So the day has finally come. You are either really happy or rightly pissed off right now, whichever it is doesn't really matter as that little sheet of paper. You're college choices may be restricted, but the life choices before you still remain many and varied.
Enjoy the celebrations and hope to see many of you soon.
D
18 August 2010
23 May 2010
Grants - Getting to grips with your application
Sorry it's taken so long to get this up. Anyway, it's here now.
The most important thing is to get your documentation together as soon as possible, definitely by the middle of July, this means looking for it now so that you can get replacements ordered i you need them.
You will find a list of what you need on studentfinance.ie on the Check your Documentation page.
If you are applying for first year you will need to fill in a form FA1 to show your acceptance of a course.
Remember that if you are delayed in submitting all of the required info, that everyone in UL receiving a grant may receive their grant late as a result of any delays.
Check back soon for accommodation info!
The most important thing is to get your documentation together as soon as possible, definitely by the middle of July, this means looking for it now so that you can get replacements ordered i you need them.
You will find a list of what you need on studentfinance.ie on the Check your Documentation page.
If you are applying for first year you will need to fill in a form FA1 to show your acceptance of a course.
Remember that if you are delayed in submitting all of the required info, that everyone in UL receiving a grant may receive their grant late as a result of any delays.
Check back soon for accommodation info!
29 April 2010
Accommodation - Know your rights and wrongs
Right...so it's come to the time of the year when everyone's worried about exams; and on top of that, finding someplace to live next year; and on top of that, worrying about getting your deposit back.
Getting Deposits Back
Okay...let's level. If a window or door or wall has been damaged in your house, you can be fairly sure that you won't be seeing that portion of the deposit back, or if there's an electricity bill due, you may not get it back immediately as the remaining bill may be deducted from it. Anything that's been broken or damaged will be deducted from your deposit, so make sure you take photos of the shiny sparkly cleanliness of the house before you leave as there's nothing that can be done if it's trashed after you hand back your key and the landlord has no proof that you didn't do the damage.
If you have proof that you caused no damage and left no unpaid bills and your landlord is still not paying the deposit back, then it's time to call in the solicitor. In previous years Welfare Officers would have phoned landlords endlessly, but we have no way of enforcing anything on them, so now it's a simple matter of going straight to our solicitor. The details are available from SU Reception or the Welfare Office.
You are entitled to view the original bill for anthing taken as a deduction from your deposit
Looking to next year!!!
If you are panicking that you haven't sorted yourself yet...DON'T. There is plenty of accommodation out there. The Accommodation listing for next semester will be out in mid May. I will post it to the student portal (link works on campus only) when I have a copy.
Checkout the student portal(link works on campus only) for attachments of what to look out for. There's a checklist in there!
Do NOT sign contracts that are not clearly understandable. Our solicitors will look over anything that you reckon might be strange. This advise is contained in teh Accommodation Advice booklet on the student portal and available from me via email.
Getting Deposits Back
Okay...let's level. If a window or door or wall has been damaged in your house, you can be fairly sure that you won't be seeing that portion of the deposit back, or if there's an electricity bill due, you may not get it back immediately as the remaining bill may be deducted from it. Anything that's been broken or damaged will be deducted from your deposit, so make sure you take photos of the shiny sparkly cleanliness of the house before you leave as there's nothing that can be done if it's trashed after you hand back your key and the landlord has no proof that you didn't do the damage.
If you have proof that you caused no damage and left no unpaid bills and your landlord is still not paying the deposit back, then it's time to call in the solicitor. In previous years Welfare Officers would have phoned landlords endlessly, but we have no way of enforcing anything on them, so now it's a simple matter of going straight to our solicitor. The details are available from SU Reception or the Welfare Office.
You are entitled to view the original bill for anthing taken as a deduction from your deposit
Looking to next year!!!
If you are panicking that you haven't sorted yourself yet...DON'T. There is plenty of accommodation out there. The Accommodation listing for next semester will be out in mid May. I will post it to the student portal (link works on campus only) when I have a copy.
Checkout the student portal(link works on campus only) for attachments of what to look out for. There's a checklist in there!
Do NOT sign contracts that are not clearly understandable. Our solicitors will look over anything that you reckon might be strange. This advise is contained in teh Accommodation Advice booklet on the student portal and available from me via email.
Anti-Social Behaviour & Discipline
This seems to be an issue that is constantly raising its head at committees throughout the University. I thought it was about time I blogged about it now that I have time.
If you are the victim of someone else's rage (i.e. you are attacked, bullied or otherwise injured) there are procedures in place in the University to follow in order to prevent it from continuing. You can come and see me and I'll talk you through it, or you can report it directly to the University Disciplinary Committee. This is the important part; you must do this IN WRITING.
The University has a duty of care to all faculty, staff and students. It's not fair that a minority of students get to rampage about and give 95% of the remaining students a bad name, so if you are a victim of anti-social behaviour (be it from a student, member of staff or faculty member), DO report it.
An example of one or two issues that can arise are; housemates making your life a misery by bulling or intimidation (be that on or off campus). Your landlord should be informed too.
