Academic
Your current Academic and Library Rep is Alexander Blackwell.
Student charter
As a result of the JCR Academic Review and negotiations with the Senior Tutor and the Governing Body's Academic Committee, the JCR has received a set of guarantees about tutors' responsibilities towards us as students. Some of these guarantees confirm existing guidelines which have not been rigorously enforced, and other elements have been adopted at the suggestion of JCR members.
What you can expect
- Essays and/or problem sheets either marked or properly commented on.
- A meeting with tutors and/or a written report about your progress over the course of the term. The Governing Body has promised to ensure that tutors adhere more closely to these guidelines.
- Tutorial questionnaires. These can be completed confidentially, and give you the chance to communicate back to the College on good and bad experiences with your tutors. The JCR has been successful in making these questionnaires a termly rather than yearly exercise, so that you have more opportunity to raise any specific problems you may have. You can usually get a hard copy from the lodge, or it will be emailed to you.
- Collections: these exams are usually set in 0th week of most terms, and tutors should mark and return these promptly, with some comment on how you have done and how you can improve.
- A Principal's Collection, where you will receive formal reports on your general progress in front of the Principal and Senior Tutor.
What is expected of you
Whilst we as students have been given these guarantees, the Governing Body's Academic Committee emphasise that similarly there are requirements from you, which are outlined in the Blue Book.
- Attendance at tutorials and proper preparation for them as laid down by tutors is an absolute obligation.
- Obligations for University teaching must also be met.
- Attendance at collections is compulsory.
- Poor or unsatisfactory performance will be treated as a matter of very serious concern. If persistent, this could lead to the withdrawal of your place.
Dealing with problems
If you have problems with work, always make sure you raise them quickly, as something can always be done to solve them. This will save you much undue pressure and anxiety.
- The first port of call if you are having problems with your work should be your tutor, who is best placed to deal effectively with difficulties. You may however feel uncomfortable approaching your tutor, in which case there are various alternative people available to speak to:
- The organising tutor for your specific subject.
- The Senior Tutor, Dr Simon Smith (simon.smith@bnc.ox.ac.uk).
- The other specially-appointed tutors, such as the Adviser to Women Students, Dr Anne Edwards
- The Academic Rep or JCR President, who if you'd prefer can speak to tutors or the senior tutor on your behalf.
- There is a lot more information about academic matters in the Blue Book. If you have any further concerns, or would like more information, please see the Academic Rep