The six-year project to establish student/staff Hubs commences in September 2007 with three pilot Student Information Points (SIPs) in the All Saints, Geoffrey Manton and Aytoun buildings. The pilots will be evolutionary in nature; initially they will provide Student Information Points (SIPs), but will progressively inform the development of Hubs on the All Saints, Didsbury and Crewe campuses.

The Hubs will accommodate a range of services in support of the learning process and provide a delivery point for a comprehensive range of advice, information and guidance.

From September 2007 SIPs will aim to provide a comprehensive advice and information service to all students on all student-related matters, enabling students to receive high quality support from a group of professional staff.

Service Provision

Applicants will be able to access the All Saints Student Information Point for information about:

1. The courses that we offer.
2. Procedures for application.
3. How to access sources of funding

If they want to know about where they can live as a student, the Student Information Points will:-

1. Tell them about our halls of residence.
2. Advise them about how to apply for a place in a hall.
3. Help them to track their application.
4. Tell them about other sources of accommodation, including Manchester Student Homes, for private accommodation.
5. We can also help them how to deal with basic problems they might have with MMU accommodation e.g. a noisy flatmate, disputes, repair issues.

Advice and information will be made available face to face, but also via email and telephone.  A member of the All Saints R & A department will be available in the All Saints Student Information Point on a rota basis.  R & A representatives will be able to deal with a wide range of applications, recruitment and admissions enquiries. 

2. International Students

The service available for international students from the All Saints Student Information Point will provide:

1. Advice about how to apply.
2. Advice relating to international entry requirements.
3. Advice about MMU English language requirements.
4. Information about English language courses and support at MMU.
5. Information about tuition fees.
6. Information relating to overseas visits and representatives.
7. VC Scholarship information.
8. Guidance about how to open a bank account in the UK including provision of documentation.
9. Check the progress of applications.
10. Information relating to inviting relatives/friends to visit the UK.

Much of the advice and information suitable for applicants and international students will be available on the SIP Help database.

3. Induction, Early Weeks, Programme, On-Course, Assessment, Progression, Graduation, Employment.

Students will be able to access information and have access to advice and support from the three Student Information Points at All Saints, Geoffrey Manton and Aytoun and also from Faculty Offices where the faculty does not have a SIP.  Information on services that will be delivered at each location, is outlined on the attached template.  Information, advice and guidance will be available either face to face or by email and/or telephone.  Some types of advice and guidance will be available by referral to an appropriate professional advisor.  All Student Information Points will be able to arrange referrals and appointments as necessary.

The two faculty-based Student Information Points (HLSS and MMUBS) will provide detailed information in relation to the individual programmes and modules available to students enrolled on a programme in the relevant faculty and answer students specific course enquiries.  Students enrolled on programmes in any other faculty will access comparable information from the appropriate faculty office.

All Student Information Points will arrange referrals to the Disability and Learning Support Advisors, Student Advice Centre, Students Union, Counsellors, Disability Support Advisors and International Student Support Advisors.

A SIP Help database will contain a wealth of general information, in the format of frequently asked questions (www.mmu.ac.uk/siphelp). TARDIS reports will also be available to assist in the answering of questions/requests for information.