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GUIDANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS

Please keep checking this webpage for the latest announcements from the College, Staffordshire University, BTEC Pearson, the Government and from the Student Loans Company. This information will be updated as we receive it.

Message for Students who have been offered a Conditional or Unconditional place on a Higher Education Course at Riverside College

  • If you are progressing onto a Higher Education course at Riverside College, it is important that you continue to work towards achieving your course entry requirements. Keeping up to date with your studies is very important.
    Studies show that students who stop learning actually slip back when learning stops. That’s why we would strongly encourage you to keep on track.
  • If you are currently working towards meeting an Higher Education course entry requirement, the assignments that you have already submitted as part of your current study and those you continue to submit, plus any modular exams already completed, may form an increasing element of your final grade if exams are confirmed as been cancelled and so it is important that you continue to submit work.
  • Please do not let the current circumstances affect your ambitions and progress into Higher Education at Riverside College. Continuing to study is not only good for your own well-being, but keeps you focused on your career aspirations and goals.

We look forward to you joining our Higher Education Community.

Message for our current Higher Education students

  • During this period of transition from face-to-face to remote teaching and learning, the College is working closely with partners and government agencies (e.g. the Office for Students and Student Finance England) to ensure that no Higher Education student is disadvantaged.
  • All Higher Education teaching, learning and assessment activities at Riverside College will now be delivered remotely. Your teachers will be in contact with you regarding the arrangements for this.
  • For those Higher Education students following Staffordshire University programmes, the University is currently developing and implementing flexible plans to ensure that assessments can proceed as planned. We will be in contact with you regarding any changes to assessment (if required).
  • You may currently be undertaking a module of study which has an element of practice learning/placement for example Counselling practice placement or teaching experience. Where this is the case you may have already been able to complete or be part way through completing your practice learning/placement hours. If you are not able to complete your practice learning/placement in the current academic year this will not disadvantage you from meeting course requirements, learning outcomes and progression of your programme.
  • For practice learning/placement queries, please contact your course tutors.
  • Please be aware that the Staffordshire University Summer Graduation ceremony (Monday 13 July) is postponed and will now be held in Autumn 2020.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact your course tutors, Helen London, or Kerry Hulme

Keeping up to date with your studies

  • These are challenging times and we appreciate that the inevitable disruption caused by the national response to COVID-19 will impact on your study patterns. However, it is really important that you continue with your learning. Through remote learning and close communication with your course tutors, the College will provide every opportunity for you to continue with and complete your studies.
  • For those students studying on a Staffordshire University awarded programme, the University has announced a 2-week (10 working days) extension to assignment deadlines. Your course tutors will have already messaged you to inform you of this decision.
  • For all Higher Education programmes, it is important that you continue with your assignments as directed by your tutors. Whether you are on the first year, the second or third year of a course, it is essential that you continue with your assignments and keep on track ahead of the next year of your course or progression onto a top-up degree/into employment. Studies show that students who stop learning actually slip back when learning stops. Please don’t let this happen to you.
  • As a Higher Education student studying at Kingsway or Cronton, you are part of the Riverside College community, and though this remains the same, your social interaction with friends and tutors is now different. Keeping engaged with the Higher Education community through your remote learning and supporting your own development is recommended for your own well-being. It also keeps you on track to achieving your qualification and career aspirations.
  • Teaching, learning, assessment and support for Higher Education programmes will now continue on a remote learning basis using SOLAR or Microsoft Teams. In addition, Staffordshire University students with access to their Blackboard VLE and on-line library and can continue to access and use these resources. Pearson Higher National students can also access Pearson HN Global.
  • College tutors will provide support via College Email or Microsoft Teams.
  • You should not attend placement (even if this is a mandatory part of your course). This would undermine the Government’s social distance strategy.
  • Please continue to submit your assignments in the usual way and you will receive feedback in the usual way.
  • Please be assured that the College is working closely with awarding bodies and will advise you of any developments as these become known.

In the meantime, we strongly encourage you to continue to progress through your programme developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours you need for your future.