Griffith college dublin student handbook 2015

GRIFFITH COLLEGE STUDENT HANDBOOK

Academic Year 2014 - 2015

Getting Started

Welcome…..2

Our Commitment to Students…..2

Your Commitment to GCD…..3

The Campus…..3

Registration…..4

Student Fees…..6

Key people to know…..8

Student Life

Accommodation…..8

Cars & Parking on Campus…..8

Catering on Campus…..9

Computers, Printing & Photocopying…..9

Counseling Service…..9

Graduation…..10

Alumni Association…..10

Student Feedback….10

Health & Safety…..10

Health Service…..11

International Office…..12

Library…..12

Maintenance…..13

Reception…..13

Student Cards….14

MyGCD, Student Intranet, College Website and Email ….14

Students’ Union and Sports at GCD…..15

Assessments & Examinations…..17

Additional Information…..21

Academic Calendar…..23

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WELCOME

Welcome to Griffith College Dublin. This handbook contains useful information that you will need

during your time as a student with us. If you can't find what you're looking for here then drop in to your

Faculty Administration Office. You can also check out the Student Intranet, which provides a wealth of

information for our student body.

Griffith College Dublin now has over 7,000 students who attend a broad range of full-time and part-

time courses including undergraduate certificates, diplomas and degrees as well as postgraduate

awards and professional preparatory and short courses. We are proud of the size and diversity of our

student body and welcome and respect all of our students equally.

On behalf of all staff in the College we wish you well in your studies and we hope that your time in

GCD fosters social, personal and academic fulfilment.

OUR COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS

The College’s Student Charter outlines its commitment to all students in endeavoring to:

� Provide excellent teaching and educational resources to enable students realise their chosen

personal and career ambitions

� Promote an attainment culture whereby students are encouraged to give of their best

� Publicly recognise and celebrate the successes of our students in national and international

activities

� Provide a welcoming and nurturing environment where all students are treated with respect

and dignity

� Support and guide students in their academic and personal development towards their educational and personal goals

� Embrace the diversity of our students through full inclusion and through the provision of equal

opportunities for advancement to all

� Provide equality of educational opportunity regardless of personal characteristics and

differences

� Provide for continuous improvement through the active consideration of feedback from students, staff, alumni, employers and other external stakeholders

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YOUR COMMITMENT TO GCD

As a GCD student, you are asked to observe the College’s Student Code of Conduct as outlined below:

� To be considerate of the needs of fellow students, staff and any authorised visitors to the College

� Not to engage in any conduct that is intended or is likely to disrupt teaching, learning, study,

research, ceremonies, recreational activities, meetings, examinations, administration or other activities undertaken by or within the College or organised as part of its approved activities

� To take responsibility, within student accommodation, for the actions of invited guests

� To respect the property of the College and not to use it for unapproved purposes

� To respect that some areas of the college are restricted to staff only

� To attend classes and commit to the learning process

THE CAMPUS

The College’s seven-acre campus has a number of buildings, many of which are of considerable

historical significance.

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Understanding Room Names

The naming convention we adopt will tell you the building, floor and number of each room and is very

easy to follow.

Example: Room A004

A = Arthur Griffith Building 0 = Ground Floor 04 = Room 4

Getting to GCD

Public bus services to the College include the 9, 16, 49, 54A, 68, 68A, 122, and 150. Two Luas stops are

within a 20-minute walk of the College: Rialto on the Red line and Harcourt St on the Green line.

REGISTRATION

Registration involves the accurate recording of personal and academic details on the College

Database that allows the college to contact you with any necessary update of information relevant to

your programme. Successful registration also allows you access to Examinations, in-class tests, online

lecture notes via moodle, the Library and lab access etc.

The College is responsible for ensuring that the personal and academic information submitted to the

external validating bodies for students taking programmes at Griffith College is correct. It is essential

that you ensure that your details on the College’s records are complete, accurate and up-to-date.

Completing your registration means registering online at www.my.gcd.ie and paying your fees in full.

