhaps the most important responsibility to yourself is never to brood on an unanswered question - if you have a concern, ask. Your personal tutor will listen to just about anything. Also, you can talk to the Senior Tutor or Director of Undergraduate Studies. Here is your standard list:

Undertake any required study in an appropriate style and quantity to complete your modules successfully.

Enrolment on a module is effectively a contractual agreement to do this Attend scheduled activities, such as lectures, tutorials, seminars, and practical classes Check your mail and email regularly for communications from the Department/College Follow the School's safety regulations Tell the School as soon as possible if anything affects your academic progress and provide the required

documentation to substantiate your circumstances when requested Familiarise yourself with the policies on plagiarism operated by the School and the University, and abide by them

Most of these issues (communication, safety, your circumstances, plagiarism) are explored in more detail in other sections of this handbook.

11  

Personal Development planning (PDP) What is Personal Development Planning?

We are committed to supporting your personal, academic and career development during your time at Exeter University. Personal Development Planning (PDP) is well established in our School, and we encourage all our students to engage in this valuable process.

PDP is defined as: ‘a structured and supported process undertaken by an individual to reflect on their own learning, performance and/or achievement and to plan for their personal, educational and career development’ (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, 2000)

Access to your transcript (a record of your confirmed marks), a ‘structured and supported’ process of PDP and an opportunity to create records to support your personal development together make up what is known as a ‘Progress File’ - a set of entitlements that all universities have to provide for their students. Why is it important?

If you engage seriously in PDP, you should be better equipped:

to become a more effective, independent and confident learner to understand how you are learning and to ‘transfer’ your learning to new situations to manage your general skills for study and for career management to express your personal goals, and work towards them to demonstrate a proactive approach to learning in a range of different contexts

Learning to identify and evidence skills you’re developing, and setting action plans to build on these through PDP can help to prepare you for job interviews and other professional situations, such as Professional Development Reviews (PDR).

How does Geography provide opportunities for PDP?

An important feature of the ‘structure and support’ we provide for PDP is through the opportunities you have to talk about your progress with tutors/supervisors throughout your programme of study. At appropriate stages of your programme, you will be invited to a meeting or tutorial with your personal tutor to focus on your progress. The aim of these sessions is to provide a supportive environment in which to discuss your development rather than to judge performance, so you should feel free to be completely frank about your progress and achievements. Where appropriate, your tutor/supervisor may refer you to other sources of help and guidance.

Are there any resources that can help me with my PDP?

The University provides an electronic system to support PDP – the newly supported ePDP tool accessed via your Student Record pages on the MyExeter portal provides a structure for you to (i) conduct a self-appraisal, and (ii) produce an action plan, and you can share your ePDP records online with your tutor/supervisor. You may also be asked to bring along a print-out (or ‘report’) of your ePDP records to meetings. Keeping your ePDP records up-to-date can help you to compile job applications and CVs. It can also help your tutors to write detailed references for you after you’ve left the University.

 

 

 

 

 

 

12  

The Geography Curriculum The main undergraduate study programme extends over three years, with three degree programmes offered which lead to Single Honours degrees:

BA/BSc Geography BSc Environmental Science

Geography is also offered as part of Joint Honours Degree Programmes:

BA Joint Honours Geography and English BA Joint Honours History and Geography BA Joint Honours Politics and Geography BSc Flexible Combined Honours

This handbook provides information on all of the Single Honours degrees as well as the Joint Honours in Geography and English degree. All other Joint Honours students need to follow the handbooks of the host discipline (i.e. History or Politics). Our overall aim is to provide: 1. A thorough grounding in the knowledge, techniques and skills relevant for all students of geography and environmental science; 2. A broad coverage of material from the sub-disciplines of the subject; 3. The opportunity for individual students to specialise in areas of particular interest and ability; 4. The opportunity to develop key transferable skills. On graduation we expect students to have shown skills of numeracy and literacy to a high standard, and to be familiar with both the breadth of the subject and current developments in a number of more specialised areas. They will also have shown an ability to fulfil assessments in a wide range of forms, including individual extended studies, literature reviews, practical work and written examinations. Every student is allocated a tutor whose role it is to monitor and encourage the development of these skills. Fieldwork is seen as one of the keystones of geographical understanding and we provide opportunities for fieldwork in the local area, other parts of the UK and abroad. All students attend a number of local fieldtrips during their first year. All are required to attend a residential field class during their second year. The residential classes will incur a cost and full details will be provided before the trips take place. For details about the new Special Support Grant introduced to offer financial support to eligible students see: www.admin.ex.ac.uk/students/studentfinance Structure of the Degree Programmes The basic structure of the Single Honours Geography programme is identical for the two Single Honours degrees offered and the Joint Honours in Geography and English. Each of the single honours degrees is based on earning ‘credits’. Each course that you take, which is called a module, is worth either 15 or 20 credits depending on the degree programme. When you pass the assessments for the module, you get the credits. The more credits that a module is worth the more study time is going to be required. Each of the single honours degrees is based on earning 360 credits over three years (120 credits per year) or 480 credits for a 4-year programme. An ordinary degree can be awarded if 300 or more credits are obtained. Although it is necessary to obtain all 360 credits, only the 240 credits earned at stages two and three count towards your final degree classification, with the second year amounting to 1/3rd of your degree and your third year is worth 2/3rds of your final degree. Throughout your degree you have the opportunity to study elements from all Geography programmes. While there are compulsory modules for each particular course and optional modules designed to suit particular courses better, it is quite possible for a student of one degree programme to pursue very similar programmes of study as a student of another. Over and above this, we only stipulate that students undertake research training and a dissertation relevant to their programme. Nonetheless, as you proceed through your first year, you may discover that your interest or aptitudes are leading you in a particular direction and that it has become necessary to change degree programme. You will not need to change programme during your first year but you can do this at the end of the first or beginning of the second year. Single Honours Degrees The curriculum attempts to achieve a balance between depth and breadth of subject matter. The first year programme of modules in human and physical geography and environmental science provides the necessary grounding for your degree. In the second year, there are some compulsory modules for each degree programme and beyond these you are given the opportunity to focus your studies in the area of geography that interests you most by selecting modules from a range of available modules. The final year of your degree programme permits further specialisation as you undertake a dissertation and select a number of option modules from a list which reflects the particular research interests of the academic staff.

13  

Joint Honours Geography and English Degree

The curriculum attempts to achieve a balance between depth and breadth of subject matter in both disciplines and as such, there are more compulsory modules compared to Single Honours degree programmes. Joint honours students will need to take 60 credits from each department. Can I change my programme?

The nature of the BSc/BA Geography programme allows you to select the route you would like to take and the resulting degree. You will need to take the right number of BA/BSc credits in order for you to get the correct degree for you. If you are in a Joint honours programme, you are allowed at the end of the first year to request to change into a single honours programme which is part of you Joint honours programme – so someone in BA Geography with English can move into a BA/BSc Geography or a BA English. All changes are subject to approval from the Director of Education Changes onto different programmes may require prerequisites and A level requirements. If you think you would like to change programme at any time please see the programmes administrator or your tutor for further information and the change of programme form. What will I get out of my degree?

Obviously, you will develop your knowledge about geography and environmental science, but university training provides a great deal more. You will develop a wide range of skills in writing and speaking, data analysis, use of instruments and machines, searching for information, using computers, and working with people. We call the kind of skills that will be valued in contexts beyond the university personal transferable skills.

What kind of degree will I get, and how is it calculated?

