Student Support
You said: "We want to stay safe when we are out and about in Southampton.”
We've updated our Portal pages, delivered a Safety campaign on Facebook and worked with the Police to produce a new welcome video for students in 2012/13.
You said "We've been running up debts with payday loans .“
We did a Love Your Money Campaign focusing on the pitfalls of Payday loans.
You said: “I find Inspiration mind-mapping/visual planning software to be one of the most useful pieces of software available in the Assistive Technology Centres (ATCs)."
As a result at the start of 2012/13 this was made freely available to students via the Portal providing a valuable learning resource for all students.
You said : "We want clearer guidelines on cancelling appointments (Access Solent)."
We have listened and introduced a new cancellation process in 2013.
You said: "We would like a more open, modern Students 1st Centre."
We redeveloped the centre for the start of September 2011 including providing more space and new furniture.
You said: "We are not sure how and where to access the student support services."
We responded taking our services directly to you including visiting you in your halls of residence, and undertaking a campus walkabout.
You said: "We want you to be more accessible."
We responded by setting up an online chat service.
You said: "We are waiting too long for a counselling appointment."
We have responded this term by significantly reducing waiting time.
You said: "It is sometimes difficult to secure an appointment with the Access Solent disability service."
We have responded by increasing staffing, extending the service at Warsash, and by moving and redeveloping the Access Solent enquiry desk and extending the opening hours from 20 to 39 hours per week.
You said: “We need more support when arranging a payment plan.”
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We have worked on our payment plan options for students who encounter financial difficulty, and have improved our flexibility in this area.
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We have worked on communication with students in a number of areas utilising text messages, the portal and the university screens to deliver important messages to students using the most appropriate and effective methods. We are looking at general e-mails for specific messages which should be out this month.
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To make it easier to pay, we are developing an online payment service which should be up and running later this year.
You said: “I was incorrectly chased and sanctioned for a debt.”
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The Income Team have reviewed student sponsor invoicing procedures and put measures in place to ensure fewer errors are made in this area.
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The Income Team has improved the way it works with the Student Loan Company in identifying students with student loans.
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The Income Team has developed a new query system which takes student charges with a legitimate query out of the collection cycle until resolved.