STUDENT HANDBOOK 2021/2022 - Bridgend College
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WELCOME CONTENTS YOUR DETAILS Thank you for choosing to study with Bridgend 5 OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY Contact us How to log on to your student IT account College. This Student Handbook contains lots of 6 CORE SKILLS It’s important that we have your correct contact If you are a returning student to the College, useful information that you’ll need as you begin details so we can contact you in the event of an your details have not been changed and are the 8 STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES your studies. It will also be helpful throughout emergency. same as last year. the year, so please keep your copy safe. 10 SUPPORT FOR YOU 18 GET INVOLVED If you move house, change your telephone If you are new to Bridgend College, please use The way we are currently operating as a college 20 BC CONNECT number or email address, please update us by the following as your password: has changed slightly due to the COVID-19 dropping into Student Services: 22 CYFLEOEDD pandemic. Therefore, some of the services or Monday - Thursday 8.30am - 5.00pm The first three letters of your surname with an initiatives contained in this handbook may be 24 SUCCESS CENTRES Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm uppercase first letter, followed by a six-digit temporarily affected. All up-to-date information 26 DIGITAL version of your date of birth in the following can be found on our website and the student 28 WELSH LANGUAGE If you have any questions, call 01656 302 302 format: DDMMYY portal. We encourage you to regularly check your or email: hello@bridgend.ac.uk 30 ENTERPRISE emails for updates, and to take guidance from Example: your Personal Tutor and teaching staff. 32 CATERING SERVICES Surname Smith DOB 13/05/02 34 TOTUM CARD Your password would be: Smi130502 If you have any questions, please get in touch 36 FINANCIAL SUPPORT using the contact details opposite. Free wifi is available across our campuses. 39 REPORTING ABSENCE We wish you all the very best as you begin your 40 GOVERNORS journey at Bridgend College. 41 IMPORTANT DATES 2 3
OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY We want you to feel safe and part of our community at Bridgend College. Our Student Citizenship Code sets out our commitment to you and what we expect from you in return. We expect all students to fulfil our learning behaviours: Be Ready Be Respectful Be Safe Please take some time to read our Citizenship Code; it includes important guidance on the use of social media and IT, and our behaviour expectations. It is important that you make the most of every learning opportunity during your time at Bridgend College so that you can achieve your potential and progress. We expect your attendance to be at 95% or above. Smoking or vaping is not permitted on any of our campuses apart from in our designated smoking areas. 4 5
CORE SKILLS Cymraeg Welsh This skill is about using, applying and developing your Welsh language skills by never missing an opportunity (in college, the workplace, on placement or socially) to communicate in Welsh at the level you feel most confident. At Bridgend College, we have identified 9 Core Skills - you will use them when learning, in employment as well as more broadly as part of your day-to-day life. This can involve creating something new, original or unusual by broadening your mindset. We are committed to developing these core skills to ensure you are ready for your next steps. This can happen inside or outside of the classroom. This may be university, work, an apprenticeship, setting up your own business or progressing to a higher level course at college. Meddwl yn Feirniadol a Datrys Problemau This skill involves reflective thinking, and working through details of a problem to reach a solution. This can be an individual process or working with others. This is the ability to read, write, speak and listen in a way that lets us communicate effectively and helps us to make sense of the world. Personal effectiveness means making use of all the resources you have at your disposal (i.e. your talents, strengths, skills, energy and time) to enable you to achieve work and personal goals. This is the ability to use numbers and solve problems. It includes having the confidence and skill to use numbers and maths in all aspects of life. Planning and organisation help you set your priorities and will give you the confidence that you are following your own personal roadmap to your target destination. This skill is about knowledge, skill, attitudes and behaviours in the use of digital devices. Digital literacy includes learning how to find, sort, evaluate, manage, and create information in a digital format. Gweithredu dros This is about caring for people and the environment so that they can flourish together. It is Gynaliadwyedd about taking active steps to protect the world in which we live. It means acting responsibly Action for Sustainability to reduce our environmental impact, and to protect our planet for ourselves and for future generations. 6 7
