Students and lecturers baffled by online Personal Tutor system

A hazy online Personal Tutor system is replacing students’ Advisor of Studies – to lecturers’ dismay.

The push from management to put everything online is to “increase efficiency” according to Vice-Chancellor Ian Diamond.

But lecturers aren’t supportive of the impersonal move: “We’re in the same boat, we’re grappling with the new system too, and don’t understand why it’s changed.

“The old system worked fine.

“We’re in this together with the students.”

You could now leave uni having never laid eyes on you personal tutor…

Clare, an Archeology student doesn’t see the use in them either: “My guy is in the Geology department and doesn’t really know how to help me with my academics, plus he’s not really sure himself what the whole thing is about.”

Other students are misinformed: “I dunno, they’re the same as the advisors right?”

Teo, in third year of Anthropology, said: “I was still home when my personal tutor meeting was scheduled.

“She said if I ever need her I can meet her – but I don’t need her.”

Stefanie, a third year has been left dealing with the changes at the start of the new year: “I think it is flawed. It creates a missing link for students who have academic enquiries as we don’t know whom to contact.

“The struggle I’m having with the registry office in regards to my honours credits has been just unbearable.”

Confused students trying to get to grips with the system

Freshers who came through in 2012 are those bearing the brunt of the changes.

And this means struggling with changes during their degree to ensure a smoother transition for future students.

Third years are dealing with differences in degree classification and sitting exams before Christmas.

And now Arts students have been told a Personal Tutor, who is not necessarily from the necessary department, will give “pastoral support”.

Drawing on comparisons from Oxbridge, a personal tutor is supposed to be your first point of call when shit hits the fan.

But down South they have a tougher time generally with essays every week, and books coming out of their ears.

But only if you know where you’re going

And here, with fewer essays the biggest stress is making sure you can juggle your part time job and go to one tutorial a week.

Now by scratching the hands-on advisor system, freshers may not know what courses to pick. Grant, a third year PIR student said: “If freshers just pick whatever courses they want they won’t understand the whole pre-requisite thing and they’ll probably make unwise choices.

“It’s helpful to have somebody go through all that with you at your meeting.”

Diamond said: “Students need to be signed up to their courses quickly and this new computer system allows for that.

“If students need support they can go to their personal tutors, who can then lead them to the relevant people whether that be the Students’ Association, or a department of the University.

“This is a much faster way of making sure students are settled in as quickly as possible.

“You can still meet your personal tutor if you want to.”

Sir Ian, stood in an art gallery deciding how best to confuse everyone.