Expectations
Warwick Community: Our Community Values and Expectations
At Warwick, we value our diverse and international community, the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge and research with real impact. We nurture intellectual challenge and rational, rigorous debate. We want to support our students and each other to become critical thinkers and collaborative yet independent learners – individuals with a global and sustainable outlook, who are able to make an active and positive contribution to society.
At the same time, we are committed to working towards a supportive, accessible and inclusive environment within which all members of our community can successfully learn, work, live and socialise. We uphold the importance not only of freedom of thought and expression, but also the significance of academic and personal integrity, equality and diversity, and mutual respect and consideration for the rights, safety and dignity of all. We place great importance on the responsible behaviour of both our students and staff at Warwick. It is important for you, as a student, to have an idea of Warwick’s core values and an understanding of the primary expectations of student members of the Warwick community.
We subscribe to Warwick's Community Values Education Programme which includes the Active Bystander course.
Take a look at the following to help you understand what this means for you:
What is expected of Students at Warwick which summarises key expectations for students and signposts to associated support: https://warwick.ac.uk/students/studentbehaviour
Equal Opportunities Statement, setting the value we place on maintaining an inclusive environment where all can contribute and reach their full potential: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/equalops
Dignity at Warwick Policy, setting out how our differences are respected and valued and how we aim to prevent and address harassment and bullying: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/equalops/dignityatwarwick
University Strategy, which sets our vision as a world-class university and our values: https://warwick.ac.uk/about/strategy
University Calendar, the main ‘rule book’ and includes ordinances and regulations which you need to be aware of, including examinations, cheating, use of computing facilities and behaviour. As a History student at the University of Warwick, you are part of a vibrant and diverse community that is ambitious, passionate about learning, proactive and takes advantage of the many opportunities available to them, academically and socially. Your knowledge, values and aspirations are built into our teaching and learning approach. We’ll work as partners and co-creators so that your education is the very best and you gain maximum benefit from your time here: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/gov/calendar
In order to ensure that this partnership is successful, each party has to undertake to fulfil certain responsibilities and abide by certain codes of conduct. Warwick Student Community Statement sets out the mutual aspirations and expectations of members of the University in fostering a high-quality experience and enhancing the vibrant, welcoming, and yet challenging, Warwick community to which we all belong: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/aro/dar/quality/categories/wscs
What We Expect From You
The University’s Regulation 36 governs students’ registration, attendance and progress. The following is an extract from the Regulation:
- Students are expected to engage fully with their course of study, take responsibility for their own learning and co-operate with their department and wider University as members of the University community. Students must comply with the requirements for their course as set out by the department.
- Students are expected to inform departments of any health problems, changes in circumstances or other difficulties that may affect their progress. If a student fails to inform the department, these circumstances cannot be taken into account.
- Students may be required by the Head of Department to meet with staff in the department. Students may also be required to meet with administrative staff in the wider University.
- If a student’s progress or behaviour persistently fails to meet the expectations set out in this Regulation and departmental course requirements, the Head of Department may recommend to a Continuation of Registration Committee that the student be required to withdraw (under section 36.4.4).
Cyber Bullying and the Use of Social Networking Sites
Cyberbullying is a term used to refer to bullying through electronic media, usually via social networking sites, personal web pages, emails, Twitter, text messages, personal space provided by internet providers, and internet presence including social networking sites such as Facebook and Instagram, and all other social media whether private, personal or public. In using all social media or posting online all staff and students should consider the content, language and appropriateness of such communications.
The following guidance is relevant for both students and staff in relation to online behaviour:
Avoid using language which would be deemed to be offensive, threatening or humiliating to others in a face-to-face setting as the impact on an individual may be much the same or worse as it may not be possible to delete online information
- Avoid forming or joining an online group that isolates or victimises fellow students or colleagues
- Ensure that social networking sites are not used to access or share illegal content
- Avoid defamatory comments in relation to employees, students, customers or suppliers of the University
- Do not share confidential information regarding a University employee, student, customer or supplier.