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES Bridgend College podcasts Tune into our very own podcast to find out more about life at Bridgend College. Our podcasts cover a range of topics, from digital wellbeing to student services, so check us out on the platforms Enrichment below - simply search ‘Bridgend College’. Students can get involved in a variety of educational and social events and activities throughout the year. This is in addition to attending training, learning new skills and gaining wider experiences whilst studying at College. We work with a range of local and national organisations and charities who can help you to be all that you can be. Societies We encourage and support students to setup and run their own societies to support the interests of others across the College. These provide opportunities to meet new people and share common interests. Annual awards ceremony Each year we celebrate the successes and achievements of our students. High achieving and inspirational individuals are recognised for their commitment and success. WorldSkills UK As a student at Bridgend College, we will encourage you to develop and excel in your vocational studies and provide opportunities for you to compete in regional and national skills competitions. 8 9
SUPPORT FOR YOU Personal Tutor Childcare Transport You will be assigned a Personal Tutor who will We have a modern, Bus passes are provided to all students aged be part of your course teaching team. Your purpose-built day 16-18 who live 3 miles or more from their Personal Tutor will meet with you to check your nursery on our campus of study. Passes are provided by progress, set personal and academic targets Bridgend campus. the College on behalf of the following local and help you achieve your goals. If you have a child aged between 6 weeks and 5 authorities: years, you can apply for a place at the nursery. We may be able to support with the cost of • Bridgend County Borough Council Additional Learning Needs (ALN) childcare. Please speak to a member of the • Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council If you have a learning difficulty, a disability or a Student Services Team for more information or • Vale of Glamorgan County Borough Council medical condition, you may require additional visit: bridgendcollegedaynursery.co.uk learning provision at college. If you think you Applicants from other local authority areas will may have an additional learning need (ALN) Young carers need to contact Student Services for specific and you haven’t already told us about this on advice. your application, please get in touch with the We know that looking after other family members ALN Team, so we can make sure that we can is a huge commitment. We have some great Students aged 19+ may be eligible for either provide the right support for you, based on an opportunities for students who are in care, care a bus pass on one of our contract routes or to assessment of your individual needs. Contact: leavers or those who look after someone else. claim expenses (for public transport only). 01656 302 302 ext. 335/664 Don’t be afraid to talk to us or ask for help via: aln@bridgend ac.uk wellbeing@bridgend.ac.uk bridgend.ac.uk/aln 10 11
SUPPORT FOR YOU Student Wellbeing Team In the life of every student, there comes a time when some advice and extra support is needed Student experience to perhaps solve a problem that is not going Students can be involved in a variety of different peer support groups and activities at Bridgend away, or to get some advice so you can make the College. Our Active Wellbeing Lead and Student Engagement Leads enable students to setup best decision for yourself. Across all campuses, groups throughout the College, for example, GRL Society (female empowerment group), BC Pride our students can make an appointment or drop and The Cinema. We also organise cross-college physical activities like the Cycling Society, table in to meet with a Student Wellbeing Officer. tennis tournaments and Mile a Day. We offer workshops for students to support You can be involved in events such as our Freshers’ Fair, Wellbeing Festival, the annual Hope Walk them to develop and build their personal skills, and various other awareness raising events and activities. Come and join in! confidence, self-esteem and self-care skills, and to help them understand how and when to ask Follow the Bridgend College Student Experience Team on social media to find out the latest for help. information and events: You can find our Student Wellbeing Officers in the Student Wellbeing Hubs at Bridgend and Facebook: BCStudentExp Instagram: @BCStudentExp Pencoed Campuses. We have drop-in sessions Twitter: @BCStudentExp Website: www.tiny.cc/bcstudentexp every day between 12 and 2pm. Bridgend Campus A Block, Room A1:09 Pencoed Campus The Old House, OH0:12 12 13