Only then are you fully registered and will you be entitled to access the services provided by the

College to its students.

New students can log in to www.my.gcd.ie using your 7 digit reference number that you will find on

your offer letter and your date of birth as your password in the format day/month/year. For example, if

your date of birth is the 1st of June 1990 you would use 01/06/1990 including the forward slashes.

Returning students can log in to www.my.gcd.ie using your Moodle username and password.

Should you have any queries in relation to the registration process please email [email protected].

You must register for the current academic year prior to the commencement of your programme.

Failure to register will result in you not being able to take examinations. There are no exceptions to this

rule.

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What happens if my information is incorrect?

If your details are incomplete or incorrect it affects the College, your validating body, and ultimately

your own academic progress. You may be refused entry to an examination. The external examination

board may not be in a position to approve your work. The College would be unable to communicate

with you. Your examination results and registration material might be sent to an incorrect address, or

the incorrect name or spelling might appear on your award parchment.

How do I change my details?

If your academic or contact details change after you have registered, it is your responsibility to either

update them online at www.my.gcd.ie where permitted or inform your Faculty by submitting a Student

Record Amendment Form (SRAF) to the Faculty Administration Office. The SRAF is available on the

Intranet. The SRAF must also be completed to request a change of elective subject choice. Where it is

applicable, relevant supporting documentation must also be provided to support your request.

Registration for Supplemental Exams and Assignments

If you have failed or did not complete a subject during the academic year, you are required to retake

the subject at the supplemental sitting that is normally held in August. You will be automatically re-

registered by the College for this sitting and invoiced for any relevant repeat fees.

De-registration

The College reserves the right to de-register or withdraw students in the case of poor attendance,

inadequate or inappropriate participation in class, or if found in breach of any College regulation or

policy. Once de-registered, you forfeit all claims on a place in a class and on College facilities, and

any financial grant or assistance being received.

The right to refuse admission

The College reserves the right to refuse admission to any of its programmes of study at its absolute

discretion.

The College reserves the right to make all appropriate enquiries of any applicant and of any student

who has been admitted.

If an applicant or student fails to disclose any information that in the view of the College could affect

the health and safety of others, the College reserves the right to refuse admission or to require the

student to withdraw from a programme of study, as the case may be.

Should you have any queries in relation to the above information or on the College registration

process, please contact [email protected].

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Student Cards

You will be given a new student card at the beginning of the academic year. You are asked to upload

a valid photograph as part of the on-line registration process. Once your student card has been

printed, you will receive an email advising you to collect your card from the College Library. You will be

asked to present your student card to gain entry to the examinations halls and you should carry your

card with you whilst on campus. If you need a replacement student card, please contact

[email protected]. A replacement card cost €20.

STUDENT FEES

The Student Fees office manages all student accounts and payment of fees. We have a number of

policies that govern fee-payment procedures in the College. All of our Accounts policies and

procedures are briefly outlined below:

Student Fee Policies and Procedures

• Payment is due in full before commencement of term, unless you have an approved Direct Debit arrangement with us.

• A Registration Fee of €250.00 is applicable each academic year.

• Fines are strictly imposed for late payment of fees.

• Please note that should your student account fall into arrears at any point during the academic

year, access to certain college facilities e.g. access to Moodle, Library facilities etc. will be suspended. Should your account remain in arrears, further sanctions may be imposed by the College, including but not limited to removal from class, non-correction of assignments and

denial of access to examinations. The College also retains the right not to register you with the relevant awarding body (e.g. QQI, NTU etc.).

• It is college policy not to refund fees under any circumstances.

• Should you commence a course and subsequently withdraw or defer from the course at any stage of the academic year, full fees remain due at that point.

• In the event that a student has to repeat a full year of a programme, the fee applicable will be

the standard programme fee for the academic year in which the student repeats the year.

Repeat Modules:

• In the event that a student is repeating one or more subjects and is required to attend class for that subject/s, the standard subject fee is applicable.

• In the event that a student is repeating one or more subjects and is not required to attend class for that subject/s, the fee applicable is €120.00 per subject.

