Student Support
We have an excellent student support system at St Cuthbert's to support you throughout your time as a student at Durham University. The support you receive from the college comes from a number of sources and is available to all students whether you live in college or live out. This includes:
- Student Support via the Vice Principal/Senior Tutor with the support of an Assistant Senior Tutor
- Peer support from the Junior Common Room welfare team
- Personal development support via our College Mentors
- Work experience opportunities via clubs and societies
- An innovative Student Development and Employability Programme delivered by University staff, college mentors, alumni and external organisations
- Student Development Awards to enable students to do more with their time here
You'll be pleased to know that as you are over 18, we treat you as adults and, therefore, the support we provide is mainly reactive......you call us and we'll help you...... We also don't engage with your parents or guardians without your permission and even then, we prefer to deal with you direct as you are the student.
In addition, international students can also access support via the International Office. The International Office deal with issues regarding visas.
Your Vice Principal/Senior Tutor is the main point of contact for any matters which may be affecting your academic studies and is responsible for managing the provision of student support within the college. So, if you have any problems which may be affecting your course or any aspect of your study, you can call on the college to advise you on possible courses of action and liaise directly with your department. She can also can refer you to appropriate departments within the University such as DUSSD (Durham University's Services for Students with Disabilities), Counselling Service and Careers Advisory Service. However, as you are over 18, we do expect that you are fit to study and take part in college life. We also respect the fact that you are over 18 and don't engage with your parents or guardians without your permission; even with your permission, we always prefer to deal with you direct.
The college referral system is part of the support that is in place to help you:
Peer support is available via the JCR Welfare Officer and the welfare team (all made up of students) also act as another layer of support, referred to as peer support; the students provide a listening and signposting service. If you are homesick or just need someone your own age to talk to, these are the best people to contact. They always refer any matters which are affecting your academic studies direct to the Senior Tutor. Also, don't forget, there are students just like you but with a little more experience of college and University life so we would not expect you to get in touch with them at 3am in the morning if you are locked out or a feeling miserable. For real emergencies, you always need to contact the porter on duty.
If you are a first year student, you can contact your college mentor in the first instance if you would prefer. You can talk to them about your problems and they will then refer the to the college who will contact you to arrange a support meeting.
If you live in college, the Porter on Duty is the person you would contact after hours (in other words, after 5pm and before 9am) if you having any difficulties with your accommodation or you are in an emergency situation. Please be aware that we are not a residential care institution and as a fit adult, you are expected to look after yourself.
The Resident Warden is usually a member of University staff who lives in college or a student who has recently graduated. They provide a listenting post after hours.
Contact details for any queries about organising a student support package: Sharon Richardson (Vice Principal/Senior Tutor) sharon.richardson@durham.ac.uk 0191 33 43390
Student Development and Employability Programme
The college offers weekly personal development support sessions for all students throughout the year as part of the College Mentoring System. The sessions are aimed particularly at penultimate, final year and postgraduate students and include learning about new opportunities to volunteer in Durham, voluntary and charity work abroad and thinking about career prospects.
Student Development Awards
St Cuthbert's offers a number of awards to our students, both group awards and individual awards, to enable them to achieve more in their time at St Cuthbert's. There are four group awards of £500 for clubs or societies, and there are 20 individual awards of £250 to help students undertake charitable/community or voluntary work.
If you are a current student, please click here to find out more.
Out of Hours Support
The college has 24/7 porter cover that deals with minor incidences. However, in the event of an emergency, the porter will contact the College Officer (Principal, Vice Principal/Senior Tutor, Bursar) on duty.