SUPPORT FOR YOU Period dignity At the beginning of 2020, we launched a brand new, sustainable initiative in a bid Bridgend College works with the charity to tackle period poverty in the community. Wings Cymru to support those in need of Funded by the Welsh Government and in free sanitary products. You can find out partnership with Silly Panda and Wings where the sanitary stations are and how to Cymru, the scheme is an eco-friendly, access them on the student portal. innovative approach to promote period dignity by giving students at the College If you need free sanitary products we have access to sustainable solutions to both staff and students who are ‘Wings sanitary products and breaking the stigma Ambassadors’. Look out for someone surrounding periods. wearing a ‘Wings’ badge. Bridgend College is proud to be the first college in Wales to provide FREE eco-friendly packs to students. For more information, contact the Student Wellbeing Team: wellbeing@bridgend.ac.uk 14 15
SUPPORT FOR YOU Safeguarding We want our college to be a safe environment to learn and develop. You can help us by wearing your college lanyard and ID card at all times, telling us if you are concerned or worried about something or someone else, and being mindful of your own behaviour and conduct. We are committed to safeguarding our students against radicalisation and extremism. If you have concerns about anyone displaying a change in behaviour, changes in dress, if someone has extremist literature or advocates extremist ideals, please tell us in the Student Wellbeing Team. You can identify a member of the Student Wellbeing Team by their purple top or lanyard. If you or someone you know is at risk of harm, please speak to a member of staff or contact: wellbeing@bridgend.ac.uk 01656 302 302 ext. 488 The Student Wellbeing Team is based in the Wellbeing Hubs at Bridgend and Pencoed campuses (see page 13 for further details). 16 17
GET INVOLVED There are many benefits of being involved in Learner Voice roles. Students can gain new skills Bridgend College Ambassadors such as communication, problem solving, negotiation and leadership, and receive a certificate for Event Ambassador the successful completion of the role which can enhance their CV. Being a Bridgend College Event Ambassador is a fantastic way to get involved in student life. You Learner Voice Roles will have great opportunities to support college events, including our Open Evenings, Freshers’ Fair, awards evening and fundraising events. Student Academic Representative (StAR) StARs are students selected by their peers to represent them on their course in Active Ambassador Learner Voice meetings. StARs help make sure the voices of students are heard and In this role, you have the opportunity to promote physical activity across college and work with feed back to the Class Representative on the outcomes of the Learner Voice meetings. our Active Wellbeing Lead to organise and attend a variety of activities including laser tag, zorb football, yoga, table tennis tournaments and many more. There is also the opportunity to develop Class Representative your own activity, attend training and lead group sessions. Class Representatives feed back to the StAR, sharing their opinions about their learning experiences to enable the StAR to represent their peers in the Learner Voice Welsh Ambassador meetings with the College’s Senior Leadership Team. By being a Welsh Ambassador you will help to promote the Welsh language throughout the College and the wider community. It will give you a fantastic opportunity to represent both Bridgend ‘Your Voice’ College and Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol at a number of events, and to earn some extra money at ‘Your Voice’ helps us to improve your experience with us at Bridgend College. If the same time! You will work alongside the Student Engagement Leads to organise and facilitate you have an idea, a compliment or you think there is something we could improve, events while ensuring you promote the Welsh language in the process. please let us know! You can email us at: yourvoice@bridgend.ac.uk or visit: bridgend.ac.uk/your-voice 18 19
BC CONNECT Month Focus Date and time Engagement activities Thursday 28 October 2021 For parents, guardians and carers October Resources available to support learning 11am - 12pm and 6 - 7pm We have an exciting new opportunity for parents, guardians and carers of our students to meet Academic support Tuesday 23 November 2021 with support teams on a monthly basis via Google Meet to discuss the information and support November Welsh opportunities 11am - 12pm and 6 - 7pm available at the College. The sessions follow key points throughout the academic year, providing information that would be most useful at those times. Welcome back Wednesday 26 January 2022 January Support available 11am - 12pm and 6 - 7pm Please share this information with your parent, guardian or carer or ask them to visit Thursday 24 February 2022 bridgend.ac.uk/bcconnect to find out more. February Entrepreneurship opportunities 11am - 12pm and 6 - 7pm Next steps Tuesday 22 March 2022 March Future pathways (career/progression advice) 11am - 12pm and 6 - 7pm Month Focus Date and time Exams and academic pressure Wednesday 27 April 2022 Transition to College April Workload and deadlines 11am - 12pm and 6 - 7pm Introduction to campus Tuesday 24 August 2021 August Volunteering and employment opportunities Thursday 26 May 2022 Learning support 11am - 12pm and 6 - 7pm May Welsh opportunities Active wellbeing 11am - 12pm and 6 - 7pm Finance and transport queries Tuesday 21 June 2022 June Course completion and summer plans IT systems Wednesday 22 September 2021 11am - 12pm and 6 - 7pm September Safeguarding our students and Esafe 11am - 12pm and 6 - 7pm Wednesday 20 July 2022 July Application and enrolment information Settling in 11am - 12pm and 6 - 7pm 20 21
