POLICY: Academic Experience Policies - Learning Resources and Facilities Policy POLICY URL: https://lsi-ac.uk/policy/a10ace32-4120-4114-8656-bc0b9762e0df POLICY STATEMENT: The School is committed to providing outstanding learning resources and facilities that enhance academic success and support all members of our community. Our Learning Resources and Facilities Policy ensures the provision of modern, accessible tools and spaces, including our Automated Governance System (AGS), knowledge graphs, AI-based learning, and online academic resources. This policy supports continuous improvement in our educational environment. POLICY PRINCIPLES: ------------------ - Accessibility : Ensuring learning resources and facilities are accessible to all students, staff, and faculty; - Quality : Providing high-quality resources and facilities that meet the academic needs of the community; - Advancement : Continually updating and advancing resources to align with technological and educational developments; - Sustainability : Promoting sustainable practices in the management and use of learning resources and facilities; - Equity : Offering equitable access to resources and facilities across all user groups; - Diversity : Catering to a diverse range of learning preferences and requirements through varied resources and facilities; - Innovation : Fostering an environment that encourages innovation and creative use of learning resources; - Safety : Maintaining a safe and secure atmosphere within all learning facilities; - Culture : Nurturing a culture of respect and shared responsibility for learning resources and communal spaces; - Support : Providing technical support and assistance for optimal use of learning resources and facilities; - Feedback : Actively seeking and responding to feedback for the enhancement of services and facilities; - Continuous Review : Regularly assessing the relevance and effectiveness of resources and facilities to support academic achievement. REGULATORY CONTEXT: ------------------ This Policy has been developed in line with the applicable laws, regulations, regulatory advice, and sector best practices, including the following: R1. Quality Assurance Agency (QAA): Advice - Enabling Student Achievement - R2. Office for Students (OfS): Sector-recognised standards - The standards set with regards to B5 and B8 of the OfS' conditions of registration for higher education institutions. R3. Office for Students (OfS): Regulatory framework for higher education in England - This framework outlines OfS' primary aim to ensure positive outcomes for students, including access, success, and progress in higher education. It covers quality academic experience, progress into employment, and value for money. R4. Quality Assurance Agency (QAA): Advice - Learning and Teaching - R5. Quality Assurance Agency (QAA): The Quality Code - This code represents a shared understanding of quality practice across the UK higher education sector, protecting public and student interests and championing the UK's reputation for quality. R6. Quality Assurance Agency (QAA): Advice - Course Design and Development - METRICS: ------------------ The following metrics will be measured and regularly reviewed as performance indicators for the School to ensure the effectiveness of this policy and associated operations: M1. Access Time for Digital Resources: Measure the average time taken for students to access digital learning resources (e.g., AGS, online journals) from login to usage. Assesses the efficiency and user-friendliness of digital systems. M2. Resource Utilisation Rate: Track the percentage of available learning resources (e.g., library books, digital tools) that are actively used by students each semester. Indicates how well resources are integrated into student learning. M3. Student Engagement in Workshops and Events: Calculate the average number of students attending workshops, events, and training sessions per term. Measures the effectiveness of events in engaging students with available resources. M4. Student Satisfaction with Resources: Measure the percentage of students rating their satisfaction with resources as 'satisfactory' or above in annual surveys. Reflects overall effectiveness of resources in meeting student needs. M5. Timeliness of Career Support Services: Track the average response time to career support requests and appointments. Ensures that career support services are timely and responsive. SECTION 1: Integrated Learning Support Services ------------------ 1.1. Comprehensive Student Support and Wellbeing: The School is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive community where staff and students work together to help students reach their full potential. Our approach integrates wellbeing, learning support, mental health, and Personal Academic Tutoring to ensure students thrive academically and personally. These aspects are reviewed during programme approval and strategic planning by the Executive Committee. The Student Support and Wellbeing Policy outlines the resources and facilities available to students, including:; Physical Site; Digital Resources, Automated Governance System (AGS), and Academic Resources; Community and Peers; Careers Support; Student Wellbeing Team; Mental Health Support; For a detailed