Honours degrees require 360 credits (480 for 4-year programmes) and are awarded at various standards:

First class (³70%) Upper second class (³60%) Lower second class (³50%) Third class (³40%)

An ordinary degree can be awarded for 300 passed credits. Stage 1 modules don't count in determining your degree class - you just need the credits. From 2007 entry the University has standardised the weightings used to calculate final degree classifications, so for students on 3 year programmes, these are weighted 1:2 in favour of stage 3. Students on programmes with either study abroad or industrial placement will be weighted 2:1:4 (stages 2, 3 and 4). Can I leave my Geography programme?

Yes, but the decision is a serious one. If you wish to change your programme entirely, or even to withdraw from the University, talk to your personal tutor in the first instance. They will discuss the implications, and if appropriate advise you on the proper procedure. In some circumstances, you can suspend (interrupt) your studies for a year. Interruption to Study and Withdrawal of Study Applications for interruptions to study and withdrawal of study should be made by the student on the appropriate form, available from the Geography Office. The form needs to be signed by the Director of Education (or delegated staff member), by the Taught Faculty Office, and, if the student is residing in University accommodation, by the Accommodation Office. Students should also note that interruptions of study shall normally only be granted when academically viable. Students may not normally apply to interrupt in the Summer term for resumption of studies at the beginning of the next academic year. Prior to resumption of their studies students who interrupt due to medical circumstances must supply Registry with a medical certificate indicating their fitness to study. Students shall normally fall under the University Conventions and Procedures currently applicable upon the resumption of their studies. The University of Exeter will not assume any responsibility for students whilst interrupted from their studies at the University. Before making a decision to apply to interrupt or withdraw, students must consult with their Personal Tutor, who may give advice with respect to module availability and programme structure. Students are also strongly advised to consult with other sources available within the University, in order that they may be fully aware of the consequences of that decision, and other options which may be open to them.

14  

Modules How do I choose modules?

Your personal tutor will always advise you in choosing modules. You will have to discuss your choice with them as part of the registration process, but the choice is ultimately up to you provided that you meet the necessary requirements. Rarely some modules may be capped for reasons surrounding the teaching methods of the course;- you will be notified of these at meetings regarding module registration. Some modules may also have a pre-requisite – to make sure you have the skills/knowledge to do a module on an advanced subject. These will also be outlined in module registration meetings. To view the module portfolio table, you can either look at the Geography pages of the University of Exeter website, or see the list of modules on each year’s notice boards. You should note that there are additional charges for optional field classes, to cover travel etc.

How do I change my choice of modules?

You can change from one module option to another. This is normally only allowed no later than the second week of the module, and needs the formal permission of the Director of Education. You must get their signature on the appropriate form, obtainable from the Programmes Administrator. Failure to follow the proper procedure causes chaos, and can lead to disaster. You must follow this procedure otherwise you could end up with no marks and sitting the wrong paper in the exams. Please note that under no circumstances can you change from a module once you have taken an assessment in it.

How do I pass a module?

You need to get 40% or more overall to pass a module and accumulate the credits towards your degree. You do not need to pass each test and exam separately, but you need to average 40% or more across the whole module. Lots of marks of 40% will bring you a lower classification for your degree, however. What happens if I fail a module?

If you fail a module by getting less than the pass mark of 40%, you may still pass the module via condonement, which may be given if your average mark for the stage is 40% or over. You can only get up to a maximum of 30 credits of condonement in one year, and some modules may be excluded from condonement. If you fail a module for the first time, then you will be offered a chance to pay to re-sit the exam or course assessment. This is called being referred. These referred exams normally take place in the summer vacation and you will have to return to University to take them. If you fail a module for the second time, then you may well have to take the whole module again or take another different module to pick up your credits. When retaking an assessment – you can only gain the 40% minimum pass mark. Please see the section on referred/deferred examinations for more information. Module Feedback Towards the end of each term you will be contacted by email and invited to complete an on-line evaluation of each module you have been studying. This is done through a system called MACE. We use your responses and free form comments to help us reflect on the standard of teaching and content of modules. Statistics are compiled from the evaluations and are studied by the Staff-Student Liaison Committee (SSLC) and the Department Education Committee.

15  

What are the Teaching methods used in the Geography Department?

We employ a wide variety of teaching methods and expose you to a wide range of learning environments to prepare you for your examinations and other forms of assessment. These include:

Lectures - which usually form the core of modules and are used to outline the principal issues of the module and to introduce students to the readings which will further their knowledge and understanding of the subject.

Reading lists are given out and you should note carefully how your lecturer directs their use. This further reading is essential. You will not do well, and may fail, if you base subsequent essays and exam answers only on what is said in lectures.

Practicals and Seminars - there are many aspects of geographical practice that can best be taught through the use of practicals and seminars. These usually involve a short introductory talk on a particular topic followed by a directed exercise.

Tutorials – we place an importance on giving students the opportunity to develop and discuss ideas in a small group environment. We call these small groups ‘tutorials’ and involve between 4-8 students working on course themes with a member of academic staff.

Fieldwork - is seen as one of the keystones of geographical understanding and the department provides opportunities for fieldwork in the local area, other parts of Britain and abroad. All students take part in a local field weekend in their first year.

Labwork – Students with an interest in the physical sciences will have the opportunity to undertake lab sessions within our sedimentology/ paleoecology labs, if they take certain modules. This is good practise to gain skills that might be necessary when compiling data/research for a final dissertation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16  

The Student-Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC) How can I help change and develop the way the Geography Department operates?

You might like to help the Geography department change for the better. You might like to learn about how an educational institution works, and you might want to improve your CV - all good reasons to get involved. The main way to do this is to become a year representative on the Student-Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC). SSLC members also attend meetings of other Geography committees (e.g. Department Education Committee) where decisions about teaching and the treatment of students are made. You can find out more about this, and volunteer to serve by talking to your personal tutor, the departmental administrator or the 3rd Year Chair. What Is the SSLC? The Student-Staff Liaison Committee, or SSLC, is a student-run forum for suggestions and feedback to and from Geography staff. It is a formal committee, chaired by one of the student representatives, which meets once a term. The SSLC will deal with a variety of student led issues, for example the structure of Geography degrees at Exeter, assessment and feedback and module capping. The SSLC is there as a forum for students and staff to work together in a spirit of co-operation, giving you the opportunity to voice your opinions about the degree programmes and modules, enabling you to have your say on your degree. How Does the SSLC Work? SSLC is made up of representatives from each year and each programme. Their job is to provide a point of contact for the students on their programmes. Staff membership of SSLC is limited to two members of academic staff and one member of Professional Services. As can be seen the students outweigh the staff, allowing the Committee to be student orientated, as well as providing an unintimidating atmosphere in which to raise issues and suggestions. The meetings are formally recorded and these minutes are taken to the Department Education Committee for discussion and response. A rep from the SSLC attends these meetings. Minutes of the SSLC meeting are also sent to the Associate Dean of Education for the College of Life and Environmental Sciences. Can I Get Involved? Yes! A number of reps will be needed from each year and will be elected within the first few of weeks of term. Your job will be to listen to student opinions and concerns, to communicate these at Committee meetings, and to relay progress back to students. Don’t rely on others to represent you – get involved!