Cyfleoedd, meaning ‘opportunities’, is our College careers hub, which is an innovative and collaborative workspace that enables students and employers to connect. We work with students and employers to enhance careers education, promote work-related opportunities and enable talent pipelines to business. Cyfleoedd builds upon our wider College mission statement, enabling our students to ‘be all that they can be’ by preparing and supporting them to achieve, progress and gain meaningful paid career opportunities. Our careers team is able to support you with: • Careers advice and guidance • Searching for paid and voluntary opportunities • University and employment options or applications • Employer mentoring • Mock interviews • Building your CV • Work placements For more information, visit: cyfleoedd.co.uk 22 23
SUCCESS CENTRES The College Success Centres provide students with a welcoming environment for learning. You will find books, graphic novels, magazines, DVDs and a range of electronic resources to help you with your studies and assignments. There are also computer facilities, including Macs and Chromebooks and study areas, along with friendly and knowledgeable staff who can help you with resource finding, printing, photocopying, binding and proofreading assignments. You can email the Success Centre Team at bsc@bridgend.ac.uk or find them on Twitter and Instagram: @successcentres @successcentresbc Students can also access MyCirqa, our free Library App, and visit our Google Site. Success Centre, Bridgend Campus 24 25
DIGITAL BRIDGEND COLLEGE APP Get connected • Be the first to receive updates on student opportunities • Access wellbeing and support information • View your timetable Den01 is a dedicated innovation space at Bridgend College, aimed at providing training, workshops • See your assignment schedules and personal targets and taster sessions for students on all things technology. This includes a Tech Club, Gaming Club, Google Support drop-in sessions and Student Digital Champion opportunities, using state of the art equipment such as VR headsets, 3D printers, gaming laptops and robotics. To login for the first time, just use your student email address and password! Download our app by searching For more information on upcoming courses or to contact the team at Den01, ‘Bridgend College’ on the App Store. Available on Android visit bridgend.ac.uk/den01 or find them on the student portal. and Apple devices. Student Digital Champion opportunities As a Student Digital Champion, you will have the chance to develop and test new technological initiatives at the College. These could include virtual reality, 3D printing, 360° filming, vlogging, podcasting, programming, robotics, drones and more. You will also have the opportunity to create cutting-edge digital content for current and future learners and receive support towards achieving a nationally recognised digital certification. 26 27
WELSH LANGUAGE Whether you’re a fluent Welsh speaker or a learner, we would like to encourage you to use as much Welsh as possible in college. To help you find other Welsh speaking students and staff, we use the Cymraeg Gwaith (Work Welsh) orange symbol on our lanyards, as shown opposite. If you We are committed to delivering a bilingual student experience and we strive to fulfil our duties attended a Welsh-medium school or if you feel happy to communicate in Welsh, you’ll be offered under The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 and the Welsh Language Standards. one of these lanyards when you enrol. We use similar lanyards for staff, so when you see the orange symbol, please feel free to speak to that person in Welsh. As a student, you have rights as part of these standards to have the following: • Letters in Welsh We also have a Student Engagement Lead and a team of Welsh Ambassadors sponsored by the • Student Handbook in Welsh Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, who are here to help and support you to continue using your Welsh • Prospectus in Welsh whilst you are at college. • Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor • Counselling service in Welsh • Meetings in Welsh • Certificates in Welsh • Forms in Welsh Plus you can submit written work in Welsh (this will depend on the examining body) and apply for financial support in Welsh. We have a range of Welsh activities running throughout the year, so keep an eye out on our student portal, Student Experience site and the digital screens around our campuses for details. 28 29
