Personal Tutors
In this section
Overview
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. Every member of academic staff has their contact details and office hours available on their staff webpage.
Personal Tutors are academic staff whose key responsibilities in this role are to be an accessible and approachable departmental point of contact, providing responsive academic and routine wellbeing support and guidance to facilitate your learning development and experience. They are also the most obvious person to provide a reference for you for any internships, graduate programmes, or job applications, so it is worthwhile investing time into developing your relationship with your Personal Tutor to support them in writing these references, when the time comes.
Personal Tutors can discuss a variety of things such as: general academic performance, feedback you have received, ideas you might have about study and or employability skills you need to develop, questions you have about the rules and regulations of the department and university, as well as queries about other sources of development and support across the University.
Health and Wellbeing
Your Personal Tutor is not an expert in health and wellbeing issues - which are best discussed with your GP/healthcare provider. The University Support Services (Disability Services, Mental Health, Counselling and Wellbeing) are available on campus, if you need professional support with any issues. Your Personal Tutor’s role here is to signpost you to these specialist services and to discuss with you how to manage any impact issues are having on your academic studies and any adjustments that might be recommended. Once you have met with the specialist services, it is a good idea for you to update your Personal Tutor so they are aware of the support you are receiving.
Subject Specialism
Personal Tutors are not experts in all subject areas within your department or degree course. You should contact module staff for questions about specific module content. Your Personal Tutor may be able to help you identify the most suitable person for you to contact with a specialist academic query, if it is outside of their expertise.
Tutor Assignment
Occasionally a student is reassigned an alternative member of staff as their Personal Tutor. This may be due to staff illness or staff taking up research leave or leaving Warwick. In such circumstances you will receive an e-mail from the Department confirming that your Personal Tutor has changed.
You can ask to change your Personal Tutor but this is an exceptional rather than routine occurrence. If you wish to discuss this possibility, or any difficulties you are having with your Personal Tutor, contact the departmental Senior Tutor in the first instance.
Recording Meetings
After meeting with Personal Tutors, students may if they wish write a brief report via tabula (go to the ‘Personal Tutor’ tab, then click ‘Record Meeting’), which the personal tutor will approve. This encourages students to reflect on the meeting, and to be in charge of the information recorded. Personal Tutors will also record the meetings on Tabula.
Senior Tutors
Each year group has a Senior Tutor. The Department’s Senior Tutor, oversees the Personal Tutoring system in the Department.
The Senior Tutors are experienced members of academic staff and they manage complex issues that Personal Tutors refer to them. They are usually involved with the response to, and management of, mitigating circumstances and reasonable adjustments. They are also involved in absence monitoring as poor attendance is often an early indication of difficulties. Contact your Senior Tutor if you have issues affecting your studying that your Personal Tutor has not responded to or which you do not wish to discuss with your Personal Tutor.
Further Information
See the Student Guide here for further information.