Introduction to the Academic Course - Handbook

INTRODUCTION TO THE ACADEMIC COURSE

The Academic Year

Tackling Academic Work

• Bourner T. and Race P. How to Win as a Part Time Student: a study skills guide London: Kogan Page, 1990
• Hulcoop L. Practical Essay Writing for Students of Theology and Biblical Studies Lancing: Paraclete 2001 - available from WEMTC
• Northledge A. The Good Study Guide Milton Keynes: The Open University, 1991
• Roberts S and Muir D. The Distance Learner: A Travel Guide for Christians Studying Theology Nottingham: St John's Extension Studies, 1994.

The core staff are always available for advice. Readers and Ordinands should consult their pastoral tutors over specific issues. Extra Study Skills sessions will be run on request - so please ask if you are interested.

'Plan your work and work your plan' is a simple and profitable approach to the Course. The assignments have been evenly spread throughout the year as far as possible. However you alone know your particular commitments and it pays to plan ahead so that you will be able to meet the due dates for assignments.

Each taught module consists of twenty class hours and the equivalent of two 2000 word assignments (although some subjects are assessed by alternative means such as presentations and participation exercises). In addition students are expected to do preparatory reading for some evening sessions. It is expected that ministerial students will give a total of 12-15 hours per week to the WEMTC course. Readers and Certificate students are expected to spend a couple of hours per week on class preparation and around 25 hours per assignment.

When it comes to background reading, a little and often is a good policy, but for assignment writing you may prefer to set aside a larger chunk of time at regular intervals.

The Diploma

The Certificate

Accredited Prior Learning (APL)

Course Requirements

Missed Classes & Modules

1. Evening Classes. Students are expected to arrange for a colleague to collect handouts and/or arrange photocopying of notes. Where possible the class tutor should be notified of the absence.
2. Whole Modules. Where a whole or substantially a whole module is inevitably missed then it is not usually possible for the student to be credited with that module. Independent students need only eight of the nine modules and therefore may be excused one module. Reader and Foundation students should talk to their core staff member about the implications of dropping a module and ways of fulfilling the missed subject. Diploma students need to complete all modules for the Diploma and Ordination and should talk to their Core Staff member to make arrangements for an alternative means of fulfilling the module.
3. Weekend Residentials. (Ordinands, Readers and Foundation Students) Weekend Residentials fulfil part of the module requirements for S1, C1 and the placements and therefore indirectly carry credits. They are an important part of the training and full attendance is expected. In the case of unavoidable absence please notify your core staff member as soon as possible and arrange a conversation to discuss alternatives. It is expected that students will attend the weekend in the following years of training but if this is not possible an appropriate equivalent to the weekend's work will be found.
4. Long Residential (Ordinands and Foundation Students) A Long Residential is not only a full module in its own right but an essential part of the ministerial/ vocational preparation. Missing an Easter School is therefore a serious gap in the WEMTC training. If missing the module is unavoidable then you may be asked to return to complete it as a condition of ordination. In some cases a similar module at another Theological College may be substituted.
5. Placements If it is not possible to undertake a placement at the set time arrangements should be made with your Core Staff member and the tutor responsible for the placement to be carried out as soon as possible

ASSIGNMENTS

Writing Assignments

• Full details of the assignments should be given in the first session of the subject. More detail concerning assessment criteria can be found in the Course Documents in the Library, which are available on request from core staff members.
• Written assignments must comply with the WEMTC Style Guide in this handbook and include a bibliography and in most cases footnoted references. Plagiarism is viewed as a serious offence by the University.
• Work should conform within a 10% margin to the word length specified by the assignment (e.g. for a 2000 word assignment your work should be between 1800 and 2200 words). No credit will be given for work substantially in excess of this and indeed penalties may be given. Sticking to the word limit helps you to learn to be succinct and to pick out only the relevant points for your argument. Footnotes should be excluded from your word count but quotations should be included.
• The assignment question should be written out in full at the top of the first page. The most common reason for low marks is a failure to answer the set question. Keeping the question before you will help you to remain on track
• Assignments must be submitted in written or printed form (typing or word processing is helpful but not necessary). Due to a spate of virus attacks, and compatibility problems electronic submission of assignments is not acceptable except by prior arrangement.

Handing in Work for Assessment

• All assignments should be placed in a plastic wallet together with a completed assignment cover sheet available from the Core staff (or photocopy the one in the Handbook). An electronic format is available on request - please do NOT create your own cover sheet.
• Assignments should be handed to the Core staff member at your Centre (Keith Crouch at Ludlow, Mike Parsons orJane Kenchington at Cheltenham, Elizabeth Harper at Bristol) or sent to the Cheltenham Office by the due date. Please do not hand your assignment directly to the tutor.
• Please make sure you keep a copy of all assignments handed in.

Assignment Deadlines

• Assignments are due in to the Core Staff member on the dates listed on the Assignment Due Dates sheet in the Handbook
• If for any reason you are unable to meet the due date you need to notify the core staff member, using the Extension Request Form at least a week before the date, to see if an extension is possible. The request must include a new proposed deadline. Staff recognise that, as part-time students, you have a large number of demands on your time and it is not always possible to meet the deadlines. Requests for extensions, which provide a realistic reorganisation of the due date, will therefore be viewed sympathetically and one piece of work may be carried over into the summer holidays for those not wishing to complete this year. However it is strongly recommended that you keep up with the work and complete each term's assignments before the start of the next term. All work must be completed before the commencement of the following year. Late assignments will have a low marking priority. For third year students wishing to get the Diploma or Certificate, all work must be received by the July deadline.

On Return of Assignments

• Academic Tutors will endeavour to return assignments within four weeks of the due date. Please be patient when they occasionally have heavy schedules and large quantities of marking. Assignments handed in late cannot be guaranteed a four-week turn around.
• Core staff members will select a sample of each module for cross marking to ensure that there is consistency of standard. The mark that appears on your cover sheet will be an agreed mark between the marker and the core staff member if your assignment has been cross marked.
• After assignments are returned you have an opportunity to respond to the marker's comments on the cover sheet. Ordinands and Readers should photocopy the completed coversheet to give to their pastoral tutor for discussion.
• From time to time tutors will be offering a date for assignment discussion after the assignments are returned. If these are not offered or you are unable to attend please take the initiative and contact the Tutor directly. If you are unhappy with a mark you should talk firstly with a Core Staff member and then directly with the Tutor.
• All assignments must be kept in a safe place until required for external marking towards the end of the year. Marks awarded are provisional and subject to reassessment by the external examiner and the end of year Examiner's Board

Assessment