News for Glamlife

IT Support Service is your first point of contact when seeking IT-related queries or guidance.

The University’s IT Support Service can be easily contacted through Point of Business (POB), face-to-face or telephone. IT Support provides technical support for staff and students experiencing issues with IT.

Setting up your account and logging on

The University uses single sign on for the majority of its online services, meaning you will use the same username and password. Some of the services include UniLife, Advice Zone Online, Blackboard and WiFi. To access these platforms, you will need to set up your student IT account using our Self-service Account Administration (SSAA) system.

Configuring eduroam

Eduroam (education roaming) provides roaming WiFi access between institutions throughout Europe, Taiwan and Australia.
To connect to eduroam you will need to provide your username and password. When typing in your username add the text @students.southwales.ac.uk – this will allow you to connect at USW, but if you visit another University, your device will automatically connect to eduroam there too.
IT Services have produced a number of simple How-to Guides to help set up your own device.

Blackboard: Your Online Learning Environment

Blackboard is the University’s online virtual learning environment and is used to provide resources and access to course information.
Blackboard is a web-based resource you can access at any time from any place through the student portal, UniLife. IT Services’ guide, Using Blackboard will help familiarise you with the system.

Turnitin
Within Blackboard, and as part of your assessments, you may be asked to submit work to Turnitin. Turnitin is the system the University uses to check the similarity of your work to a database of content from the web, academic reference materials and other students’ work.
You can find more information and guidance about Turnitin on the Turnitin Feedback Studio Guide pages.

Software

After enrolling, you can access a range of IT support, tools and resources to help in your study, including access to a free subscription to Microsoft Office while you’re studying here.
The University provides the facility to download Microsoft Office applications to your personally owned computer or mobile device at no cost. Information about installing this package can be found on the Office 365 page.
The University currently has a site license for SPSS, the statistical software. This program can only be downloaded and installed on student-owned equipment.

Mobile Apps

There are a number of mobile apps, which give convenient access to University information and resources.

Managing your IT Account

To maintain the security of your account, your password will expire every 120 days and will require updating. You can do this on or before the expiration through the SSAA system.

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Some ideas for getting the best from your university experience: Freshers: Keep Calm and Solution Focused

Blog written by a Mental Health Adviser colleague in an English university.

It’s completely normal to feel a little overwhelmed at times, and most students will feel like this at some point during their time at University.

Leaving university is a big decision and it’s important to really think about why you want to leave before taking that step. There are lots of reasons that may cause you to think of leaving University. Sometimes these feelings may pass, but sometimes they may not.

Settling in

Starting University is a huge transition and one you may be struggling with. You might be away from your usual surroundings and support: home, family, friends and things that are familiar. This type of change can be quite disorienting and it is easy to feel overwhelmed or homesick, especially if you are not used to doing things for yourself.

You probably feel as though you’re the only one feeling like this – you’re not. Many students feel homesick in the first few weeks of University, but with a bit of practice, advice and support, most students find their symptoms begin to ease after the third week.

There are things you can do to help combat feeling this way:

• Make your new room your own by decorating it with things from home.
• Get to know a mixture of students – joining a club, team or society is a great way of making new friends.
• Make sure you get enough sleep and try to eat a healthy diet.
• Regular exercise not only improves your overall health but can also boost your mood.
• If you want to speak to someone that has recently experienced the transition to University, there are many peer support services available including the Mentor Scheme, Campus Life Coordinators and the Students’ Union Officers.
• Stay in touch with family and friends – but give yourself time to settle in before arranging a visit home, as it may make your homesickness worse. Invite friends and family to visit instead

How we can help you

You may not be aware of the reason you want to leave, so it’s good to talk to our advisers for them to help you figure out why. We can help you understand your options and work out the best course of action for you. It’s important that you make an informed decision so that you don’t regret your choice at a later stage.

If you are considering transferring to another course, taking a year out or perhaps leaving university, it is important that you consider all your options before you make a decision. Your campus Advice Zone can talk you through the options available to you or book you an appointment with the Progression Advice Team.

There may be other options available as well, such as additional help to improve study skills, an interruption to studies or transferring to another program. Our Support Services can offer you information and guidance when considering your options.

If you cannot find the information you’re looking for, or you’re not sure who to speak to, visit your campus Advice Zone where our staff will be happy to help you. If you would rather get in touch from the comfort of your home, you can call the Advice Zone on 01443 482540, or ask a question through Advice Zone Online.

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The DSA Claim It! campaign offers advice and information about Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) and other university-led adjustments.

This is extra funding and support that can help university students with a wide range of disabilities and extra needs to achieve their full potential. The funding comes from the Government and doesn’t have to be paid back – or your university may well be able to offer lots of extra help and support which doesn’t require any funding at all.

Student Services’ staff have spent their summer lunches painting and prepping colourful rocks to spread a bit of joy for the start of term, a craze that has been popularised across the UK.

Over the next couple of weeks, there will be hundreds of painted stones, each with its own positive message, hidden across all campuses for you to find and re-hide. Let us know if you find one and share the message on social media with #USWROCKS!

The idea behind the project is simple – to raise a smile and spread a bit of positivity. It’s also a reminder that your Support Services are here to help you with any obstacle you may encounter on your journey through university.

There have been some wonderful contributions to our rock collection, so if you find a piece of art that you can’t bear to part with, please feel free to keep it. Happy rock hunting!

