► Work Based & Placement Students

Bucks Students’ Union loves Work Based and Placement Students

Advice, support and guidance from our Advice Centre on issues ranging from funding to appeals

The Advice Centre listens and support students on accommodation, legal issues, personal problems, money advice, international problems and course problems.

The Welfare Advisors use experience and knowledge on student issues to influence University thinking to help create a positive impact on your time at Bucks.

We understand that students on placements may have different needs from other students whether it’s finding extra funding for transport, short term accommodation issues or child care problems we can work with you and support you to help you find solutions.

The advice centre appreciates that students studying at partner colleges may have different needs to those studying at the main campus’ but whether its

Please feel free to contact any of us if you are experiencing any problems, all advice Centre staff operate within a confidentiality policy

Julia Crooks or Kirti Soni
High Wycombe Campus
Ground Floor, North Wing
email: suadvice@bucks.ac.uk
Tel: 01494 605038 (direct)
01494 603016 (reception)

Kay Corden or Susie Kelsey
Uxbridge Campus
First Floor
email: suadvice@bucks.ac.uk
Tel: 01494 605181 (direct)
01494 605180 (reception)

Conducting research into the experience of work based and placement students to develop a detailed insight into their concerns

Bucks Students Union is currently undertaking some research into the experience of students who have a high proportion of placements as part of their course.

We are holding focus groups and taking data from surveys to build an in-depth picture of the main issues that our students face while they are away on placement.

We will then use this information to work with the University to put right these issues. If you would like to be involved in this project or would like to contact us about your placement experience contact gemma.heath@bucks.ac.uk or tom.foy@bucks.ac.uk. 

A campaign to improve online learning resources, including WebEx and Blackboard, led by Vice President Laz Wood

With more and more work and lectures being put online via blackboard and WebEx we understand that some students are concerned about the quality of the content that they are receiving.

Led by Vice President Laz Wood Bucks Students Union is campaigning to make sure that content on blackboard is the most up-to-date and relevant information possible and that content is of high quality both visually and audibly. We will also be lobbying for WebEx & Blackboard content is regularly audited to make sure that old and out dated information is taken off and the quality of presentations and literature is assured.

If you would like to talk to us about Blackboard, WebEx or any other form of e-learning please contact tom.foy@bucks.ac.uk.

A new Union led feedback initiative that enables students studying off campus to submit their thoughts and issues electronically

The Union are aware that it can be difficult for certain students, and student groups, to provide feedback on the positive and negative aspects of their experience. As a Union however we are equally committed to faithfully representing you and striving to make your time at Bucks as positive as possible. With that in mind we are developing new mechanisms to enable you to provide us with feedback. Work Based and Placement students can now submit positive experiences and issues of concern through this online form which can be found by clicking here. 

A Union Roadshow around placements to allow students to speak to a Union Representative whilst they are on placement

Bucks Students’ Union are currently organising a series of visits to placement partners across the University.

We are going to be holding stalls or meetings with students on placement to find out if there are any issues you’d like us to take up on your behalf or if you have any questions for us about what the Students Union can offer you whilst out on placement.

For more information about when the next road show is being held contact tom.foy@bucks.ac.uk. 

A campaign to have time spent working as a Student Rep counted as placement hours being led by Laz Wood

We understand that courses with high placement content can be very time consuming and financially draining.

We feel that you still should have the ability to provide feedback on your course and improve it for yourselves and other classmates. That is why we are committed to campaigning to get time spent as a student rep counted as placement hours so you can attend committee meetings and help improve your course, knowing that it won’t add any extra burden on your time.

If you would like more information on becoming a Student Rep please contact tom.foy@bucks.ac.uk (S&H) or amy.mclaughlan@bucks.ac.uk (DMM).

A campaign to revise the Fitness to Practice Policy for Nursing led by President Ash Coles

Over the last few years we have seen a number of students attending fitness to practice panels due to academic misconduct. For those of you that don’t know if you are sent to a fitness to practice panel they don’t decide on whether you are fit and proper to be able to carry on studying on your course but whether you are fit to continue in your chosen profession.

This means that if you are deemed to have committed and academic offence you may go to a fitness to practice panel and not just be kicked off the course but kicked out of your chosen career whether that’s nursing, social work or any professional course.

Here at Bucks Students’ Union we understand the importance that students on professional courses act in the most responsible manner due to the importance of their future career. We also believe that sometimes students make mistakes for instance if you’re returning to study after years of work and are unaware of the rules or have merely not referenced correctly.

This is why we think that only the most serious cases of misconduct should be reviewed. We will be campaigning to make sure that the fitness to practice regulations are fair for all students.

If you would like more information on this work please contact tom.foy@bucks.ac.uk.