• Students classified for fee purposes as Non EU on application shall retain that fee status and

continue to pay Non EU fees for the duration of their course following admission, whether

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studying full-time or part-time and irrespective of holding a work permit or change of status of

visa.

• Tax relief on tuition fees paid is available on a number of programmes. Further details are available from the revenue website, which can be accessed at www.revenue.ie or alternatively contact Lo-Call 1890 306706.

Methods of Payment:

You may pay your fees using any of the methods mentioned below:

• Pay On-line - students may pay online by credit or debit card at www.gcd.ie/payonline .

• Pay by Bank Giro form - students may pay using a Bank Giro form at any Ulster Bank or Allied

Irish Bank. Giro forms must be collected from the Student Fees office.

• Pay by Bank Draft/Cheque/Postal Order - students may pay by bank draft/cheque/postal order and each of the above should be made payable to Griffith College Dublin. Students can visit the fees office during office hours if they wish to pay in person by this method or may forward any of the above to the following address:

The Student Fees Office

Griffith College Dublin

South Circular Road

Dublin 8

If you are making payment by this method, please state your name and student number on the

reverse side of the bank draft/cheque/postal order.

• Pay by Bank Transfer – students may pay by bank transfer into the college account for which

the college bank details are:

Bank Name: Ulster Bank, 27-35 Main Street, Blackrock, Co. Dublin

Account Name: Bellerophon Ltd.

Account No.: 81754544 Sort Code: 98-53-30 Swift Code: ULSBIE2D

IBAN No.: IE91 ULSB 985330 81754544

If you are using this method of payment, please remember to quote your name and student number on all payment transfers to the college.

• Pay by Direct Debit – students who wish to avail of our direct debit scheme, should refer to the

following link for full information on how to apply for this facility –

www.gcd.ie/directdebitrequest . Details of when your payments fall due are also included at

the above link.

Should you have a query in relation to your fees you are welcome to visit the Student Fees Office (D006), Monday – Friday between 9.30am and 5.30pm. You can also email [email protected] or call

+353 1 4150 493 or +353 1 4150 483 or +353 1 4150 479.

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KEY PEOPLE TO KNOW

Faculty Administrator

Faculty Administrators manage the administrative functions and relevant issues relating to your studies.

These include your attendance record, assignment results, examination results and certified absences.

Contact details and office opening hours can be found on your faculty home page in moodle.

Faculty Head/Programme Director

Your Programme Director/Faculty Head has primary responsibility for all academic matters in relation

to the delivery and assessment of your course. Programme Directors and Faculty Heads in conjunction

with your Faculty Administrator handle all requests for deferrals and student progression issues.

Year Head

Each class group is appointed a Year Head from the academic faculty staff. The Year Head is

responsible for the smooth delivery of your course. In particular, they maintain strong communication

links between the Faculty, students and lecturers in a particular year. Year Heads assist Programme

Directors/ Faculty Heads by providing a similarly supportive role to students within a particular

class/group.

Lecturers & Tutors

Lecturers have primary responsibility for delivering the individual modules of your programme. Should

you encounter any difficulties with a particular module, you should first approach your lecturer/

Tutor.

STUDENT LIFE

Accommodation

The College is delighted to be able to offer high quality accommodation on campus to over 650

students. Griffith Halls enjoys 24-hour security delivering a safe, secure environment for residents. You

can contact the Accommodation Office on +353 1 4163 320. The Student’s Union can also offer you

advice about how to find accommodation off campus and within the Dublin area. Students Union

staff can be contacted on +353 1 4150 418 for more information.

Cars & Parking on Campus

Parking facilities are available on campus. If you wish to park on campus, you must have a valid (2013-

14) College Parking Permit. You can request a parking permit during registration. If you change your

vehicle during the academic year, please remember to transfer your parking permit to your new

vehicle and update your vehicle registration details at www.my.gcd.ie. Should you require a

replacement parking permit for any reason, please contact [email protected].