Staff and students are encouraged to report incidences of inappropriate online behaviour. If alleged cyberbullying or harassment is reported it will be dealt with in accordance with this policy and may lead to disciplinary action in the same way as incidents that take place in a face-to-face setting.
Staff and students should ensure they comply with the University’s regulations governing the use of University computing facilities at https://warwick.ac.uk/services/gov/calendar/section2/regulations/computing
Expectations and Department Information
Student Voice
The Department of History actively seeks feedback from our students about how we are doing and how we can improve. If you would like to give feedback, share an idea or make a complaint, there are several ways you can do this. Please see our Student Voice website for further information:
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/history/students/studentvoice
Student Staff Liaison Committees (SSLCs)
The SSLC is an elected body made up of student course representatives and academic members of staff to discuss any issues or concerns raised by students. Issues raised during SSLC meetings are reported first to the Education Committee and then to the relevant staff committee where the issues can be addressed. All responses are reported back to the SSLC. For more information about the SSLC and to find your course representative, click below:
Undergraduate SSLCPostgraduate SSLC
Personal Tutors
All students are assigned a Personal Tutor. For joint degree students, the Personal Tutor may be based in either of their two departments, but students may also meet with the Joint Degree Coordinator of the other department to discuss subject-specific issues. Details of your personal Tutor may be found via your Tabula profile page.
All students should meet regularly with their Personal Tutor to discuss their academic progress. Throughout the year, the Personal Tutors are available to discuss any queries about academic, personal or general matters. If a student is experiencing any problems, their Personal Tutor is the first person they should go to. Every member of academic staff has their contact details and office hours available on their staff webpage.
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/history/people/
It is sometimes necessary for a student's Personal Tutor to be swapped to an alternative member of staff, often due to staff taking up research leave or general staff turnover, and usually taking place during the summer vacation. In such circumstances, the student will receive an e-mail from the Department confirming that their Personal Tutor has changed. Students are entitled to change their Personal Tutor at any stage and should direct their request to the Academic Administrator.
Personal Tutoring at Warwick - A Quick 3 Step Guide for Students
Communication
The atmosphere in the Department is friendly and informal and it is usually very easy to meet with individual members of staff. All academic staff post their ‘office hours’ on their office doors and on their staff webpages, specifying regular times when they will be available for student enquiries. You can also set up appointments at other times by emailing them.
Students should note that the University & department will ONLY contact you via your University e-mail address. Please be sure to check your e-mails on a regular basis so that you do not miss any important communications. To update your address please do so via the student record online page. Sign in to this page as usual and select ‘Student Records’ from the ‘My Data’ link on the left-hand menu.
Undergraduate students have pigeonholes which are located in the foyer outside room H305 and postgraduate students have pigeonholes located in the foyer outside room H342. Personal post should NOT be sent to the department but to your term-time address. Items posted to the department will be returned to the sender. Academic members of staff have clear plastic pigeonholes located outside their offices, and part-time seminar tutors have folders located with student pigeon holes. You can also keep up to date with what is happening in the Department of History by following:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WarwickHistory/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/@warwickhistory
The History Society
With over 800 members, Warwick’s History Society (HistSoc) is one of the largest and best-known societies on campus renowned for its socials, ball, tour, incredibly popular sports teams and impressive academic support! Socials are a big part of their identity with termly HistSoc nights out on and off-campus. They look to support their members academically through essay workshops, module fairs, guest speakers and the newly developed mentor scheme.
https://www.warwicksu.com/societies/historySoc/https://histsocwarwick.co.uk/
Reading Weeks
Week 6 in Terms 1 and 2 is designated as a ‘Reading Week’ and no classes run in that week. The point of these weeks is to allow students more free time to research and read for their assignments and essays, and to allow academic staff to stay in touch with their own research and to conduct more intensive teaching preparation. Most academic staff will not be in the Department during these weeks and if you need to make urgent contact with them you should do this via e-mail in the first instance.