What do I do if I want to complain? In the first instance please register your complaint with the Geography Administrator who will then direct you to the correct course of action. General issues can be dealt with through your year representatives on the Student-Staff Liaison Committee. Issues that are special to yourself or more serious will go to the Senior Tutor or Director of Education if necessary. Informal advice can be obtained from the Departmental Office or Faculty Services in Northcote House on the main Exeter Campus. The University has standard procedures to receive and resolve your problems, but we would hope to resolve them informally if at all possible. If you want advice from outside the Department, go to the Student Advice Centre run by the FXU Student Union - www.fxu.org.uk. Code of Good Teaching Practice All teaching Schools in the University are required to produce a Code of Good Teaching Practice and to make this known to their students. This is intended to provide a formal statement of Geography’s overall policy towards teaching and of the mechanisms employed to ensure the maintenance of good teaching practice. Geography’s Code is available from the office at any time but also made available to you at the beginning of your degree in paper and electronic copy. Your attention is drawn to the fact that this code places responsibilities upon students as well as upon the Department and members of the teaching staff.

 

17  

Health and Safety within Geography and the Campus Working hours

The buildings are open from 8 am to 5:30pm. Undergraduates are only allowed to remain in, or enter them outside normal working hours when carrying out their final year dissertation work. Access to the Daphne du Maurier and Peter Lanyon buildings on the Cornwall Campus is restricted to authorised members of the campus. To gain entry to the Daphne du Maurier/Peter Lanyon building outside of normal working hours you will need to use your University card.

Please note that the use of cards in the door entry system is recorded and you must not lend your card to another person. If you do, this will be treated as a serious offence.

Access to the Geography Laboratories is restricted to authorised users and not out-of-hours. Students requiring access need to gain authorisation from the Lab Technician Lucy Wright through their project supervisors. Safety in the Department Do not smoke anywhere in any of the campus buildings or within the smoking exclusion zones around entry ways. Smoking zones are clearly highlighted. Eating and drinking is also prohibited in certain areas such as the labs and computer rooms. Any student coming to a class under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be excluded.

Safety in the laboratory

Follow all guidelines given by the staff If you have an accident, report it immediately to the member of staff in charge or the departmental office. Make sure you know the location of fire extinguishers and emergency fire exits and that you know the fire drill

(see fire regulations, described below). There will be a fire practice during the first few weeks of the first term Always wear covered shoes whilst in the Laboratories - wear a lab coat when using the Paleoecology Lab and

when using chemicals. Do not eat or drink in the laboratories, and do not pipette anything by mouth Wear safety glasses - essential when handling acids, alkalis, corrosive solutions and microbiological suspensions Check that all apparatus is turned off before leaving the lab You are strongly advised to have yourself immunised against tetanus in case of accidents in the laboratory and in

the field Safety in the field

Follow all guidelines given by the staff If you have an accident, report it immediately to the member of staff in charge Make sure that your clothing and footwear are adequate for the weather and terrain likely to be encountered, and

that you have enough food and drink for the trip. Expect to need sturdy footwear and waterproof jacket and trousers.

Ensure you have filled in the necessary risk assessments for any fieldwork/research in the field during your final dissertation.

You will be required to fill in and sign a form in the fresher’s week of your first term regarding field class code of conduct, health and safety and a paper emergency contact form.

You are strongly advised to have yourself immunised against tetanus in case of accidents in the laboratory and in the field

18  

Fire regulations If you find a fire...

Sound the alarm bell by smashing the glass on a fire bell switch Evacuate the building by a safe route

When you hear the fire alarm/when the alarm (a continuously sounding siren or bell) sounds…

Leave the building by the nearest route, avoiding wooden staircases and lifts. (The most senior person present will take charge of the evacuation of laboratories and lecture rooms)

Assemble outside for checking, keeping the area around the buildings clear for fire-fighting appliances Assembly points

Daphne du Maurier building: on the parking area alongside DDM. Peter Lanyon: area between the porter’s lodge and student accommodation (not on the road area). Do not re-enter the building until given permission (a practice fire drill will be held at the beginning of each year). Designated fire marshals will be about guiding people out and keeping everyone informed – please follow their

instructions.

19  

Orientation How can I find the room I'm supposed to be in?

Don't panic. Most of your teaching will be in PL (Peter Lanyon building). Most members of staff have offices in the Geography wing (ground floor) of the Peter Lanyon Building - this is the Section of the building which is closest to the Glasney Parc accommodation. Some staff will be relocating to the new Environment and Sustainability Building upon its completion in late 2012 or early 2013.

Make the effort to familiarise yourself with the Geography building during Freshers Week – attend one of the campus tours where necessary. In particular, locate the first year notice board. Here you will find your lecture timetable and details of tutorial arrangements and general announcements. You must make sure that by the end of Induction Week you have copied down everything that concerns you: lectures could start at 9am on Monday! Remember to check this notice board every time you are in the Peter Lanyon Building. This is the place where you will find information about modules, last-minute changes to lectures or tutorials and information about exams and field classes. When are my classes and exams?

At the University of Exeter, we have two 12-week terms: Winter, Spring and a shorter Summer term when your examinations take place. Although the department has designated some weeks as revision periods you are still expected to be in attendance at the University. Indeed Geography reserves the right to use these weeks for teaching and assessments, but these events will be kept to a minimum. Please check the term dates online – these differ from the Falmouth students who share the campus – it can be easy to get confused. The Term Dates for 2012/2013 are as follows: Autumn Term: Mon 24 September – Fri 14 December Spring Term: Mon 7 January - Fri 29 March Summer Term: Mon 29 April - Fri 14 June You are not permitted to leave the University during term time without prior permission. Please speak to the Geography Office if you wish to get permission from the Director of Education or Undergraduate Programme Director. You can fill in a form obtainable from the Geography Administrator. How can I get access to teaching staff in person?

You can find a staff member by dropping by at their office, but you may find them busy. It is usually most convenient to arrange an appointment in advance by contacting them by email. You can look up staff email addresses on the University's email directory, or in the “useful contacts” section of this handbook.

What do I do if I have special needs?

If you have a long-term condition that affects your academic work, you should contact the University's Accessibility Service, part of Accommodation and Welfare, which is now located above the FXU, opposite the Stannary. Students that are registered dyslexic, or have other special needs relating to examinations should also inform the Exams Officer or the Departmental Administrator by the end of the winter term.

What do I do if I am Dyslexic?

You should contact the Accessibility Service (see Student services). If you have the necessary certificate, you have the opportunity to register with the department so as to receive advice and support and also extra time in assessments and exams. The Accessibility Service can also advise you on what to do if you suspect you might have dyslexia. It is your responsibility to ensure that the module co-ordinators are aware of any additional time that you may be entitled to for course assessments etc. Does the Department have an equal opportunities policy?

Yes; the School is committed to treating all students equitably, irrespective of gender, race, physical capabilities, religion, and sexual orientation.

