Upon election, many Senate Representatives felt the need to update the Personal Tutor system, and it was clear that this feeling was not only widespread across students, but by the University as well. This is not to say that the Personal Tutors are terrible, but many were unsure of their own job description. Many have the belief that they are there for academic guidance, rather than pastoral care, and others the reverse. Whilst many do offer both, the allocation of these Personal Tutors seems to be random and many, especially in the Sciences, have no idea or knowledge about what their tutees are studying.
With this motion having been passed, we hope to revolutionise the Personal Tutor system, by making the University adopt the NUS Charter or a modified similar charter, agreed between students and the University. Personally, I would like Personal Tutors to be given training and documents detailing what is required of them. This role should be both pastoral and academic, but also tutors provide a great source of career guidance and in some cases, contacts. I also believe that your personal tutor, especially within the Faculty of Arts, should be constant, and not changed every year. This would give more stability and security to the system, and tutees can build up a confidence level with their tutors that would lead to further benefits.
If you would like to read the motion in full see; http://www.ubu.org.uk/pageassets/voice/agmmotions/Motion-for-Personal-Tutoring-Commitment.docx
To find out more about the NUS personal tutor charter visit; http://www.ubu.org.uk/justask/representation/senate/tutors/
Mark Parry is the Senate representative for the Faculty of Arts (2011-2012) to contact Mark you can email him via; mp0200@bristol.ac.uk