Library, Computing and Media Services

The Resources Centre at Plumpton provides general work areas, quiet study areas and a library. Books, journals, magazines, newspapers, videos, computers, a scanner and photocopier are available. HE students also have borrowing rights at the University of Brighton Libraries as well as access (but not borrowing rights) to the University of Sussex Library.

Student Support

Each student at Plumpton is allocated a Tutor whose role is to guide and support you through your course. Full-time students can expect to receive at least one individual tutorial per term and part-time students one individual tutorial per year. In these tutorials, your academic progress will be discussed and a written record kept. This is used as a means of tracking your progress. Welfare and financial issues can also be discussed. Sometimes help from the Tutor can make all the difference to the outcome of your studies. You don’t need to wait for your Tutor to ask to see you for your tutorial; you are welcome to drop in at any time if you have any concerns at all about your course.

Childcare

Childcare is available for FE students & for HE students through the University’s nurseries, which are open 45 weeks of the year.

College Chaplain

There are many problems associated with student life to which religion can make a positive contribution and the Chaplain is available to help in whatever way he can. This is an ecumenical service which can provide care and support for any denomination or faith. Furthermore, the Chaplain can provide this service for those with no religious beliefs if requested.

Counselling

Counselling is provided for the times when college life, for whatever reason, becomes difficult. All of us experience problems at some times in our lives. We may feel confused, stressed and alone. Difficulties come in many forms: sometimes they can emerge from a personal crisis; sometimes from a stage of development in our lives. Often our problems can affect our work or studies.

Many people are unsure about what is bothering them when they come for counselling. For instance, there may be a feeling of depression, of being overwhelmed, or of things generally not feeling quite right. The counsellor will try to help you identify the cause of the feelings, and if you wish, to work through the difficulties and if possible, resolve them.

Many other people come to counselling with a specific problem in mind, a few examples being bereavement or loss, a relationship problem, or worries about their studies or job. The counsellor will help you to talk through these problems with the aim of clearer understanding and developing your ability to cope.

It could be that you are finding academic life is causing you concern or despair, or that, on a purely personal level, you need someone to talk things over with. The main thing to realise is that you are not alone with your worries. The University has its own Counselling Service for students, and counsellors are available at all the main sites. Free, confidential counselling at the University is offered to all Plumpton College Higher Education students and it is often quicker to utilise this service than wait to be referred by a GP.

Disability support

Plumpton College is committed to ensuring that barriers to disabled students’ success at the College are removed as far as is possible. We believe that every student should have an equal opportunity to acquire knowledge and prove their ability.

The University of Brighton has a Disability & Dyslexia team which co-ordinates support for HE students who declare a disability or a specific learning difficulty and you can be referred direct to the team via your College Development Tutor. There is support available in the following areas:

• Specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia
• Mobility difficulties
• Hearing impairments
• Visual impairments
• Mental health difficulties
• Other disabilities and long-term medical conditions

If you have a disability (such as dyslexia) or a medical condition which may have implications for your time at college, it is vital that you discuss this with your Tutor so we can ensure that reasonable adjustments can be made on your behalf.

Sporting Life

The College has a well equipped sports hall, which is also used by the local community, and provides an excellent training venue. There are facilities for 5-a-side football, netball, badminton, cricket, basketball, volleyball, hockey, and indoor tennis. The recently introduced climbing wall has also been a popular addition to the college facilities.

These facilities are supported by our well maintained sports field, which includes two hard tennis courts, football, rugby and cricket pitches. Regular coaching and practice sessions are held for interested students. The College runs several successful sports teams including football (men’s and women’s), rugby, netball, mixed hockey, mixed rounders, cricket and stoolball. Wednesday afternoons are designated sports periods where students can enjoy taking part in any activities you enjoy, or representing the various teams in fixtures against other colleges.

The College also has its own Multi-Gym on-site which caters for most exercise needs. Rowing machines, resistance machines, free weights and treadmill are just a few of the available features within the gym. This facility is open to students and staff and is available for use after a short induction conducted by our own qualified instructor.

The extensive estate is also available for kayaking, mountain biking or just going for a walk to enjoy the countryside.

Student Services Team

The Student Services Office is situated in the main corridor, next to the Common Room and is open from 8.30 am to 5pm. This office provides:

• Bus tickets for all the College bus services.
• First aid. If necessary they will rush you to A&E!
• Room allocation in the hostel accommodation on site. Over the summer period they also organise listings of local accommodation and lodgings and can offer advice to people seeking accommodation in the area.
• Sports clubs
• Social events at the College. They generally hold two or three events per week.

UoB Students’ Union

The University of Brighton Students’ Union (UBSU) provides a wide range of services and facilities including: entertainment, sports, societies and a student advice centre. You can obtain a copy of the Students’ Union handbook upon your
arrival. The handbook is available when you join the Students’ Union and collect your Students’ Union card. Alternatively, the handbook is also available in pdf format from the Union’s website www.ubsu.net The Students’ Union welcomes you to the University of Brighton and hopes you have an enjoyable time here. For further information, please contact your nearest Students’ Union office or the website www.ubsu.net

Student Charter

This charter reflects the national education requirements. Its aim is to meet the needs of those people who can benefit from vocational education and training in the land based industries.

Plumpton College welcomes you as a student. Plumpton College students have a number of entitlements which are:

• Equality of opportunity
• Access to impartial and informed careers advice
• Access to a qualified academic tutor to assess and accredit prior experiences and learning
• Clear and accurate information on fees, programmes, qualifications, entry requirements, College facilities and financial support
• Provision of appropriate physical resources for the requirements of the programme of study selected
• Suitable qualified and experienced staff
• An induction to the College and chosen programme of study.
• A system of tutorial support, both academic and pastoral.
• Provision of appropriate teaching, learning and assessment opportunities, experiences and strategies.
• Regular information on progress and achievement.
• Access to learning support.
• Opportunities to be involved with the evaluation of selected programme of study.
• Access to reliable and impartial educational and career guidance
• A formal statement of outcomes achieved (credit accumulation) during the programme of study selected
• Access to individual, confidential and independent guidance and counselling through a choice of appropriately qualified professionals
• Access to a range of College facilities for social and recreational use.
• Access to formalised College complaints and academic appeals procedures.

All are available through, and incorporated within, a caring, friendly and safe College environment. The College aims to enrich the life of its student community by enabling each one to reach his/her full potential. The College provides a wide range of support facilities in order that students can achieve their personal objectives. Plumpton’s commitment to this support begins at the point of initial enquiry, is maintained throughout the chosen programme and continues for many years after the programme is completed, for example through involvement with the Old Plumptonians Association.
 

Careers information, advice and guidance

The University of Brighton Careers Centre provides information, advice and guidance for HE students at Plumpton College. Information can be accessed at the four Careers Centres across the main university sites and a small, general HE careers section, which includes information about CV and letter writing, making applications and finding vacancies, is maintained in the library at Plumpton. More detailed information relating to careers in industries such as veterinary and animal care, wine and the environment can be found on our website www.brighton.ac.uk/careers

Advice and guidance interviews can be arranged at Plumpton. Contact careers@brighton.ac.uk if you would like to arrange an appointment. The Careers Centre services are available to graduates of the University of Brighton up to a year after graduation.