20  

Learning Resources The Learning Resources Centre on the Cornwall Campus houses the Library, open access IT facilities, and Academic Support. The Library Service serves the needs of both the University of Exeter and University College Falmouth. The collection has over 80,000 items including core textbooks, journals both print and online, videos, maps, archive material from the former Camborne School of Mines and the Institute of Cornish Studies. There is a wide range of electronic databases. The electronic databases form an important part of the collection including access to Digimap Ordnance Survey Data Collection, ESDS – Economic and Social Data Service, Geobase, ISI Web of Science, UKBORDERS, ZETOC. These are essential for locating relevant, up to date research and information for essays, projects or dissertations. All are available on campus and many are available remotely, off-campus. From the Cornwall Campus you will also have access to the University of Exeter Library at the Streatham Campus, and to the library and collections at the Woodlane campus of University College Falmouth, which specialises in art and design materials. There are regular inter-site loan services between the different campuses. Within the Library on the Cornwall Campus there are a range of different study spaces; group study tables, a quiet study room and an open access IT suite. There are facilities for using laptops and an Academic Support unit for help with study skills and dissertation support. There is an Enquiry Desk in the main part of the collection where Library staff provide help with subject and other queries. Both University College Falmouth and the University of Exeter are members of a national co-operative scheme, UK SCONUL Access, which enables students to use other university libraries. This scheme provides reference rights for full-time undergraduate students at other UK University libraires. Please ask in the library for further details and see also;- http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk An introduction to the Library service is provided for all new students in Fresher’s Week and further specialist support is offered later in the year. Many services are now available to users remotely, off-campus. The Library catalogue can be accessed on –campus or from home. Loans can be renewed online and holds or reservations placed through the Library catalogue, on and off-campus. Where can I get on to a computer? You can use the PCs in the large IT Suite in the ground floor of the library. There are also facilities for using a laptop and wireless hotspots in the main body of the library and the Stannary. PCs are available on a first-come, first-served basis, except periodically when reserved for teaching classes. There is also a small hub of computers in the Peter Lanyon building (first floor at the end of the corridor with the seminar rooms). Where can I find my returned work and email? The department uses email for routine communications, but other material arrives via student notice boards. You will sign up for an email account at the beginning of each academic year and it is available on the Exeter website through the “My Exeter” portal. Please note that only exeter.ac.uk email addresses will be used for correspondence. Students who opt for other email addresses are warned that they may not receive important information, and that the department will not take responsibility for this. There are noticeboards in the Geography corridor of the Peter Lanyon building, opposite the staff offices. These noticeboards have lots of important information on them, and you should check them regularly. Returned work can be found in the cabinet outside the CLES admin office in the PL Building. This will be open from 9-5 and we will notify you when individual assignments are available for collection. Where can I do my photocopying/printing? You can use the photocopiers/printers in the library. They are operated by your university ID Card and link to your IT printing credits account. You can top up your card via the machines dotted around the library area and the computer suite or online via the IT website. Printing can also be done in the Peter Lanyon IT suite and at the reprographics centre at the same prices. Printing prices are shown in these areas.

21  

Campus Facilities Sports Centre  Our Sports Centre provides opportunities for students, staff and the wider community, of all levels and ability, to participate in sport and physical activity. Various levels of membership are available and facilities include a fitness suite, exercise studio and multi-use games area. A number of sports clubs also run through the students union. New this year is a bike hire scheme for a few pounds per day.

Shops and retail outlets  There is a 400 seated restaurant, Piran's Rest, on campus which serves specialty coffees and a full range of hot and cold meals, from roast dinners to pasties, sandwiches, soups and salads. The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch during the week.  

There is also KOOFI Café – which is located at the back of the porters Lodge. This relatively new establishment serves Starbucks Coffee, tea and hot chocolates, along with salad boxes, Panini’s and cakes. KOOFI is open 9-Late every day.

There are two bars on the Cornwall Campus. For bigger gigs and events, the lower bar and restaurant convert to a nightclub/venue with stage, known as The Stannary, which has a late license until 2am for events.

There is also a shop on campus, between the Stannary and Media Centre, which stocks a wide range of convenience products such as snacks, stationery, newspapers and magazines, household goods, and even a carrier bag and tin recycling point.

Reprographics The Reprographics department handles all printing and photocopying requirements. The Reprographics

department is situated next to the shop, in the portacabin between the Stannary and Media Centre. It is open Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm (closed 12.30pm to 1.30pm). The department is able to provide the following services:

photocopying colour printing black and white printing acetate thermal binding laminating paper sales copier control card sales booklet making conference/Language School assistance

For further information, including the price list, please email reprographics@tremoughservices.com Bus Travel First Bus operates a number of frequent service bus routes linking the major towns in Cornwall. They operate the main service between Tremough, Falmouth and Woodlane. Services commence at around 05:30hrs and run through until around 23:00hrs Monday to Friday and 09:30hrs to 18:00hrs Saturday. Journey time varies between the services, but is typically 20-30 minutes between campuses. The University has negotiated subsidised bus transport with First Bus using a zoning system. Single journeys within zone A are 60p. For other zones a term pass can be purchased. Full details can be found at;- http://www.tremoughservices.com/article.asp?id=489

Car Parking  

The campus is focused on sustainable travel, so there is limited parking available. Accessible parking spaces for disabled drivers are available. Pay and display charges apply to the Cornwall Campus throughout the year – the prices can be found near the machines around the car park. Permits for various needs can be purchased – details can be found here;-

http://www.tremoughservices.com/article.asp?id=488

Campus Security A team of staff maintain campus security for student, staff and visitors. The security of our staff and students on Campus is paramount. During opening hours, a team of staff working within the Campus Facilities Office and the Residences maintain the security of the Campus. This is supplemented during the evening/night by specially trained patrol staff and, for large entertainments events, events security staff. The Campus also has a network of CCTV cameras and its own police officer.

22  

Student Services on the Cornwall Campus The University provides a range of support services including the Student Union, Careers Office, Disability Office, Student Counselling Service, Student Health Service and Chaplain.

Student Services are based upstairs in the Annex building opposite the Refectory. Wheelchair access is available via a lift. All services are confidential and student centred, and no information will be passed between the services, or anywhere else, without the student’s permission. Opening hours are 9am – 5pm weekdays during term time, with a more limited service during the vacation. You can drop in or telephone 01326 370460. The receptionist has ‘Access to Learning Fund’ forms, bus timetables, information on local part time jobs, maps, leaflets and lots of other useful information.

The Careers Advisory Service has advisers who are available for individual interviews at any stage during your studies. They can help with career choice, preparing CVs and applications, finding the right employer, and ways of enhancing your employability. If you are considering discontinuing or changing modules the Careers Service can give useful advice on how this might affect your career options. The extensive Careers Library is based within the Student Services office and has databases for funding, volunteering and working abroad. You are very welcome to drop in and browse.

The Counselling Service offers students the opportunity to speak to a counsellor about anything that might be troubling you. Counsellors do not give advice or judge you, instead they work alongside you to find a way forward. You have a choice of seeing a male of female counsellor, and all the counsellors are professionally trained and work in accordance with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy Ethical Framework. They will not talk to academic staff, other Student Services staff, family members or anyone else without your permission.

The Disability Service offers individual support for students with learning, physical or mental health difficulties. Screening for dyslexia and dyspraxia is available, and they can help with diagnostic and support needs assessments, and claiming Disabled Students Allowance. If you feel you may have extra needs, for example you may be dyslexic, do make contact as soon as possible, so that they can arrange support. You can drop in and talk in confidence to a Disability Adviser at any time.

Medical Service. It is recommended that students based on the Cornwall Campus register with the Penryn Medical Practice, Saracen Way, Penryn. Tel: 01326 372502. The practice also runs a nurse drop-in clinic at Student Services twice a week. The nurse can provide immunisation (as long as you are registered with the practice), contraception and sexual health advice, including emergency contraception, chlamydia screening and treatment and pregnancy testing, and general health advice. Clinic times are Mondays and Wednesdays 10am – 1pm.

The Chaplaincy can be contacted via Student Services, and is available to assist students of all faiths

Student Union Advice Service is hosted by Student Services, and can help with housing advice, benefits, finance, childcare, academic appeals, legal matters and many other issues. Appointments can be made at Student Services reception

How can I improve my basic study skills? If you feel you are struggling to achieve your best and need advice on any aspect of studying (writing, reading, organising your time, etc.) then you should see your personal tutor. Also, you may want to see someone at ASK - Academic Skills ask@falmouth.ac.uk. What is GEOGSOC? We have a lively community of undergraduate students who run the Geography Society. Throughout the year the GEOGSOC runs a programme of events for Geography Students, from beach barbecues to local field trips. You will find detail about GEOGSOC events on the Geography notice board. First Years will be asked to attend a GEOGSOC team-building event in Fresher’s Week where they get to meet existing members of GEOGSOC. They will also be present at the Fresher’s Fair.