overview of the School’s student support offerings, please refer to the Student Support and Wellbeing Policy; This rule ensures that the School’s focus on student development is clear and that all aspects of student support are integrated into programme approval and strategic decisions. It also provides a structured list of resources available to students, emphasising our commitment to their overall success and wellbeing. SECTION 2: School Building and Facilities ------------------ 2.1. Facilities and Event Management (by Director of Operations): The School site includes a stage, computer labs, teaching rooms, and social spaces. The School organises various events to facilitate academic and social interactions among students; These facilities and events support students' academic engagement and social integration, enhancing their overall educational experience. 2.2. Oversight of Physical Site Access (by Director of Operations): The School provides a physical site where students can meet with staff and peers. The Director of Operations oversees the management and use of this site; This ensures that the physical site is properly managed and accessible, facilitating effective interaction between students and staff while maintaining operational oversight. 2.3. Access and Use of School Facilities: Students may use the School site for meetings, socialising with peers, and attending School-organised events; This rule ensures that students have access to the School's facilities for academic, social, and event-related activities, supporting their overall engagement and experience. 2.4. Staff Availability and Student Visits: Certain staff, including the Director of Education, are permanently based on-site. Students may schedule one-to-one meetings with staff, including programme and module leaders, subject to their availability; This rule facilitates direct interaction between students and key staff members, enhancing support and communication while ensuring that staff availability is clearly communicated. 2.5. Facilities and Resources at the School Site (by Director of Operations): The School site provides private study spaces, computer labs with access to study materials via the Automated Governance System (AGS), and AV-equipped rooms for group work. Bookings for AV rooms must be made through the Director of Operations, who manages the booking process. The School also offers printing and scanning facilities. Blended live sessions can be attended in person or online, and some assessments, including exams and presentations, are conducted on-site; This rule ensures students have access to essential study resources and facilities while clearly outlining the booking procedures and available options for attending sessions and completing assessments. 2.6. Student Recreation and Catering Facilities (by Director of Operations): The site offers games, recreation, and catering facilities for students; This rule ensures students have access to leisure and dining options, enhancing their overall experience and well-being on campus. SECTION 3: Digital Platforms and Academic Resource Management ------------------ 3.1. Automated Governance System (AGS) Functionality (by CTO): The School’s Automated Governance System (AGS), accessible through the MyLSI portal, provides a comprehensive virtual learning environment (VLE). It supports effective teaching and learning with features including flipped learning, AI, and knowledge maps, and offers access to academic resources like online journals and databases; This rule ensures that students and staff have access to a well-integrated platform that enhances their educational experience by providing essential learning tools and academic resources. 3.2. Commitment to Inclusive Teaching through AGS (by CTO): The School is dedicated to inclusive teaching. All learning materials are hosted on the Automated Governance System (AGS), which serves as the School's learning management system (LMS). This includes intuitive knowledge graphs and AI. Each week, students access dynamic knowledge maps that visually and semantically represent module concepts, reflecting real-life interactions. Students are then assessed through quizzes; This rule ensures that the teaching approach is inclusive and interactive, enhancing learning by providing visual and semantic representations of concepts. It supports diverse learning styles and effectively integrates assessment methods. 3.3. Progress Tracking and Tutor Feedback (by CTO): The School employs integrated trackers across modules to monitor student progress and offer support. Trackers are available at the concept level for each topic, weekly chapter, and module level, allowing students to view their progress in detail. Students can also request tutor feedback directly through the module interface; This rule helps students keep track of their learning and identify areas where they may need assistance. It provides a structured way to monitor progress and facilitates direct feedback from tutors, enhancing overall learning and support. 3.4. Use of Discussion Tools in the Learning Management System (by CTO): The AGS learning management system includes discussion boards, forums, and other tools for students to engage in synchronous and asynchronous discussions, comment on work, and collaborate effectively; These tools facilitate communication and collaboration among students, enhancing the learning experience by allowing them to discuss and provide feedback on work at their convenience. 