Support to participate in University life

Support to Participate in University Life (SupPUL) is the University of Derby's coordinated, inclusive and supportive response when a student's health, wellbeing or behaviour is impacting on their ability to engage with the requirements, regulations and responsibilities of university life as a whole.

This response is holistic and supportive, and aims to support students to remain and succeed on their course wherever possible. It promotes collaboration between students, staff from all areas of the University and third parties, and ensures the best interests of the student are always considered, with transparency and openness.

Below we have broken down the stages in the process to explore what happens at each stage. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Student Services, or our Support to Study team at SupPUL@derby.ac.uk.

Referral

Referrals into the SupPUL can come from any area of the University, including academic teams, placements, halls of residence and Personal Academic Tutors (PATs). Students can also refer themselves if they feel they need support.

To make a referral complete our form.

Support meetings

There are two levels of Support to Study, and two levels of meetings. Full descriptions can be found in the Policy document, but these are referred to as exploratory and panel.

Exploratory

Exploratory meetings will be held with a member of Student Services, and often a member of a student's college or academic team. Held face to face at the University it is a more informal conversational meeting to discuss concerns, support and next steps.

Panel

Panel meetings follow a more formal procedure, with the Head of Student Services (or nominated deputy), Dean or nominee of the relevant college and may include others from around the University. There will be a pack of statements and evidence supplied by the student and their supporters.

Return to study

This meeting takes place when a student is ready to return to study after a period of illness or a longer break in study. It takes the same format as an exploratory level meeting and looks at the recovery, ongoing care or support and what the University can do to help support the student.

The meetings are designed to be supportive, open and collaborative. Students will be able to bring someone to support them - a family member or a friend, or a member of The Union of Students. Students will be given reasonable time to prepare for a meeting and may be asked to provide statements or medical evidence.

Support from the Union of Students is available to all students, and support may also be available from the University's Student Services Team. It is important students reach out and ask for support when needed.

Initial discussions

Student Services will reach out to the referrer and to the student to have an initial conversation, to make sure the SupPUL process is the right support. They may also reach out to other areas of the University such as halls of residence. They may also ask consent from a student to involve external support such as medical professionals and support workers in order to holistically support the student. At this point a risk assessment may need to be undertaken, and any precautionary action such as a pause in studies while the process continues can be put in place. Communication with the student will remain a priority throughout the whole process.

Support options

Support following the meeting will be dependent on the level of the Support to Study and the discussions in the meeting. The full list of meeting outcomes can be found in the Support to Participate in University Life Policy.

Alongside any of the options support will be offered. Communication will be supportive and compassionate. We want all our students to achieve their best while they are with us, and any outcomes will be decided in the student's best interest within the policy guidelines.

Reviews

Outcomes and action plan points from the SupPUL process will be reviewed jointly with the student and their supporters. It is important that all areas of the University, and external support works together to ensure the student remains well and successful on their University journey. Reviews may take place through further meetings, telephone calls or checking in with the support offered to the Student.

If there are changes to the students condition, the action plan/outcomes are not working for the student or if the student is not engaging with the offered support, further SupPUL meetings at exploratory or panel level may be instigated.

Appeal

A student has the right to appeal to the University regarding decisions at the panel level on one or more of three grounds. The student is also able to appeal to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) once all the Support to Study procedures have been completed. All the review and appeal information can be found in the Support to Participate in University Life Policy document.

Support is available through this process from the Union of Students.