Students have the right to advice and assistance from lecturers and tutors. Strictly speaking, tutors are quite distinct from lecturers, and their function providing students with support are legally recognized.
ETSE has a well-established tutorial system. One of its objectives is to help students settle into the university environment and to overcome any initial difficulties they may encounter, so that they can focus on their academic work.
To respond to their students' need for guidance, ETSE designed, approved and put into practice its Tutorial Action Plan.
Content
What is academic tutoring?
Academic tutoring enables students to have continuous support from a tutor, who aims to respond to all problems and needs related to their university life. Every student has a tutor from the beginning to the end of the degree programme.
What can tutoring be useful for?
Tutoring can help me to:
- Settle down easily at the university, learn which services are available to me and the organizations in which I can take part as a student.
- Improve my decision-making and learn skills and techniques to improve my academic performance, all of which are fundamental to the formulation of my academic and professional project.
How is tutoring organised?
Tutorials can be of two types:
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Small group tutorials: for informative topics where it is necessary to work in a small group to encourage discussion and participation.
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Individual tutorials: when you want to consult your tutor about personal issues. Your tutor can summon you, or you can ask to see him/her when you need to.
You can communicate with your tutor in person or online. For online communication, you can use Moodle E-tutories, which enables you to communicate with your tutor, receive important tutorial information and manage appointments.
Who is my tutor?
Your tutor is a lecturer on your degree programme. At the beginning of each academic year, the student can see who their tutor is in the Moodle tutoring space.
How are students assigned a tutor?
Tutors are assigned when students first enrol at the university and depend on the degree programme they are studying. The assignment of tutors to students is random.
Both students and tutors can ask for a change of tutor by sending a request to the faculty/school's Tutorial Action Plan Coordinator through the Contact mailbox, stating the reasons.
Students have the same tutor from the moment they start a degree course at ETSE until they finish or change their degree, unless the lecturer in question stops working at the faculty/school.
When is it advisable to go to tutorials?
Students can arrange to speak to their tutor at any time during the academic year. Even so, the guidelines of the Tutorial Action Plan point out that the tutor will ask students to do a tutorial at these times:
- At the beginning of the academic year, especially if they are new students, so that they can be helped to get to know the university in general and the degree course they are taking in particular. In the case of new students, this first meeting will take place on Induction Day.
- New students should arrange for a tutorial before the end of the first semester, so that their tutor can monitor how they are developing academically and guide them in terms of their academic performance.
- At the beginning of the second semester, in order to review the academic results of the first semester and guide planning and work in the second semester.
- At the end of the academic year, in order to make an overall assessment of the course and revise the subjects to be done the next year.
Why go to tutorials?
When making decisions it pays to have as much information as possible. In addition to having the point of view of colleagues, it is good to have the point of view of an academic. Tutors are the most academically experienced people on your degree programme and the best able to guide you. In addition, in some specific situations you need to have the approval of your tutor (e.g. to make enrolment changes in the second semester of the first year, for example).
How to arrange an individual tutorial
At certain points in the Tutorial Action Plan, the tutor will get in touch with students to arrange to meet. Whenever students need to, they can get in touch with their tutor, either in person or online to arrange to see each other.
Frequently asked questions
- How and when can I get in touch with my tutor?
You can get in touch with your tutor whenever you need his/her help, preferably via Moodle E-tutories.
- Will he/she take decisions for me?
The tutor will not take any decisions for you. He/she will only bring their experience of previous similar cases to bear and their understanding of the degree and the University.
- What can I discuss with my tutor?
Anything you feel like as long as it has something to do with your studies at ETSE, particularly what worries or concerns you the most, or any situations you may have encountered. Their job is to help you overcome any problems you may have along the way.
- It's very clear to me what I want and what I can do. I don't need a tutor.
Attending tutorials is not compulsory, but it is always interesting to hear the point of view of someone who has more and different experience.
- If I have particular problems in a subject, do I have to go and speak to my tutor?
The first step in these situations (and usually the only one necessary) is to speak directly to the lecturer of the subject in question. You can also contact the head of the degree programme. If you still have problems, you can also talk to your tutor.
- Will my tutor be able to solve any administrative problems I may have?
For problems concerning registration, transcript, examination calls, etc. You should get in touch with the Schools secretariat. They are responsible for all administrative procedures and if they cannot solve your problem, they will advise you how to do so.
- What should I do if I have problems with a lecturer?
If you think you have been treated unfairly by a lecturer (or even by your own tutor) you can contact the school management. The head of the degree programme will listen to you and can act as mediator.
- Will I have the same tutor throughout the degree?
Yes. As long as the lecturer is working at the School, he/she will be your tutor. You will have many lecturers, but your tutor will be the same one until you finish your degree.
- So, my tutor is like my protector?
To defend students' problems, you can elect course delegates and representatives to the School Board, the Department Council and the URV Senate. Make a sensible choice and you will have a good representative.
- Do I need to meet with my tutor as often as you say?
It is highly advisable because you can monitor your whole academic life and get to know each other quite well.
- The tutor may be useful the first year but from then on...
The tutor is certainly very useful when you start university. Having said that, during your degree you will have to make many decisions about mobility, internships, optional subjects, the final degree/master's thesis, etc. You will need the tutor more than ever to give you a hand.