3.5. IT Support and Incident Management (by CTO): The School's IT team provides support for equipment, software, AGS, and LMS queries. Additionally, the School follows the IT Infrastructure Management Policy, which includes an IT Incident Response Plan for addressing system failures; This ensures that students and staff receive prompt assistance with technical issues and that there are procedures in place to manage and resolve system failures effectively. SECTION 4: Learning Support Plans and Reasonable Adjustments ------------------ 4.1. Establishing a Structured Procurement Process (by Director of Operations): The procurement of resources for reasonable adjustments will follow a clear, structured process. This will include identifying student needs through consultation with Student Wellbeing services, selecting appropriate suppliers, and ensuring the timely acquisition and installation of equipment or materials that support these adjustments; A well-organised process ensures that resources for reasonable adjustments are acquired and set up in time to meet student needs, avoiding delays and ensuring equitable support. 4.2. Collaborating with Stakeholders to Inform Procurement (by Director of Operations): The procurement team will actively collaborate with students, faculty, and support services to understand specific requirements for reasonable adjustments. Feedback from these stakeholders will guide the selection of suitable resources that meet individual student needs; Engaging stakeholders ensures that the resources procured are appropriate and targeted to the specific adjustments needed by students, providing effective and meaningful support. 4.3. Maintaining Quality Assurance for Adjusted Resources (by Director of Operations): The procurement strategy will include a quality assurance process that evaluates the functionality, reliability, and suitability of resources required for reasonable adjustments. This will involve selecting suppliers based on these standards and conducting regular reviews of the equipment to ensure continued effectiveness; High-quality resources are critical to supporting reasonable adjustments consistently. Ensuring the reliability and functionality of these resources minimises disruption and enhances student support. 4.4. Ensuring Flexibility to Meet Diverse Adjustment Needs (by Director of Operations): The procurement approach will be flexible and adaptable to accommodate changes in student needs or advancements in assistive technology. Regular evaluations of procurement practices will ensure the strategy remains responsive to evolving requirements; Flexibility in the procurement process allows the team to respond to new or changing needs, ensuring that resources for reasonable adjustments remain relevant and effective for all students. 4.5. Providing Training for Staff Managing Resources (by Director of Operations): The procurement team will ensure that all resources related to reasonable adjustments are accompanied by comprehensive training for staff involved in setup, use, and maintenance. Staff will also receive guidance on how to troubleshoot any issues that arise; Well-trained staff ensure that resources supporting reasonable adjustments are used effectively and maintained properly, ensuring students benefit fully from the support provided without disruption. SECTION 5: Institutional Events and Activities ------------------ 5.1. Welcome Week Participation (by Admissions Team): After registration, students receive a link to attend Welcome Week. This event allows them to meet staff and peers, listen to guest speakers, and learn about the School's support services; Welcome Week provides essential orientation, helping students integrate into the School community and understand available support resources. 5.2. Careers Events Participation (by Director of Education): The School organises careers events where students can:; Speak with staff for careers advice; Attend CV and other workshops; Network with peers; Careers events provide valuable guidance and opportunities for students to enhance their employability skills and connect with peers and professionals. 5.3. Professional Talks and Events (by Director of Education): The School arranges professional talks and events for students; These events provide students with insights from industry professionals, enhancing their learning and career prospects. SECTION 6: Career Development and Advisory Services ------------------ 6.1. Careers Support and Online Resources (by Director of Education): The School offers careers support through IT experts and provides access to online career resources for students; This support and resources help students with career planning and job searching, enhancing their employability and career development. 