23  

Assessment Basics Understanding Assessment Throughout your three years at the University of Exeter you will be required to provide written and other work that will be assessed. With experience you will come to know what is expected of you and why it is that one piece of your work receives a high grade whilst other work gets a lower mark. To a certain extent expectations vary according to the type of work being done and the context in which it has been set. It is, nevertheless, possible to outline in broad terms what it is we are looking for when we assess your work:

Knowledge - this refers to the specific facts, terminology, and definitions relevant to the question set. From knowledge all else flows and you should be especially careful that your work is factually correct.

Comprehension - this refers not only to understanding material, but to the ability to translate that knowledge into other kinds of statements, to interpret it and, when appropriate, to extrapolate from it. You must be able to demonstrate that you actually understand from a geographical perspective the issues in question; most people can repeat what they have read elsewhere – we look for much more.

Analysis - this refers to the ways in which knowledge is used, such as by identifying trends, clusters and sequences, by classifying, generalising and evolving geographical theories.

Synthesis - this deals with the ability to bring points together from disparate sources to form a coherent whole. Pay particular attention to the way in which you structure your work so that your ability to synthesise is made quite clear to the assessor.

Evaluation - this concerns the degree to which the material presented is used to draw sound conclusions. Remember that, through the use of reasonable premises, deduction, and the presentation of appropriate factual material, you should be developing a critical argument that builds towards a logical conclusion.

Practise communicating these skills through your written work. All too often students fail to make the most of the work they do, not because they lack the knowledge, comprehension, or skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation, but because they fail to demonstrate such to the examiner. It is your tutor’s job to help you develop a style that will allow you to fulfil your potential. It is worth emphasising that the ability to communicate clearly and succinctly is imperative and this also requires the proper use of language. We therefore expect students to pay full attention to correct spelling, punctuation and grammar. What exams and tests will I be taking? Modules typically are assessed by exam and coursework. You should always check the module description for information on how a module is assessed. course assessments (CAs) vary among modules, but the lecturers will always tell you what is to happen at the start of the module. All Geography exams currently take place in the TERM 3 exam period at the end of the year. CAs and exams are normally 50/50 when generating the final module mark. However not all modules follow the same pattern – exams currently range between 25-75% and coursework elements between 10-75% Exam questions often require an essay answer, but some will be short answer or problem-based. Students are advised to refer to the module co-ordinators and module outlines and handbooks for further details. Examples of the rubrics (instructions) for each format of examination paper will be displayed on the ELE pages in advance of the examination period. You can also find the Geography marking criteria at the end of this booklet. A database of past exam papers can be found at this link:

https://library.exeter.ac.uk/exampapers/

24  

Common Styles of Assessment

Essays - the word limit for first year coursework essays is either 1000 or 1500 words. In order to ensure that these word limits are observed, all essay-style pieces of coursework must be word processed and follow the style guidelines shown below. Using these style guidelines, 1500 words works out at 3.5 pages (not including diagrams or figures), while 1000 words work at just over 2 pages. You will be penalised by 5 marks if you exceed the word limit by up to 25% and 10 marks if you exceed it by more than 25%.

Examinations - modules are formally assessed by means of examinations sat in May or June. If a pass is not achieved, depending on your circumstances the Board of Examiners may recommend to the Board of the Faculty of Taught Studies that you are permitted a referred examination in September for a maximum mark of 40%. In making its recommendation the Board of Examiners may refer to tutor reports on a student’s progress over the year as a whole and to any medical evidence that has been provided. If a student has not performed adequately in their other modules they may be required to withdraw from the University or to repeat the year.

Field Notebooks - practical notebooks are industry standard for maintaining traceability in research and consultancy. Many employers (both academic and industry) actively encourage staff to keep written logs in order to provide a record of intellectual property. In the Geography department practical notebooks or “learning diaries" are used as a method of assessment, in some modules. You may be asked to make notes of practical procedures and self-directed learning, keep a log of your reading, or to provide evidence of attendance and completion of tasks in practical classes. In the case of the latter example, you would be expected to bring your practical notebook (normally a hard-bound A4 book) to every class to record your observations, document key procedures and provide evidence that you have understood the practical task. Learning how to document your research in this way is a valuable transferable skill!

How much work is involved? At school or college your working day was probably highly structured and your time was organised for you. At University you will find that you have fewer contact hours with staff and have to organise your own working day for yourself. You may have a timetable with only a few hours of lectures on it in any one week, and you may find yourself wondering what you are supposed to be doing with the rest of your time. The answer is simple: working! But how do you know how much work you should be doing? The University has come up with a simple rough guide to how many hours you should be putting in on your University work. It is based on a ratio of hours to credit weighting: for each credit you should be doing about 10 hours of work, where work includes time spent in lectures or seminars with a member of staff (otherwise known as contact time), time spent in the lab (which may or may not be with a member of staff), time spent in the library and writing essays, working on projects or presentations or other assignments. Most of your modules are worth 15 credits so the amount of work you should be doing works out roughly 150 hours a term; with a minimum of 15 of these hours are contact hours, with the remainder from self-directed study. So overall you should expect to study 15 hours a week per module

However, you may spend extra weeks over the Christmas vacation working on coursework or the Easter vacation revising for your exams. In any case, with roughly three credit weighted modules on your timetable per semester, you should be working hours similar to that of a full time office job. Your needs in Teaching and Assessment In your time at the University of Exeter you will encounter many different learning and teaching environments (such as lectures, seminars, labs and fieldtrips) and a wide range of learning and teaching resources (such as hand-outs, ELE, e-journals and the internet) in Geography. We want to make these learning and teaching environments and resources equally accessible to all our students and we recognise that we might need to make adjustments to do so. When you arrive, we will ask you about any special educational needs, illnesses, disabilities or other conditions that you have which might affect your ability to utilise learning resources, participate in certain kinds of activity or undertake some forms of assessment in Geography. If you have any special needs it is also vitally important that you contact Student Services to undergo a formal assessment so that your needs can be fully addressed and accounted and that special equipment, software or services can be put at your disposal by the University.