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The Advice Zone will be open this weekend (Sat 15/ Sun 16 September) between 10:00 and 16:00, so if you haven’t done so already please call in and collect your student ID card.

If you have just moved in and are unsure what to do or maybe you are just feeling homesick, come and meet the staff, have a chat and ask us any questions you have about USW.

You can also have a look around the library and discover the book collection or grab a coffee from the Library cafe.

Normal Advice Zone term time opening will resume next week (Monday-Friday, 08:30-16:30)

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Wednesday October 10th is World Mental Health Day! Join in the conversation about mental health and help reduce the stigma. Mental Health is everyone’s business! #WorldMentalHealthDay & #WMHD18

Mental Health affects us all. How we think and feel about ourselves and our lives impacts on our behaviour and how we cope in tough times.

It affects our ability to make the most of the opportunities that come our way and play a full part amongst our family, workplace, university, community and friends. It’s also closely linked with our physical health.

Whether we call it wellbeing, emotional welfare or mental health, it’s key to living a fulfilling life.

There are a wealth of different resources and ideas on how you can get involved on the internet:-

• Raise Awareness with the World Federation for Mental Health

• Mind Tips for Staying Well

• Look after your mates: #inyourcorner. If you or a friend need support with mental health issues, please see sources of support and information on our Unilife Wellbeing pages.

World Mental Health Day film show

As part of World Mental Health Day on October 10, USW will be showing A Girl Interrupted in AB108 in the Aneurin Bevan Building on Glyntaff Campus.

The showing is FREE and runs from 4.30pm until 7.30pm.

The 1999 film, starring Winona Ryder, is an American biographical drama which is based on based on Susanna Kaysen’s 1993 memoir of the same name. It chronicles Kaysen’s 18-month stay at a 'mental hsopital’ where she befriends Polly, with schizophrenia; Georgina, a pathological liar; and Daisy who self-harms and has OCD. She is drawn to sociopath Lisa, who is charismatic and rebellious, encouraging Susanna to stop taking her medication and resist therapy.
The film lasts just over two hours. Time has been built in for post-movie discussion. Please feel free to bring popcorn!

More details are available from karyn.davies@southwales.ac.uk

We are supporting a new DSA Claim It! campaign that offers advice and information about Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) and other university-led adjustments.

Disabled Student Allowances. can provide extra funding and support that can help university students with a wide range of disabilities and extra needs to achieve their full potential. The funding comes from the Government and doesn’t have to be paid back.

Full details about the DSA Claim It! campaign.

Attending University is a significant and exciting step in most people’s lives.

It may be the first time you’ve lived away from home and had to take care of yourself. You’ll probably be making a new group of friends, who may stay with you for the rest of your life. You might pick up new hobbies or habits, discover new interests and take the first steps in your career.

It’s also around this time that you begin to be treated as an adult by society. You’ll have more choice about what you do and who you’ll be than ever before. But be aware that, as an adult, you are responsible for yourself and your actions. Here are some of the things you should consider to get the most out of your time at University, whilst staying safe and secure.

Clubbing, nights out and going to parties

Student life doesn’t have to revolve around alcohol, you can still have an active, hangover-free social life whilst at university. But if you do decide to take part in drinking, please do so responsibly and make sure you know your limits. Eating plenty before a night out will not only line your stomach, but it can even rid the effects of the next morning’s hangover. Don’t let drinking games, peer pressure or social media fads convince you to put yourself at risk.

If you’re out in a group, look out for each other. Exchange numbers before you go out – in case you get separated – and make sure no ones left behind. It’s a good idea to save some local taxi numbers in your phone and put aside emergency cash for transport home.

Follow our party safely tips and respect your neighbours on the way home. You are part of the local community while you’re here, and your actions reflect on yourself and the University. Be aware of alcohol and drug’s effect on a person’s capacity for sexual consent, and never violate a person’s trust when they are vulnerable.

Sexual Consent
Everyone arrives at university with different experiences and ideas about sex. If you’ve never thought about or discussed sexual consent before then you’re not alone. Sexual consent means a person willingly agrees to have sex or engage in a sexual activity – and they are free and able to make their own decision. Any sexual contact without consent is illegal and can have serious consequences, take time to understand sexual consent.

Staying Healthy and Support
If you become unwell, don’t suffer in silence –registering with USW Health Service when you arrive at University will enable you to access health advice and support. If you’re living in student halls, the Campus Life Coordinators provide peer support and can point you in the direction of our Support Services.

USW’s Health Service has compiled some useful information about healthy living, and the Wellbeing Service is a good place to start for self-help with other issues including homesickness. Getting active by doing a sport or going to the gym can help too.

If you’re unsure where to start, your campus Advice Zone offers a welcoming first point of contact for all your student enquiries.

Emergency Contacts

It’s important to know, or have easy access to, the following phone numbers:

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Advice Zone Online (AZO) is our online student support system for any questions about being a student at USW.

From 12 September 2018, you will also be able to book all your support appointments through Advice Zone Online. This means that any questions and the answers you receive from staff, as well as records of your appointments, will be held securely in one place.

Booking an appointment is easy, just log into UniLife using your student ID, select the ‘Appointments’ button and search by date and appointment type, eg. counselling or library, by location or by staff name.

Once you have chosen your appointment and selected ‘Book’, you will be sent an email confirming the details of the appointment. Please don’t forget to cancel your appointment if you can’t attend for any reason.

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