ELECTIONS - Northumbria Students Union - Northumbria University

LIGHT RELIEF Academic Advice
Hi Kim ,
I’m living in Halls. Recently my fl atmate set off the fi re
alarm after a night out. Now we’re all being charged for
the fi re service call-out. Surely this is unfair; I was in bed
asleep at the time.
Alistair
Dear Alistair,
The University charges a fi xed £65 for “activating the fi re
alarm without reasonable cause (including not attending to
food being cooked at all times)” (Student Regulations Section
3 Appendix 4: Standard Fines 8). However, you can appeal
if you can show it wasn’t your fault – book an appointment
with me in The Base to discuss this. In the meantime, let your
fl atmate know that interfering deliberately with fi re safety
equipment isn’t only a Northumbria disciplinary matter– it’s
also a criminal off ence and the University can involve the
police.
Kim
22 nu:life
If you have an academic problem
you would like to discuss with me
just shoot an email to su.advice@
northumbria.ac.uk and I will be back
in touch with you within 48 hours.
Alternatively pop to the base
information desk on the ground fl oor
and the staff will arrange a good
meeting time for us.
Or Pop in and see me at Coach Lane
10-11am on Wednesdays!
Acdemic
Advice
Academic Problems Large or Small, Our
Kim can fi x them all!
Kim Buff ery is your Education Caseworker
who ensures you are always well
represented with academic issues.
Hi Kim,
I was out on the weekend and my mate was involved in
a fi ght. It was nothing too serious - nobody was really
hurt - but the Police were involved and we were all taken
in for questioning. I was given a verbal caution for being
drunk and disorderly, but the offi cer told me not to
worry, as it was only a minor thing. The trouble is, I’m on a
professional programme at Coach Lane - should I tell my
lecturers? I don’t see the point in all this hassle when I’ve
got assessments to be getting on with and, as the offi cer
said himself, it’s not really a big deal.
Kate
Hi Kate,
In short - you absolutely must come clean with your Guidance
Tutor. A range of programmes that lead to professional
registration, including Teaching, Nursing and other Allied
Health Professionals, have strict Codes of Conduct which
state that you have to be honest about any involvement with
the police at all. Once you’ve informed the Guidance Tutor,
you will probably have to attend a Professional Suitability
Board where a decision will be made on whether you can
continue on the programme. The University’s diffi culty is that,
even with a very minor caution, it can be diffi cult for them to
arrange a placement for you if there’s anything at all on your
CRB. This doesn’t have to be the end of your University career
– you can sometimes get a place on a diff erent programme
and enrol on a qualifying Postgraduate programme once the
caution’s spent - and it will be viewed much more severely if
you don’t declare it now. If you do have to go to a Board, we
can help you present your case - arrange an appointment
with me at The Base to discuss or pop in to see me on
Wednesdays between 10.00-11.00am at the SU Coach Lane.
Kim