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Catering on Campus

Arthur’s Bar & Restaurant is a superbly designed, state of the art addition to the College. The facility is

run by Campbell Catering, who produces good value meals with fresh, locally sourced products. Daily

menu choices include the “food to go” and “Bleecker Street sandwich bar offering a wide selection of

sandwiches. There is also a traditional hot counter offering a choice of three daily main course options

(including a daily vegetarian option). The newly opened Burger Studio where you can select one of

our homemade burgers and watch it freshly cooked to order. Freshly made salads and specialty teas

and coffees are also available. Opening hours are 8.30am – 8.30pm, Monday to Friday (closing at

3.30pm on Friday) during the semester. Arthur’s is also open for breakfast and lunch on weekends,

subject to demand. The catering teams, led by Chris Brownill, are always happy to assist you and

encourage all feedback. The daily menu can be viewed on Moodle or Facebook (arthursGCD) and

the venue can also be rented out for functions.

Computers, Printing & Photocopying

Currently over 300 Windows PCs and 75 Mac PCs located across 12 computer laboratories, offer

industry standard software for student tuition.

There are over 60 open access PCs available at all times for students to carry out research, work on

assignments and print. A 40-seater Open Lab W004 is available for student use daily and a PC booking

system allows students to secure the use of a PC for scheduled periods in the Open Lab (details on

www.it.gcd.ie). Students can use their ID number to book PCs for assignment or research work. In order

to facilitate all students, this rule is strictly enforced. More details about this system can be found on

www.it.gcd.ie. The Open Lab PCs provide Internet access and Microsoft Office and this Lab is also the

main area for printing with 6 copier/printers located in the print centre next door. The Library also

contains 20 PCs for research and printing, as well as 2 copiers/printers with one offering full colour.

WiFi is available in most locations on campus. The network is called ‘gofreegcd’ and it is an

unencrypted network that requires the configuration of proxy settings on your PC or laptop. Please see

www.it.gcd.ie for a definitive list of locations and instructions on connecting.

COUNSELLING SERVICE

A professional counselor is available to any student experiencing personal difficulties. The service is

completely confidential and free of charge. You can make an appointment by contacting the

counselor, Carole Wardlaw, directly on +353 87 9729335 or by emailing [email protected].

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GRADUATION

This year more than 1,000 students will graduate from Griffith College with Quality Qualifications Ireland

(QQI) formally known as Higher Education Training and Awards Council (HETAC), Nottingham Trent

University (NTU), City & Guilds (CGLI) and GCD qualifications. The 2014 Graduation Ceremonies will

take place on-campus in the Griffith College Conference Centre where, on the day, graduates can

look forward to celebrating their achievements with family, friends and staff. Evening entertainment is

also provided. Further details of this event are available on www.gcd.ie/graduation

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Established in 2005, the Griffith College Alumni Association aims to maintain lifelong links with former

students, celebrate their successes, and provide support. Membership of the association is automatic

and free upon graduation (or completion of programmes), and currently stands at 22,000 members

worldwide. Members can avail of the Griffith College Benefit Scheme, which offers discounts on a

range of goods and services. Registration and further details are available at

www.gcd.groupscheme.com. For further details of the Alumni Association, including a full calendar of

events, please refer to our website www.gcd.ie/alumni or e-mail [email protected].

STUDENT FEEDBACK

Since its establishment the College has been aware of the benefits of Quality Assurance. The

importance and indeed effectiveness of, for example, gathering and responding to student feedback

has long been appreciated. In order to ensure that we provide the very highest standards in terms of

educational and other such student services, we ask all of our students to give their feedback on both

their lecturers and the Colleges services and facilities once per semester. Regular feedback like this

allows you to communicate your opinions on certain aspects of College life and also helps us by

providing valuable information for revising, improving and developing the delivery of our programmes

the services we provide. These surveys represent a valuable assessment tool for the College and we

take your responses and suggestions very seriously.