25  

Submitting Assessments Assessed coursework must NOT be handed in by any other method than that specified below unless alternative arrangements are clearly specified by the member of staff setting the work (e.g. class tests, work exempted from anonymity or electronic submissions). Two copies of work are to be submitted to the office – one in paper form through the BART system and one electronically through Turn-it-in. BOTH need to be submitted before the deadline, otherwise the work will be deemed as late. BART In accordance with University guidelines, Geography has a policy of anonymously marking coursework that contributes to the assessment of a module. To facilitate this process, we use BART, a web-based system that provides each student with an electronic list of their assessments, bar-coded cover sheets for each assessment and receipts when work is handed in. Please keep receipts in case there is a dispute with your hand-in. For each piece of coursework that is submitted you will need to print a cover sheet, which contains your student number and the module assessment code encoded in bar-code format. The cover sheets for all relevant coursework assessments and their respective hand-in times are available through the BART website, accessible via ELE and MyExeter. This cover sheet must be attached to your work and handed in at the Geography Office. Your work will be scanned into the system and you will be given a receipt confirming the time and date of submission. It is suggested that you visit the BART system regularly and print off coversheets as they are needed. Coursework deadlines can change throughout the year, and these will be immediately updated on the system. If, however, you print all coversheets at the beginning of the term, and changes are made, you may have an incorrect version. It is advised that you print off coversheets a week before the deadline. It is not possible for work to be submitted without a BART cover sheet. Turn-it-in As well as submitting a hard copy of each assignment, students must also submit an electronic copy via Turn-it-in – which also acts as a plagiarism detection system. To submit electronically students must log into ELE and find the module that the piece of work being submitted refers to. Within the ELE pages for this module will be a section called ‘Assessment Submission’ which allows documents to be attached and uploaded to Turn-it-in. Assignments written using Microsoft word are accepted by the system. However assignments completed using Microsoft Works, PowerPoint and other specialist software cannot be submitted via Turn-it-in. Students are asked to convert these documents into PDF files and then upload their work. Free PDF software is available using PrimoPDF (http://www.primopdf.com/) Work can be submitted via Turn-it-in at any time. However, work submitted after 12 noon on the last date for submission will be deemed late. Assessment and your Responsibilities Right from the start of your university career, you will face deadlines for handing in work. All coursework is submitted to the CLES Office. Failure to meet any deadline is taken very seriously and will result in penalties being applied to that piece of work. These penalties can make a material difference to the class of degree that you end up with. What are the rules for students handing in work? All work submitted for a mark by students will be collected centrally at the College of Life and Environmental Sciences (CLES) Office – located in the Geography Department of the Peter Lanyon Building. All work must be submitted BEFORE THE DEADLINE. The dates and times for submission will be found from your module conveyor but can also be found through the BART system;- http://projects.exeter.ac.uk/bart. A record will be made of all submitted work before distribution to the markers.All work will be marked anonymously whenever practicable No extension to published deadlines may be given by individual members of staff. Instead you must apply for an extension using the form available from the Geography Administrator

26  

Will I be penalised if I hand work in late?

Work that is late will receive a maximum mark of 40%. Work that is two weeks late or more it will be reduced to 0%.

To avoid handing in work late, it is important to plan ahead and manage your time and workload efficiently. Late coursework and practical work will not be accepted by academic staff and should not be handed to them. If your work is late, hand it in to the CLES Office in the normal way.  Repeated non-submission or late submission of coursework will be noted and personal tutors and programme coordinators will be informed. They will take appropriate action which may result in a formal College warning. College procedure for handing in and return of coursework University regulations require that assessed coursework is centrally collected and receipted. The purpose of BART is:

to make this process efficient and error-free to provide clear information about when assessed work is due to show clearly when work has been submitted

The essentials of the system are as follows:

Log-in to the BART system using your normal University username and password See listed in chronological order all the assessed coursework items you are due to hand in for the year Select an item and print out the correct cover sheet for that item. The cover sheet will feature two barcodes – one

representing your student number, and one identifying the coursework item Attach the cover sheet to your work using a staple If you are submitting two copies, use a paper clip to attach the second copy of your work behind the first If you are submitting group work, each member of the group should staple their cover sheets to the front Hand in your work to the Geography office, a member of staff scans the barcodes on the cover sheet and prints

you a receipt When you log-in to BART again, the item will be shown as submitted, with the date and time of submission.

Important notes:

You may submit work earlier than the deadline The final deadline for all work is 12:00 midday on the given date Any work scanned in after the deadline will be automatically marked late It will not be possible to submit work without a BART cover sheet. There WILL be queues at 12:00 - please hand in well before the deadline Any work scanned even one minute after 12:00 will be marked LATE by the computer. Please do not wait until the

last minute to hand in. Students are expected to download relevant assignment cover sheets in good time to meet the submission deadline for any assignment. If you have ANY issues regarding submission please contact the departmental administrator as soon as possible – DO NOT LEAVE IT UNTIL 11.59AM. The administrator can advise you on how to solve issues regarding printing, formatting, submission, extensions and mitigation. However they WILL NOT print BART sheets or work for students. If you have issues with submitting via ELE – please bring your work on a USB to the office.

27  

Plagiarism In the next three years you will be submitting a good deal of written work, some of which will contribute to your eventual results. Do not plagiarise. Plagiarism is defined as representing as your own the words or ideas of other people, whether published or not. In the university context it may take the form of copying chunks of a textbook, webpage, lecture hand-out or whatever into an essay without acknowledging where they come from, or copying another student’s work and passing it off as your own. Always acknowledge direct quotes by naming the source - you often will receive credit for showing evidence of background reading - and never use other people’s results or copy their work without full attribution. Do not permit your work to be copied by others. Internet plagiarism is dealt with in the same way as plagiarism from printed sources and search engines make it fairly easy to detect. The use of essay bank material for assessment purposes is not permitted under any circumstances. Any case of cheating and or plagiarism is liable to be given zero marks, and may be treated as a disciplinary offence by the University. Plagiarism is not permitted and will be severely punished. You will notice that the articles and books that you read are full of references to the published and unpublished work of other academics, institutions, individuals and so on either in footnotes, endnotes or in a bibliography. It is important to learn how to reference the books, articles or ideas that appear in your work in the same way. (This can be found in the Referencing and style guide provided to you in Electronic Form in Fresher’s week). This is good academic practice and will be rewarded. Failure to do so will be penalised and may result in the serious charge of Academic Misconduct. At Registration you will be required to sign a declaration that you have understood the University’s definitions of Academic Misconduct (including cheating and plagiarism) as set out in the document which you will be given at that time.

The code can be found at: http://admin.exeter.ac.uk/academic/tls/tqa/Part%208/8Lplag1.pdf Additionally, you are not allowed to take any books, notes or electronic devices into examinations that have not been authorised. You will have to get an authorisation sticker put on your calculator before you are allowed to take it into an exam - see the Programmes Administrator about this. There is an online module on ELE about plagiarism that you will be expected to complete in your first term.

28  

Returning of Assessments and feedback We aim to mark and return your coursework within 3 term weeks of it being submitted. Work can be collected when notified by email by a college administrator and from the cabinet outside the geography office. You can then discuss any feedback with the person who marked the work if needed. Marking Criteria In the table below we have provided you with a general guide to the marking of Geography undergraduate assessments on the Cornwall Campus, based on the University-approved scheme. The marking scheme is highly generic, one applying to different types of assessment and academic levels. It should therefore be read as an indicative rather than a prescriptive and comprehensive marking scheme. Guideline Marking Scheme

Word Counts

If you exceed the word/page count that is given by the academic setting the assessment – you will have 5-10 marks deducted. To determine what a word count includes – please refer to the “what’s included” hand-out you are given in Fresher’s week - but also there is copy on every noticeboard. The deduction will be made by the programmes administrator after the work has been marked. 10% of each intake of assignments will be checked but might also be checked if the academic marking the individual assignment considers it to be over the word count. Appeals against marks If you wish to dispute an assessment mark, you should raise the issue in an email to the Departmental Administrator. Marks can only be appealed on procedural grounds or where there is evidence of bullying or favouritism. Students are NOT able to question a mark on the grounds of academic judgement. The University has formal procedures relating to appeals concerning coursework marks contributing to assessment, as set out in the relevant University procedures as given in the University TQA manual. This must be consulted before any appeal is made.  http://as.exeter.ac.uk/support/admin/staff/qualityassuranceandmonitoring/tqamanual/ 

