Tutor Request Form

It is recommended that before completing this form you familiarise yourself with the information below.

Tutorial Timetable - Semester 1 2009

Overview

Jane Franklin Hall is first and foremost an academic residential community. By choosing to come together to share in the challenges and joys of learning, there is an expectation that residents consciously focus on their intellectual development. While residents must take responsibility for their studies, the College aims to provide a superior learning environment which nurtures and supports academic enquiry. As such, there is an expectation that individual residents will participate to the fullest extent possible in the Academic Development Programme (ADP).

The College’s Academic Development Programme is a comprehensive support and development programme. It includes:

·      academic mentoring: in which each student is offered the chance to work with a tutor through organised tutorials or other forms of contact.

·      skills sessions: in which the generic academic skills necessary for a successful approach to study life at university are discussed and explored.

·      academic seminars: in which expert speakers engage with students on a range of topics of relevance to their scholarly and professional development.

·      self-help activities: through the formation of peer support groups which may meet on a regular or occasional basis, and which can access resources through the ADP Coordinator.

The ADP is a non-compulsory programme. This places the responsibility for involvement in Jane’s academic activities on the students themselves.

In moving to a non-compulsory programme, it has not been the intention of the College to treat the ADP as an ‘option’. On the contrary, the College has an implicit mandate to enhance and support academic success and to maintain and nurture an academic culture. This culture anticipates that all members of the Jane community – residents, fellows and staff – share in the learning process.

This expectation is held with the understanding that participation will enrich the individual student and, just as importantly, will enrich fellow students in an environment of mutual academic support.

The ADP Coordinator is Michael Scanlan  michael.scanlan@utas.edu.au

Tutors

The Academic Development Programme employs University staff, postgraduates and senior undergraduates. The tutors are a resource to mentor and facilitate your academic development and to support and stimulate a learning environment in which you can obtain specific assistance in meeting the various intellectual demands made upon you.

Tutors provide an important role model for residents. Each tutor is responsible for a small group of students from their own discipline, providing subject level support for students in particular disciplines, and supporting the formation of study groups. They use their own initiative in facilitating sessions, encouraging students to mutually support one another with academic tasks, and otherwise organising and monitoring the progress of study groups, meeting with them at negotiated and scheduled times.

Tutors contact all residents studying in their particular disciplines with a view to determining appropriate forms of support and negotiating contact times. ADP contact sessions (tutorials) are arranged in an effort to accommodate as many students as possible. Study groups and consultations are generally held in the evenings so as to avoid clashes with University and other commitments.

In addition to assisting with specific disciplines, tutors assist with general learning skills. It is anticipated that general assistance will be offered in the areas of:

·      study skills

·      time management

·      stress management

·      essay writing skills

·      writing laboratory reports

·      preparing for tutorial presentations

·      skills for extending your grades, i.e., fail > pass; pass > credit; credit > distinction, etc.

·      other generic academic skills training

·      English language (for international students)

Peer Support in the Jane Community

As a member of a residential community of students, you have a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge about the academic issues you are engaging with, or the course related problems you are encountering. You can collaborate with fellow residents in a variety of ways, from discussing ideas, or sharing perspectives on essays and assignments in which you are mutually engaged, to just simply becoming more intellectually aware of the people with whom you are studying at the university. 

Peers also provide another excellent source of academic support: advice on curricular issues, perspectives on lecturers, shared preparation for assignment and examinations, and much more – information that cannot be found from other course resources made available to you. Through the ADP and in other ways, your peers can become a mutual support group, enriching and enhancing what is offered in University tutorials and providing small group encounters where you can valuably network your understanding with other students.

Networking with Fellows

Jane has a valuable network of Fellows of the College who, along with other senior members of the Jane community form a Senior Common Room (SCR). The SCR provides an ongoing meeting place for the Fellows and College residents (as their guests). Through the SCR and other avenues of contact, Jane provides the opportunity for its residents to learn and network with professionally and academically experienced people. Contact between the Fellows and residents can open up an invaluable mentoring opportunity through which specific advice can be shared about ways to develop academically and professionally.

Jane also maintains a Visiting Fellows programme. Visiting Fellows reside within the Jane community for a period of time and provide a variety of small group or other contact opportunities for Jane residents. Past Visiting fellows are detailed at the Visiting Fellows tab on the Jane website.

Helping with the transition to University

The transition from school to university can be difficult; university life is very different to school and residents are often living away from home for the first time. At Jane, residents experience similar challenges together, often while doing the same courses. The commonality of experience allows for mutual support from fellow residents. Through the ADP, students specifically benefit from an exposure to other students at the same and different levels of study in their respective disciplines.

Infrastructure Support

JFH has developed a range of infrastructural resources which are important to its residents. High speed broadband internet to each resident’s room are provided as part of the UTAS network. This connection gives access to all online resources accessible on the UTAS network, including UTAS course resources placed on WebCt Vista.

JFH maintains a useful library with selected reference resources. The library also includes up to date computing facilities, free internet, and printing and photocopying facilities maintained as part of the UTAS network. These facilities are in line with the University’s library IT facilities and include EFTPOS facilities so that residents can add credit to their photocopy/printing card.

Accessing the College Academic Development Programme

·      submit an online request for tutorial assistance here: tutorrequestform

·      check the College noticeboard(s) for scheduled ADP events.

·      if your academic need is met by the scheduled support session, contact the relevant tutor (or ADP Coordinator to confirm your intention to attend that session.

·      if your support need is not met by existing provisions in the programme, contact the relevant Tutor or the ADP Coordinator to discuss your needs and the resources of the ADP.

·      the ADP Coordinator can also provide referral assistance for support which may be available outside the ADP.

·      the ADP Coordinator can also assist with other support matters such as when a student may be considering applying for special consideration in relation to any aspect of their course requirements.

Tutors' Contact Details

For enquiries about other disciplines contact michael.scanlan@utas.edu.au