The Colleges Quality Assurance Manual is available for all to view online at

www.gcd.ie/qualityassurance

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Accidents and Emergencies

It is extremely important that any accident or injury is immediately reported to a member of staff in

order to facilitate prompt medical attention. In the absence of a member of staff in the vicinity of the

incident, Reception should be notified, Security may also be contacted at +353 1 4150 495.

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Evacuation and Fire Alarm Response

All College buildings are equipped with fire alarm systems and fire extinguishers. The fire alarms will be

activated and the buildings evacuated if a fire or other incident occurs that endangers persons inside

the buildings. As stated in the College’s Safety Statement whenever a fire alarm is activated you are

required to evacuate the building, go to your nearest assembly point and do not return to the building

until the all clear is given by a Fire Marshall or designated member of staff. If you discover a fire or other

incident that endangers the people inside a building, raise the alarm by breaking the nearest

available break glass point and then follow the evacuation procedures. Do not attempt to tackle a

fire. Please co-operate with all instructions from a Fire Marshall or designated member of staff.

Please note: Fire drills are conducted from time to time. As with actual fire alarms, fire drills require

immediate evacuation of the building and outdoor assembly. Please make yourself aware of your

nearest means of escape.

Property and Equipment

You must not intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse any equipment etc. provided for the

safety, health or welfare of students and staff. Should you become aware of any defect in equipment,

or of property, place of work or system of work that might endanger safety, health or welfare you are

requested to report this to a member of staff.

HEALTH SERVICE

Harcourt Health Centre is a combined GP and Dental practice close to Griffith College at the junction

of Camden Street Upper and Harcourt Road.

Doctor Telephone +353 1 475 9544

General Practice Opening Times

Monday: Thursday: 8:00am – 7:00pm

Friday: 8:00am – 6:00pm

Dentist Telephone + 353 1 475 9551

Dental Opening Times:

Monday: 8am – 7pm

Tuesday: 8am -6pm

Wednesday: 8am – 5pm:

Thursday: 12noon – 5:00pm

Friday: 8am -1pm

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INTERNATIONAL OFFICE

The International Office is located on the ground floor of the Daniel O’Connell building

(D009). The International Office acts as a resource for international students in the College.

You can e-mail the International Office at [email protected] or visit the office during their

contact hours (9.30-17.30 Monday - Friday). The International Office will assist you in applying

for a PPS number, opening a bank account and renewing visas.

Special Note on Attendance for International Students

Apart from College regulations as set out above, the Irish Department of Justice Guidelines

outline that International students must maintain an attendance level of 80% or more for the

duration of their course. Any attendance level lower than 80% is not acceptable. The

International Office also monitors attendance on a regular basis to ensure that all

International students adhere to this regulation. If there is a valid reason for non-attendance,

you are required to provide an explanation along with any relevant documentation to your

Faculty Administrator and also send a copy of this documentation to the International Office.

In this case, certified or documented absences will not affect your attendance record.

Visa Extension Letter Requests

This service is only provided by the International Office. Students must apply for a Visa

Extension letter using the on-line letter ordering system – www.gcdinternationaloffice.ie.

Having completed the letter ordering process, you will automatically receive an email giving

the date you must call to the International Office to sign off on your request. When doing so,

you will be given your attendance rate and the date after which you may go to the Garda

National Immigration Bureau to renew your visa. It is imperative that you have a valid email

address when using the on-line letter ordering system. You should apply for a Visa Extension

letter a minimum of 21 days prior to your visa expiring.

THE LIBRARY

All the library staff are there to help with your information needs during your time as a GCD

student. They can assist you with sourcing information for your assignments and dissertation

including access to books, journals and databases. They are there to facilitate you, so please

feel free to consult them at any time.

The Library Collection includes books, journals, dissertations, music manuscripts, CDs, videos,

DVDs and computer software as well as online journals and databases for all faculties. Colour

printing, scanning and photocopying facilities are also available within the library.

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Inter-library loans

We encourage you to contact us if you are finding it difficult to source a particular textbook

or article. If we do not carry it within our own resources we will be happy to see if we can

source it through our contacts. For more detailed information on any of our resources and

how to get the most out of them as well as general information on library policies you can

access our information page through Moodle.