ENTERPRISE Students Chloe Carter and Vanessa Hall set up their own business, ‘Because Animals Are Worthwhile’ Support for starting your own business Why did you set up your own business? We wanted to use our skills to be a part of the solution and not the problem in animal welfare and If you would like to work for yourself, either now or sometime in the future, there is a whole range the environment. of support available to you. What did you do to start a business while you were studying? Whether you would like to be a freelancer, start your own business, become self-employed or just Our business was originally an idea thought up during a project management module within have an idea for a product or service you’d like to explore further, help is at hand. Some of the our HND Equine Studies course. We then decided to set up as an official business that trades services you can access completely free of charge include: sustainable products. We received lots of support from Ruth, the College’s Entrepreneurship Officer, who signposted us to a number of virtual events and workshops. We also attended the 5 - 9 • Informal one-to-one meetings/virtual meetings for advice, guidance and signposting with Club, a mentoring and networking club for entrepreneurs created by Welsh ICE, where we learned Ruth Rowe, Entrepreneurship Officer at Bridgend College how to pitch our idea and about finance and social media. • Business advice and mentoring from Big Ideas Wales or Business Wales What are your future plans for the business? • Workshops and seminars at a variety of locations, including Bridgend College campuses With all the support and mentorship, the future can take us • Online workshops anywhere. To be a household name would be the ultimate win. • Business bootcamp What advice would you give to entrepreneurs? To find out more or to make an appointment, please Seek and accept all the help you can. Have faith, keep focused and call or email Ruth on: follow your passion. 01656 302 302 ext. 237 | rrowe@bridgend.ac.uk Chloe was recently crowned Welsh ICE’s ‘Rising Star of the Year’. or make contact via the Cyfleoedd website: To find out more about Chloe and Vanessa’s journey, visit: baaww.org cyfleoedd.co.uk 30 31
CATERING SERVICES HYDRATION STATIONS Free breakfast and free fruit Wednesday With your free Bridgend College water bottle, you can access water from our hydration stations across our campuses. Every single student studying at Bridgend College is able to receive a free breakfast, served between 8.15 and 9.30am. Look out for our breakfast stations in Bridgend, Pencoed and Queens We are committed to reducing the use of single-use plastic Road refectories. across all our campuses. Help us to become a more sustainable organisation by using your free water bottle You can also help yourself to free fruit every Wednesday at Bridgend and Pencoed campus whenever possible. reception areas. Here’s some useful information about our catering outlets: • A range of hot meals and hot and cold snack deals are available at each of our campuses. We also serve hot and cold drinks, fruit and sweet treats • You can pay by card at all of our food outlets, with no minimum spend required • Theme days are often run in our refectories, offering a variety of different foods from around Don’t forget to bring your the world water bottle into College with you! • Our Coffee Shops serve a range of hot drinks and hot and cold snacks, including paninis, pastries and cakes 32 33
TOTUM CARD Who doesn’t love a discount? Sign up for a TOTUM card and receive over 300 fantastic discounts for just £14.99 a year, including: • 10% off at Co-op • 15% off at lookfantastic • 20% off at Virgin Experience Days • 25% off Odeon tickets • 30% off at Pizza Express • Up to 40% off at Garmin • Amazon Prime Student 6 month free trial Sign-up online at totum.com or at Student Services. 34 35
FINANCIAL SUPPORT During your time at Bridgend College, you may be eligible for financial support to help with the Welsh Government Learning Grants (WGLG) costs of studying. Access to financial support will depend on your household income along with If you are 19 years or older and studying on a full-time course, you could get up to £1,500 or up to some other factors. £750 for a part-time course, depending on your household income. Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) You can apply for a WGLG if all of the following apply to you: EMA is a weekly payment to support 16-18 year olds with the costs of studying. Payments are made • You are aged 19 or over on the first day of the academic year (1st September) directly to your bank account every two weeks providing you have met the attendance requirements. • You meet the nationality and residency requirements EMA will not affect any other benefit payments you or your family already receive. • You live in Wales • You live in a household with an income of £18,370 or less You can apply for EMA if all of the following apply to you: • You are studying and/or progressing on an eligible further education course • You usually live in Wales • You are studying on a course which is more than 275 hours of study across the academic year • You are aged 16-18 • You are studying at college for a minimum of 12 hours each week and your course is approved by Please note: any of the criteria outlined in the financial support section is subject to change. For the Department for Education and Skills more information on EMA and WGLG or to download an application pack, visit: • You meet the nationality and residency requirements studentfinancewales.co.uk/FE • You live in a household with an income of either £20,817 or less OR £23,077 or less and there is more than one young person who qualifies for Child Benefit in the household Application packs are also available for collection at reception on all our campuses. For more information or to apply, visit: studentfinancewales.co.uk/EMA 36 37