29  

Examinations Your time with the University of Exeter culminates, of course, with the degree examinations which take place in May and June of your final year. In many ways, this is what you have been working towards over the previous three years although, with the second year examination, the dissertation and various other optional and compulsory projects and essays already submitted, all students have at least half of their assessment profile complete before the ‘finals’ start. The Geography degree examinations take place in May/June (first, second and third years) according to a timetable usually published at the end of the second semester. Early in the second semester you will receive from the Examinations Office a list of the examinations for which you are registered. You must check this list and, if you believe there to be any errors, inform the Examination Office immediately. Students who feel they need extra time in exams or a ‘safe haven’ because of conditions like dyslexia or panic attacks should contact their personal tutor in the first instance. Medical certificates will normally be required and a request must be made in early March. Advice is also available from the Disability Service and the Student Counselling Service, situated on the first floor of the Annexe to Tremough Old House. To ensure that you ‘peak’ at the right time, your tutor will help you put together a sensible revision plan. This is particularly important with respect to health or other problems, which cause significant difficulties for you in either your revision programme or your ability to take the actual examination papers. The departmental Office will be able to advise whether you should provide the School with written evidence of any illness or other circumstances, which may be undermining your performance (for instance, through a letter from your doctor). In certain cases this evidence may be used by the Board of Examiners in assessing your degree, so it is obviously very important that all necessary written evidence is to hand and submitted before the Board meets. The examination papers taken during this period vary from one degree programme to another, as does the way in which the marks gained are used in the final degree assessment. For all students the following points apply:

A. A sample of all work which contributes to the final degree is moderated; an attempt will be made to resolve any initial disagreement through discussion and, if necessary, a third assessment. Unresolved discrepancies will be considered by the external examiners.

B. All written examinations are marked anonymously; each student will be given an examination number and only this should be recorded on their scripts. Names will not be released to assessors until after the examination has been marked.

C. Two external examiners are appointed by the Department. They are required to ensure that the assessment of all students has been conducted according to due process and that appropriate standards are maintained. They may call any students for a meeting.

D. Results will be posted as soon as practicable after the final Board of Examiners’ meeting. E. A reception will be hosted for all students and their guests at the time of Congregation.

How will I find out my exam results? Students at Stages 1 and 2 will get a full breakdown of exam results from the SRS portal of MyExeter on the day that the office declares that the results will be out. For students in Stages 2 and 3, you can arrange to meet with your Personal tutor at a convenient time to discuss your scripts and the feedback sheets. Please note that these meetings will not be immediately after the exams as there are a lot of scripts to sort! Exam scripts for levels 2 and 3 are retained by the department and may not be copied. Students at Stage 3 will be able to find out their degree classes after the meeting of the examination board (the date will be publicised). The department will endeavour to make marks available via the SRS system as soon as possible after the Exam Boards. After graduation, the University will provide students with complete transcripts, including marks for all modules at all levels. Subsequent copies of transcripts can be obtained from the University Examinations Office on payment of a fee. Essay exams are marked against a set of marking criteria and you should look at these carefully before taking any exams, as they will tell you what your markers are looking for. After you get your marks, match them against the criteria so that you can see where you need to improve. Discuss your performance with your Personal Tutor.

30  

Absence/Non-submission of Assessments Illness If, due to illness, you are absent for more than a few days, or are unable to submit as stipulated any essays, practical’s or project work, you should provide the Geography Office with a letter or certificate from your GP explaining the nature of the illness and complete a mitigating circumstances form. You are also advised to inform the Geography Office as soon as possible if there is any illness that may affect your performance in examinations or other assessed work. The Board of Examiners may, in certain circumstances, take into consideration medical evidence if supported by documentation provided before the Board of Examiners meeting. Consult your tutor as soon as possible in any case of illness and they will guide you as to what procedure you should follow. We fully realise that in some instances students may wish to keep medical details confidential. Such confidentiality shall be respected, but it is necessary for the Senior Tutor to be satisfied that the case is genuine and has had an effect on a student’s work. The Penryn Medical Practice, Saracen Way, Penryn (01326 752502) offers students resident in Penryn a General Practitioner service. Student’s resident further afield should register with a local GP. What happens if I get too ill to take a test or exam? Don't worry. If you miss a course assessment, you will need to register your medical circumstances at the College office as soon as possible. To find out how to do this, see “What if I must miss a class?” If your documentation is in order, the department can either give you an extension, issue alternative assessment or calculate your overall module mark based on the other tests and exams for the module (depending on your circumstances). We prefer students to submit a piece of coursework however, as this looks better on your overall transcript. If you miss an exam, you will get another chance to take it, which is called being deferred. You may need to sit the deferred exam in the summer vacation, however. You will need to show the College office a doctor's certificate or other evidence to show why you couldn't take the exam the first time. WARNING: if you are absent from formal examinations and do not provide a satisfactory written explanation about your absence you may be deemed withdrawn, and required to leave the University. Referred/deferred examinations/assignments. Referred/deferred examinations are taken in the Refer/defer examination period in the summer. A deferral assessment is one where you have sufficient mitigation/reasons for missing the initial exam/assessment. This type of re-assessment can only be granted by the mitigation committee. A referral assessment is where you may have been absent without good cause, failed to submit or did not pass an initial assessment. You will have the option to pay for a referral assessment following the exam board and will only be able to obtain a capped pass of 40% In your final year you will also undertake a dissertation (45 credits), which involves you in completing your own piece of research. The dissertations are written up as a scientific paper. Referrals are not allowed in the project/dissertations, but may be re-submitted in the case of failure for a maximum mark of 40% Late submission of coursework Late work must be handed into the Geography teaching office using the BART system. It will be accepted and receipted as normal, but marked as late with the actual hand-in time and date. This will be the same for work submitted late through Turn-it-in. The default late penalty will apply unless a mitigation form is submitted with the late work and the relevant Geography mitigation committee subsequently accepts the case for mitigation. Late work will attract penalties that will be applied automatically by staff marking assignments unless mitigation applies. The penalty for late submission is that for any assignment handed in up to 2 weeks late, the marks awarded are capped to 40%. That is, if your actual (non-late) mark for the work is (for example) 36%, this will stay at 36%. If your actual (non-late) mark would be 41%, or higher, right up to 100%, the mark awarded will be 40%. Any assignment handed in more than 2 weeks after the deadline will receive no marks.

31  

How do I apply for an extension to the deadline? Occasionally, under exceptional circumstances, students require an extension to the published deadline. These must be requested in advance - at least 24 hours ahead of the deadline. Note that deadlines set for work are taken to include allowances for minor illnesses or other minor difficulties that students may experience in completing set work and these will not be considered sufficient grounds to grant a dispensation.

Students requiring an extension must submit an application for extension using an extension form, to the Geography Office 24 hours BEFORE the deadline. We suggest that students should still aim to submit the work on time, in case your application for an extension is declined

A member/s of the mitigation committee will be contacted by email/telephone for a decision. Normally a decision will be obtained within 24 hours

If the extension is approved, you will receive an email and you will receive a copy of the application form duly signed. We will also edit the hand in date on BART to cater for the extension made

If the application is made after the deadline, extensions will only be granted if the nature of the problem precluded an earlier application.