Library Opening Hours

During semester

Monday to Friday: 8:30am - 9:30pm

Saturdays: 10:00am - 6:00pm

Outside semester

Monday to Friday: 10:00am - 8:00pm

Saturdays: 10:00am - 6:00pm

We will open on Sundays during exam times; details will be posted closer to the exams.

Please note: Library opening hours may change from time to time, so keep an eye on new

notices in the Library, on our information page on Moodle and on Facebook.

Contacting the library

Phone: +353 1 415 0490 Email: [email protected]

You can access the library section on the college website at www.gcd.ie/library; we are also

available via the front page of Moodle.

MAINTENANCE

As a student of GCD, you are asked to treat the College buildings and the campus with

respect and in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. The maintenance team

provides an ongoing service to ensure that the College grounds and classrooms are

maintained at a high standard for both our day and evening students. Please assist them by

disposing of your litter in the bins provided and by noting that eating and drinking is NOT

permitted in classrooms, computer laboratories or in the Library.

RECEPTION

The College’s Reception team provides assistance and direction to students in relation to

room locations and scheduled classes. Reception is open from 8.30am-8:30pm Monday-

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Friday, and 9 -3:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays during semester. Opening hours vary

outside term-time. Please note that Reception staff cannot accept coursework on behalf of

a Faculty, nor can they provide a messaging service on behalf of students, except in

emergency situations.

STUDENT CARDS

A Student card is issued to students at the beginning of every academic year during their

programme of study, and is valid until August 31st of the following year. If you lose your card,

a replacement card is available from the Library for a fee of €20.

All students must carry their GCD Student Card at all times, and must produce it if requested

by a staff member of the College. Your GCD Student Card remains the property of the

College and must be returned to the Library if you withdraw or are deregistered from your

programme of study.

MyGCD, STUDENT INTRANET, COLLEGE WEBSITE AND EMAIL

MyGCD will be your central resource for all your online college needs during your time with

us. Through this site you will be able to access all your Griffith Online services including

Moodle, student email, and online payments.

The site will also provide you with access to your current and past exam results, information

on the Students' Union, the college counsellor, student discounts and more. You will be able

to update your personal information. For example, in the event of a change of address or

phone number you will no longer have to go to your faculty in person, simply update your

details online here.

GCD’s Intranet or Learning Management System (LMS) is called Moodle. It is the main

resource for your programme information. On Moodle you will find all the information on your

programme and subjects including past exam papers, class notes and exam timetables and

results, access to information databases and prevailing College regulations. You will also find

procedures and academic and supplemental registration forms along with information on

the Students’ Union, International Office and much more.

The main GCD sites are:

www.moodle.gcd.ie – the main site for coursework and information

www.webmail.gcd.ie – for accessing your GCD email

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www.it.gcd.ie – for guides and videos on how to print, configuring your laptop, setting up

anti-virus etc.

www.su.gcd.ie – for information on all SU activities.

Your GCD username and password

Once you are fully registered you should be able to log on to all of the GCD systems. Your

username is your student number and your password is your date of birth e.g. 28/05/1983.

Note that if you change your password on one system this will not be reflected in the others.

Terms and Conditions for Use of the GCD College Network

All students sign the ‘Terms and Conditions for Use of the GCD College Network’ form when

they register with the College. No student is permitted to use the College's computer facilities

without having first done so. This form is available at www.gcd.ie/termsandconditions.pdf

and also from the registration office.

Student email

All students are assigned a new college email account. This account will be for life. All

communications from the college will come through this account including assignment

information and exam results so make sure you are in the habit of checking it daily.

Getting help

Contact: IT Helpdesk - W002, +353 1 4150 499 or email [email protected]

Hours: 9:15am – 7:00pm Monday to Friday

If you have a Moodle specific query please email our dedicated Griffith Online support at

[email protected]. Limited IT support is also available at the Library helpdesk.