Financial Contingency Fund (FCF) The FCF is open to all full-time students and is a limited fund. FCF can support students with REPORTING some of the cost of childcare, lunch, course equipment, cost of travel or a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Eligibility for FCF is dependent on your household income. ABSENCE We expect all students to maintain at least 95% Travel costs: FCF can help towards the cost of a bus pass or expenses, dependent on your age and attendance, but we understand that there are where you travel from. times when you may be unwell. Childcare costs: you may receive a maximum allocation of £31 per day of attendance towards the It’s important that you let us know if you’re costs of childcare fees, for one child only. You may use the Bridgend College Day Nursery, or a unwell or unable to come to college. registered childminder or nursery. Please contact us and let us know before the Course-related costs: FCF can help towards the cost of essential equipment for your course. start of the college day, your name, student ID number, reason for absence and when you Meal subsidy: if you’re 16-18, and either you or your parents/guardian are in receipt of eligible expect to be back at college: benefits you can receive a daily meal allowance to the value of £3.50 per day. bridgend.ac.uk/absence absence@bridgend.ac.uk For more information or to apply for the FCF, visit: bridgend.ac.uk/student-services 01656 302 302 Attendance will affect payments of any financial support you receive from the College (EMA, WGLG, FCF). Please note, all information and eligibility is correct at time of print but is subject to change. 38 39
GOVERNORS TERM DATES Bridgend College Board of Governors Induction Tuesday 31 August - Friday 3 September 2021 The Governing Body oversees the strategic direction, educational character and mission of the Term One Monday 6 September - Friday 22 October 2021 College and is responsible for ensuring that resources are used efficiently and effectively. There are currently 20 members of the Governing Body, who come from a variety of backgrounds and Half Term Monday 25 October - Friday 29 October 2021 bring a diverse range of skills and experience with them. The important distinction between the Governing Body and the leadership of the College is that the Governing Body ensures that the Term One Monday 1 November - Friday 17 December 2021 College does the right things, for the right people in the right way. Put simply, governance ensures, End of Term Monday 20 December - Friday 31 December 2021 leadership/management does. To find out more, visit: bridgend.ac.uk/governor Term Two Tuesday 4 January - Friday 18 February 2022 Student governors Half Term Monday 21 February - Friday 25 February 2022 Two student governors are elected annually to sit on the Governing Body in an election open to all students. Student governors are not elected to Term Two Monday 28 February - Friday 8 April 2022 ‘represent’ students; they are appointed in their own right as individuals. Student governors are actively encouraged to participate in meetings, End of Term Monday 11 April - Friday 22 April 2022 using their knowledge and experience as students of the College and the Term Three Monday 25 April - Friday 27 May 2022 communities in which they live to help shape discussions and decisions that will directly affect both current and future students. Student Half Term Monday 30 May - Friday 3 June 2022 governors provide a perspective that no other governor can give. For information about becoming a student governor or to apply, visit: Term Three Monday 6 June - Friday 24 June 2022 bridgend.ac.uk/governor or email: wellbeing@bridgend.ac.uk Please see page 42 for closure dates. 40 41
CLOSURE DAYS (No students in College) Tuesday 7 December 2021 Thursday 16 and Friday 17 December 2021 Wednesday 2 February 2022 Tuesday 15 March 2022 Thursday 23 and Friday 24 June 2022 IMPORTANT DATES Monday 8 - Friday 12 November 2021 Global Entrepreneurship Week Wednesday 26 January 2022 UCAS Deadline Please note: all information contained within this handbook is correct at the time of print, but is subject to change. For the latest information, visit bridgend.ac.uk, the URLs contained within this handbook, student portal or speak with your Personal Tutor. 42
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