Our tutoring system is here to help you reach your academic and personal goals, while enabling our staff to provide essential learning support to you.
The ongoing partnership between you and your academic tutor or tutor group is designed to help you feel connected to the University community.
It aims to build a lasting sense of belonging and support throughout your course and beyond. This is a personalised and professional relationship where your tutor guides you in developing key graduate skills.
What is academic tutoring?
Academic tutoring is a supportive partnership between you and a member of staff. It is designed to help you:
- Set goals
- build your skills
- succeed during your time at the University and beyond
Through regular conversations, you will get the guidance you need to make the most of your learning journey.
Who is an academic tutor?
When you accept a place to study at York St John University, you will be allocated a named member of academic staff to be your academic tutor. This academic tutor is meant to guide you through your course and support your academic and professional development. Your academic tutor should be your first point of contact if you have any concerns or are experiencing difficulties which directly affect your studies.
It is the role of the academic tutor to provide an ongoing relationship between you and the University, providing practical information about how the University works and the support you need to achieve academic success.
At York St John, academic tutors work collaboratively with our specialist student support services to provide you with information on how to access such specialist support (signposting).
Tutors are also well placed to provide students with general support as they prepare to transition into employment or move on to further study, by writing references and signposting to relevant specialist careers services (Student Opportunities).
Although their principal role is to provide academic support, they can provide a listening ear and a support system for any struggles you have at University within certain boundaries (see below), whether they are personal or academic.
What can my academic tutor help me with?
Here is a list of your academic tutors duties:
- Provides general scheduled support for your academic studies and development during your time at University
- Is available to meet with you 1-on-1 or in groups during your course, as appropriate to level and programme.
- Your academic tutor can refer you into the Student Hub for a variety or services, such as:
- wellbeing
- disability support
- visa advice
- finances
- library skills
- accommodation
- careers and placements
- Is proactive in contacting you regularly, including:
- at the start of your course
- during key moments in your studies
- if you stop attending timetabled teaching sessions without explanation (to listen carefully, to understand why, and to signpost you to other forms of support, where needed)
- Encourages you to think about your personal and career goals, and supports you in building your Employability Profile.
- Writes references of a professional standard to support applications for further study or employment, as agreed with you and within the timeframe requested by employers and Higher Education providers.
- Responds to emails or meeting requests within 2 working days.
- Records every meeting with you on the Engage system.
- Makes it clear to you that whatever information disclosed to them is considered shared with the University, and that some things cannot be kept fully confidential.
- Stays updated with the most current information, in order to provide you with guidance when needed
What your academic tutors cannot do for you
- Provide you with specialised or specific medical / health advice or counselling (for example - academic tutors are not expected to go beyond the boundaries of their roles or expertise in relation to non-academic matters or needs).
- Provide highly detailed specialist academic advice (for example, on particular assignments that you are preparing) or mark work set as part of a module assessment. You should seek input from module tutors for such guidance.
- Be available to support you outside of normal business hours and / or their typical working patterns.
What are my responsibilities as a student?
Here is a list of your responsibilities as a student
1. Take responsibility for resolving problems considerately and ethically, and seek support when you need it, including meeting with your academic tutor (The Student Charter) while you are studying.
2. Respond to requests from your tutor to discuss any unexpected absence from timetabled classes or overall course, so that your situation may be recognised, understood, and relevant support can be put in place.
3. Engage fully in any preparatory activities and come to tutor meetings ready and willing to contribute actively.
4. Support your peers in tutorial groups, engage fully and behave in a professional manner in group tutorial meetings and activities, while remaining mindful at all times of the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries and confidentiality.
5. Keep your appointment with your academic tutors. Make sure you inform them of any unforeseen circumstances or inability to attend a scheduled meeting.
6. Be prepared to discuss academic-related issues with, and provide all relevant information to, your academic tutor when asking for help, so that your tutor can signpost you to the most appropriate support.
7. Update your Employability Profile regularly and share reflections on your personal, academic and professional development, strengths and weaknesses, with your tutor to enable them to write future references.
8. Agree with your academic tutor how the outcomes of tutorial discussions will be taken forward. Follow through on the actions for which you have taken responsibility (including setting goals within Engage or your Employability Profile, as appropriate), and be ready to report back on progress at your next tutorial meeting.
9. Inform your academic tutor, by email, if you have listed them as a reference, so that they know to expect contact from an employer or university and can respond in good time.
Troubleshooting
How can I find out who my academic tutor is?
You can find who your academic tutor is on e-Vision.
- Log into e:Vision
- Your tutor information should be at the bottom of the Home Page
How can I book an appointment with my academic tutor?
To book an appointment with your academic tutor, send them an email and include the reason why you want to meet with them. Also include any helpful information regarding the issues or support you are seeking.
How do I ask my academic tutor for a reference?
Submit a case through the Student Hub online portal to request a reference from your academic tutor.
Can my academic tutor help me with a character reference?
Yes. Providing a character reference for the tutees is part of the academic tutor role. But there might be times when this might not be possible (such as, suitability to work with children or in high-security settings). Academic tutors can only provide references based on the information available in e-Vision.