STUDENTS’ UNION AND SPORTS AT GCD

Griffith College Students’ Union is the representative body for all GCD students. As the largest

independent College in Ireland, GCD has placed an emphasis on expanding the Students’

Union in line with the expansion of the College. All students are actively encouraged to

become involved so that they can directly influence and organise activities and events. The

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SU Officers hold full-time sabbatical appointments for a period of one academic year and

they are elected by their fellow students every year.

The 2013-2014 SU Officers are:

Paul Walsh (SU Manager)

Aimee Doyle (SU President, Communications and Welfare Officer)

Sean Alari (SU Clubs and Societies Officer)

Claire Aston (SU Vice-President and Entertainments Officer)

The Students’ Union can be contacted by emailing [email protected] or alternatively you

might prefer to drop into the SU Office, which is open daily from 9.30am to 9pm Mon to Thurs

and 9.30am to 5pm on Fridays.

The College’s full-time Student Union Manager offers advice on settling into college life and

assists in the running of the SU. The Student Union Manager, Paul Walsh, can be contacted

by emailing [email protected]

Sports and Societies

GCD has a range of sports clubs and societies, many of which are organized by students.

Current sports clubs include basketball, rugby, soccer (men’s and women’s), volleyball, table

tennis, pool, darts, and cricket. To become a member of any Club or Society, just sign up

during Freshers’ Week, or contact any Students’ Union Officer for more details. Freshers’

Week takes place in the first week of term, and details for the array of events are available

from the Students’ Union Officers.

Students are encouraged to approach the Clubs & Societies Officer with any ideas for new

clubs and societies. Schedules for all societies and clubs are available from the SU office and

are posted on the College’s Facebook Page.

Sporting Facilities

GCD has use of the nearby Iveagh Grounds sports facilities, which are available to Griffith

College students

There is also a fitness room on campus that all Griffith College students can avail of. It’s

equipped with treadmills, bikes, step-masters, leg curls, rowing machine, abs machines etc.

Before using the fitness room students will be asked for a €50 euro membership fee. (€ 10

deposit and 40 membership/annual fee) deposit in return for their ‘key fobs’ and be required

to sign a ‘conditions of use’ form. The fitness room is unsupervised and therefore students

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must have knowledge of how to use the machines and must take responsibility for their own

safety. There is a pool hall on the top floor of the Meagher Building and the SU also has

sporting goods available for student use on campus including footballs, basketballs, rugby

balls etc.

To organize access to the fitness room or borrow any sporting goods(goods may not be

borrowed overnight – only during Students’ Union opening hours) from the SU Office simply

contact them by emailing [email protected] or phoning +353 1 4150 460 or by dropping into

the Students’ Union. Students are asked to leave their student card with the SU Office until

the borrowed items are returned.

ASSESSMENTS & EXAMINATIONS

Introduction

Your academic progress at Griffith College is normally assessed through a combination of

assignments and examinations. It is the responsibility of every student to acquaint themselves

with the College’s rules & regulations governing examinations (QA E9). All forms and policies

referred to in this section are available to download from the student Intranet (Moodle). If

you have any further questions relating to college assessment procedures please contact

your Faculty Administrator. Alternatively you can contact the examinations office on

[email protected] or +353 1 4150 485.

Assignments and Projects

• All course work must be submitted by the appointed deadline. It is college policy not to

grant extensions other than in exceptional circumstances.

• It is important to make and keep a copy of every assignment/ project/ dissertation you

submit to the college.

• Assignments will not be accepted without a signed Assignment Cover Sheet. (These are

available for download on the student Intranet.)

Examinations

For courses that are divided into semesters, examinations typically take place in January and

May. Exams for linear based programmes are in May. A supplemental examination sitting

takes place in August for all courses.

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PLEASE SEE MOODLE FOR A FULL LISTING OF ALL COLLEGE REGULATIONS REGARDING

EXAMINATIONS, INCLUDING GUIDELINES ON PROCEDURES BEFORE, AFTER AND DURING

EXAMINATIONS.