6.2. Access to Online Careers Resources (by Director of Operations): The School provides access to online careers resources, including various careers websites; This subscription ensures students have up-to-date information and tools for career planning and job searches, supporting their professional development. SECTION 7: Student Support and Wellbeing Services ------------------ 7.1. Student Wellbeing Services (by Director of Operations): The School offers a dedicated welfare team for general support, including assistance with financial and legal matters; This service ensures that students have access to specialised support for welfare issues, helping them manage challenges that may affect their academic performance and well-being. 7.2. Students at the Heart of Everything (by Student Wellbeing Team): The Student Wellbeing Team offers free, independent, and confidential support to all students on academic, financial, and well-being matters; This support ensures that students have access to unbiased assistance for a range of issues, helping them to manage challenges effectively and maintain their overall well-being. SECTION 8: Mental Health Support ------------------ 8.1. Mental Health Support Policy (by Executive Committee): The School has a dedicated mental health policy detailing various methods of supporting students with their mental health needs; This policy ensures students have clear access to mental health support, promoting their well-being and providing structured assistance for mental health challenges. 8.2. Mental Health Support Protocol (by Executive Committee): The School will:; Implement a mental health policy outlining definitions, responsibilities, principles, and frameworks; Establish a Student Wellbeing Committee to strategically promote holistic well-being; Develop processes to support students requiring mental health assistance, including during admissions and registration; Comply fully with legal obligations, including the Equality Act 2010, to provide reasonable adjustments; Maintain a trained Student Wellbeing Team to assist students, staff, and the wider School community; Assign Personal Academic Tutors (PATs) to support students with pastoral issues beyond academics; Integrate mental health training into the annual schedule, including systems to identify students needing support; Engage students on mental health issues through established student engagement mechanisms; Offer clear processes for accessing mental health support and managing extenuating circumstances; Provide necessary internal and external resources, interventions, and referral points; Enforce policies to ensure a safe environment, preventing bullying, harassment, and other inappropriate behaviours, and implement safeguarding policies; Incorporate well-being into data analytics, evaluation, monitoring, annual reporting, and decision-making; Adhere to industry standards, including the University Mental Health Charter programme; These measures ensure a comprehensive approach to mental health, providing clear support mechanisms, fostering a safe environment, and integrating well-being into all aspects of School operations. SECTION 9: Utilising Learning Resources and Facilities ------------------ 9.1. Resource and Facility Usage Policy (by Students): Students must be registered at the School to access resources and facilities; They must use these resources fairly, legally, and responsibly, following their contract with the School and all relevant regulations and policies, including IT and Data policies. Students should review the latest versions of these policies as they may change. The Student Charter also applies; Some facilities, such as copying and scanning, may incur charges. Students will be informed of any applicable fees; All regulations and policies must be adhered to; Misuse of resources and facilities will result in disciplinary action as outlined in the School’s regulations; For any questions, students should contact the Director of Operations or the Student Wellbeing Team; This policy ensures that all students use School resources and facilities in compliance with established rules and regulations, thereby maintaining fairness, legality, and responsibility. It also addresses potential costs and outlines consequences for misuse, promoting a well-regulated and supportive environment. SECTION 10: Executive Oversight and Resource Allocation ------------------ 10.1. Resource Management and Approval (by Executive Committee): The Executive Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of resources. It utilises data, including monitoring and evaluation reports, as well as feedback from module and programme leaders and students, to assess the needs for resources. These assessments are measured against key performance indicators (KPIs). When preparing strategic reports for the Board of Governors, the Executive Committee uses this data to recommend resource allocations for the upcoming year. This includes considerations for physical resources, digital resources, human resources, and other resources obtained through key partnerships. The Board of Governors is required to approve any resource allocations that exceed relevant thresholds; This approach ensures that resource management is informed by data and aligned with strategic objectives. By incorporating feedback and evaluating performance, the Executive Committee can make well-informed recommendations. These recommendations are then reviewed and approved by the Board of Governors to maintain transparency and accountability in the allocation of resources.