NB: Neither the tutors nor the module co-ordinator are permitted to grant extensions. The departmental administrator also cannot make the decision, but will contact you regarding the outcome. Rules

Extensions to the published deadlines may ONLY be given by members of the mitigation committee – NOT by module co-ordinators. Work handed directly to a member of staff will be deemed late

For extensions of up to 1 week, the co mmittee quorum will be 1 member of the committee For longer extensions the quorum will be 2 members of the committee, one of which must be either the Director of

Education, Undergraduate Programme Director or Senior Tutor For Dissertation extensions, extensions of up to 1 week may be granted by the Director of Education (or by the

Senior Tutor if the student is tutee or supervisee of the Director of Education) alone; beyond one week 2 other members of the committee must be involved. Dissertation extensions are only awarded in extreme circumstances

You cannot apply for mitigation on a piece of work that has been extended unless it is for different circumstances than the extension.

32  

How do I apply for mitigating circumstances? Very occasionally students can request consideration of extraordinary circumstances, including medical or personal, that may negatively impacted their performance on a piece of assessment or their performance overall sometime during the term. The application for consideration of mitigation form explains the nature of the problem and which modules it has had a negative impact on. Applications must be filed by a deadline to be advertised by the Departmental Administrator. Medical notes or equivalent evidence should support applications for mitigation. The Student Counselling Service may be able to provide mitigating evidence and students are encouraged to make contact with the Counselling Services. Geography recognises that the circumstances involved in mitigation are often highly personal. As such, a very small committee considers the applications, so that personal information is kept as private as possible. Mitigation is considered after the end of Term 3 exams but before the exam board and final results. You will be notified by the programmes administrator when the deadline for submitting applications will be. Illness - illness (with medical certificate) of one week or more within 3 weeks of deadline: extension granted as appropriate to problem. Students who regularly have health problems around deadlines will be referred to the health centre. Absence from University - unplanned absence within 4 days of deadline (e.g. sick relative): extension as appropriate, normally up to 4 days. Planned absences (e.g. wedding, prize-giving, RAG event, sports event): no extension/mitigation will be granted. Computer and printing problems - No extension - good IT practice means that you keep back-ups as electronic and hard copies. Transport problems - Breakdown/failure of public transport: extension of 1 day provided that reasonable steps were taken to arrive at the office on time. Other - As may arise; to be considered by the committee. Students are advised to submit work in advance of the deadline as queues at the submission office will not be accepted as a reason for late submission. Mitigation committee

Dr Simon Naylor (Director of Education) Dr Mike Leyshon (Senior Tutor) Dr Gail Reeves (College Administration Manager) Hayley McCormack (Programmes administrator) Dr Kate Smith (Undergraduate Programme Director)

Ethics Guidelines for Undergraduate Students All students must familiarise themselves with Geography Ethical guidelines. Ethical principles are concerned with the rights, dignity and welfare of participants and other stakeholders in research. To this end, students conducting research with humans, in particular vulnerable people, and animals, generally require the approval of the Ethics Officer. In general, all undergraduates undertaking a third year project or dissertation must receive approval from their supervisor before commencing their study. In cases where ethical issues are deemed to be of concern, the supervisor will refer the case to the Ethics Officer. Attendance and Academic Conduct – Regulations The University has a number of important rules and regulations which you need to be aware of. Some of the most important regulations concern your attendance at University and your academic conduct. Details of these can be found in the Calendar and its Teaching Quality Assurance Manual, both of which can be found on the University’s website at the following addresses: www.exeter.ac.uk/students/calendar.shtml www.exeter.ac.uk/admin/academic/tls/tqa

33  

Jobs and Work Experience Work Experience Many employers want to recruit graduates who have some work experience and understand how businesses work. Doing part-time work or volunteering during term time or during the vacations can help you develop attributes that employer’s desire, such as managing your time more effectively, being more realistic and helping you to develop a more mature attitude. Geography Ambassadors The department encourages all students to apply to become a Geography Ambassador. If selected, you will receive training both from the University and the Department and be employed to work during all our main UCAS Open Days and other occasions when required. UCAS Post Offer Open Days are held during February and March and ambassadors are responsible for talking to prospective students and their families and conducting tours of the Departments and University. It’s a great way to become involved with the Department to get to know students from other programmes and year groups and allows you to earn some money and to add to your CV. You will be given details of how to apply later in the term, however if you have any questions, contact the Departmental Administrator. What recognition is there for the extracurricular activities or volunteer work that I do? The Exeter Award is a new achievement award for undergraduate and taught postgraduate students at the University of Exeter. The Award is designed to enhance the employability of University of Exeter graduates by providing official recognition and evidence of extra-curricular activities and achievements. These include:

Attendance at Careers and Employment Service and other employability skills sessions Participation in sporting and musical activities Engagement in work experience and voluntary work.

You can find out how to register for the Exeter award here – www.exeter.ac.uk/exeteraward Undertaking paid employment during term time Many students wish to undertake part-time employment during their undergraduate careers, not only to earn some extra money, but because many graduate recruiters are keen to see that students have undertaken work experience whilst they are studying. Work experience can enable you to develop a range of skills (e.g. time management, team working) that are beneficial to your studies and boost your CV. Showing that you have already done work in a certain field or environment can help convince employers that you are serious about a particular career path.

http://www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/parttimejobs/ Nonetheless, students are encouraged to seek advice from their Personal Tutor or Student Counselling if they are facing severe financial difficulties or encountering debt problems. You should also take time to read the look at the student funding website.

http://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/finance/studentfunding/

34  

What Next? Skills, Employability and Your Career after Your Degree Having a good degree is no longer a guaranteed way of getting a good job, although it certainly helps. Employers now expect more from graduates. In particular, they expect you to have developed a range of skills in addition to the subject-specific knowledge you gain from your degree and – crucially – they expect you to be able to reflect meaningfully on how you acquired these skills and why they are useful. In the Department of Geography we help you to develop these personal and key skills and we give you the tools to help you reflect on them through the Personal Tutorial System, Personal Development Planning, Student Self-Appraisal, Action Plans etc. Employers like to recruit graduates who have ‘joined in’, worked as a team, shown leadership, or spent time travelling and experiencing new situations and cultures – so long as you have learnt something from those experiences. Skills, personal qualities and experiences may be developed both through your academic programme and through extra curricula activities. These all add up to increase your employability – your preparedness for and ability to work. If you are to appear credible to an employer it is vital that you reflect on your skills acquisition at every stage of your degree so that you build up a portfolio of skills and personal development. Employability Employability is broadly about five key areas:

Knowledge and understanding of the subject that you have chosen to study Developing skills, both subject specific and personal and key skills Knowing who you are, being willing to try things out and being able to take responsibility for your own

development and learning Strategic thinking or reflection – thinking about what you have done and how it has helped you develop as a

person, not just doing it! Possessing appropriate personal qualities.

When you apply for jobs at the end of your degree, you will be expected to demonstrate that you have some, if not all, of the skills and attributes set out in the list above. Graduate application forms require you to identify, describe and provide evidence for all of your qualities and skills. It may be that there are gaps in your personal profile – and now is the time to take action, before you reach the job-application stage. For much more information and other web addresses please see the University website:

http://www.exeter.ac.uk/cornwall/campus_facilities_services/careers.shtml The Exeter Award is an achievement award for undergraduate students at the University of Exeter. The Award is designed to enhance the employability of University of Exeter graduates by providing official recognition and evidence of extra-curricular activities and achievements. These include: attendance at skills sessions and training courses, active participation in sporting and musical activities, engagement in work experience and voluntary work. Geography supports this initiative and encourages students to get involved. Full details can be found at:

http://www.exeter.ac.uk/exeteraward/index.shtml

Why not look at the framework for developing your Personal Management Skills? This will help you to think about your own development in the four areas of managing yourself, information, tasks and others. It will also be useful to look at this when you are filling in your self-appraisal form for your Personal Tutorials.