A revised procedure is now in place which makes the process move faster, which is good if you've been accused of cheating in exams for having the room number or a shopping list written on your hand. This involves meeting with the Advocate who decides whether the Disciplinary Committee needs to see you. If you have "poprock" or some sort of collection of letters that can be determined to be of possible benefit in an exam, then you more than likely will get referred and suspended for cheating, however, if you have "EGO10 9am" written on your hand, you will still have to go and see the Advocate, but it is unlikely to go any further.
Also a reminder that any activity that may bring the University into disrepute (e.g. mooning traffic at 5pm on Groody Roundabout-Wouldn't recommend it!!!) can land you with a fine, get you suspended, or you may end up expelled.
NB - Education and Health Science students - your career in teaching or health care is at risk if you are arrested and charged for anti-social behaviour
NB - J1 Applicants - An arrest may hinder your chances of travel to the US for the rest of your life
If you are the victim of someone else's rage (i.e. you are attacked, bullied or otherwise injured) there are procedures in place in the University to follow in order to prevent it from continuing. You can come and see me and I'll talk you through it, or you can report it directly to the University Disciplinary Committee. This is the important part; you must do this IN WRITING.
The University has a duty of care to all faculty, staff and students. It's not fair that a minority of students get to rampage about and give 95% of the remaining students a bad name, so if you are a victim of anti-social behaviour (be it from a student, member of staff or faculty member), DO report it.
An example of one or two issues that can arise are; housemates making your life a misery by bulling or intimidation (be that on or off campus). Your landlord should be informed too.
A revised procedure is now in place which makes the process move faster, which is good if you've been accused of cheating in exams for having the room number or a shopping list written on your hand. This involves meeting with the Advocate who decides whether the Disciplinary Committee needs to see you. If you have "poprock" or some sort of collection of letters that can be determined to be of possible benefit in an exam, then you more than likely will get referred and suspended for cheating, however, if you have "EGO10 9am" written on your hand, you will still have to go and see the Advocate, but it is unlikely to go any further.
Also a reminder that any activity that may bring the University into disrepute (e.g. mooning traffic at 5pm on Groody Roundabout-Wouldn't recommend it!!!) can land you with a fine, get you suspended, or you may end up expelled.
NB - Education and Health Science students - your career in teaching or health care is at risk if you are arrested and charged for anti-social behaviour
NB - J1 Applicants - An arrest may hinder your chances of travel to the US for the rest of your life
Access Campus
The Tuesday meeting of GA Access & Student Affairs took place at the UL Access Campus near to Southill on the southside of the city. Members of the committee include; me, the Vice President Academic and Registrar, The Access Manager, the Director of Student Affairs, members of faculty and staff, as well as 2 external members.
We were first given a tour of the building, which houses both commercial and training activity. Chorus UPC is the biggest operator with over 450 staff there on a full time basis. Fáilte Ireland, FÁS and the AK Ilen project provide training opportunities and the Access Campus strives to gain community involvement.
The site is 16 acres and was left without purpose in 1999 following the closure of a manufacturing operation. The work being done out there is amazing, from study groups for Junior and Leaving Certificate students, to Irish classes for foreign national parents of primary school children to assist with homework, and social activities for the avtive retired in the area.
The University's involvement is to encourage participation in third level, though not necessarily in UL. By assisting this regeneration community (and others who come to it) the University is providing positive re-enforcement for a community and individuals who would not otherwise seek to set goals for themselves, be they to pursue an apprenticeship, take on a training course, or to go to university.
One striking thing is the individuality applied to each and every person who comes to use the resources. Their needs will be discussed with them one-on-one and considered.
There is so much more going on out there than I could possibly convey by blogging, but I just wanted to tell you all about the amazing work they do.
There are over 60 kids from 15 schools taking part in after-school study groups getting help from students. There is a waiting list of 40 more, so if you would like to volunteer, let me know and I'll get contact details for you.
We were first given a tour of the building, which houses both commercial and training activity. Chorus UPC is the biggest operator with over 450 staff there on a full time basis. Fáilte Ireland, FÁS and the AK Ilen project provide training opportunities and the Access Campus strives to gain community involvement.
The site is 16 acres and was left without purpose in 1999 following the closure of a manufacturing operation. The work being done out there is amazing, from study groups for Junior and Leaving Certificate students, to Irish classes for foreign national parents of primary school children to assist with homework, and social activities for the avtive retired in the area.
The University's involvement is to encourage participation in third level, though not necessarily in UL. By assisting this regeneration community (and others who come to it) the University is providing positive re-enforcement for a community and individuals who would not otherwise seek to set goals for themselves, be they to pursue an apprenticeship, take on a training course, or to go to university.
One striking thing is the individuality applied to each and every person who comes to use the resources. Their needs will be discussed with them one-on-one and considered.
There is so much more going on out there than I could possibly convey by blogging, but I just wanted to tell you all about the amazing work they do.
There are over 60 kids from 15 schools taking part in after-school study groups getting help from students. There is a waiting list of 40 more, so if you would like to volunteer, let me know and I'll get contact details for you.
09 April 2010
Week 12 - I'm out of Office All Week
I will be out of office on annual leave for all of Week 12. Please direct queries to Reception, where they will point you to the best person to answer them
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