Prohibited Materials

You are not permitted to take any material into the exam venue that might give you an

unfair advantage over other students. You also may not write notes of any kind on your

person. Items that you may not take into an exam include mobile phones, walkmans, MP3

players, IPods, programmable calculators/ dictionaries, computer hardware/software,

lecture notes, texts, papers, dictionaries and pencil cases. Any unauthorised material found

in your possession will be confiscated immediately and your actions may be construed as an

attempt at cheating. A full investigation will take place, which may result in disciplinary

action.

Your results

Examination results are normally available within 4 weeks of the completion of the

examinations. You may access your results on the my.gcd.ie using your student number and

password. (Semester results remain provisional until they have been approved at the relevant

Exam board at the end of the academic year.) Transcripts of results are only issued in hard

copy to students who have successfully completed their programme. It is your responsibility

to ensure that they are sent to the correct address. Any changes to your contact details can

be made on mygcd.ie or by contacting your faculty administrator before your exam(s).

Interpreting Results

How a module result is calculated.

Each assessment component completed is marked out of 100%, with the minimum pass mark

normally set at 40%. The overall result for each module is calculated by multiplying the result

achieved in each component by the associated weighting and then adding the results

together.

Example of how a module result is calculated

Module Name Allocation of Marks Total 100%

Law of Contract 1 Assignment 30% Examination 70% 100

Student Name Result achieved Result Achieved Overall result

Charlie Browne 84% (*.3 = 25.2) 65% (*.7 = 45.5) 71% (25.2+45.5)

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Module Grades

Assessment Grade Explanation

P Pass

D Pass by Compensation

I Deferred component – must resubmit/retake at next available sitting

WH Result withheld from exam board – contact faculty for further details

F Fail. You must repeat all failed components

NP Did not present. You must resubmit /retake relevant components

W Withdrawn at your own request

AW Withdrawn – College decision

X Exemption granted based on prior learning

APL Result achieved through prior credited learning

Pass by Compensation

In some cases learners are permitted to pass a module or component within a module by

compensation. This is possible when the mark achieved is between (35% - 39%) or (45-49) or

according to the pass mark of the programme.

Rules for passing a module by compensation

The learner has been assessed for all modules within the stage.

The learner has not failed any modules within the stage.

The results from all modules are from 1st

attempts

The learner has achieved the deficit marks in another module within the stage.

Rules for passing a component by compensation

The learner has been assessed for all components within the module

The learner has not failed any component by less than the compensatory pass mark .

The result of the overall module is >= the pass mark or the result of the overall module is

within the overall compensatory mark and the rules of passing a module by compensation

are applicable

Overall Results

How an overall result is calculated

The overall result for each year / stage of your programme is represented by the Percentage

Point Average (PPA) achieved within the year / stage. To calculate the PPA, the percentage achieved in each module is multiplied by the credits allocated to the module to determine the Percentage Credit Score. Example of how an overall result is calculated

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Module % Achieved Credits % Credit

Score

Business Policy 60 10 600

Operations Management 65 10 650

Financial Management 72 10 720

Buyer Behaviour 61 10 610

Management Applications

45 10 450

Project 50 10 500

Total Credit Score 3530

The Percentage Credit Scores for each module are added together and divided by the total

credits for the year / stage to arrive at the PPA as indicated below

Total Percentage Credit Score = 3530 Total Credits for stage = 60 Percentage Point Average = 58.9

To find out the credits allocated to each module associated with your programme, please

refer to the approved programme schedule, which can be obtained from your faculty.

Overall Results Explanation

Pass Successfully completed all modules in stage

Fail Did not complete one or more modules in stage

WHLD Results withheld from Exam Board – contact faculty for further details

DEF Deferred one or more components/modules in stage

WDRW Withdrawn from Programme – students request

AWDRW Withdrawn from Programmes – College Decision

Award Classifications

How to calculate an Award Classification

The classification awarded is normally based on the Percentage Point Average achieved in the final stage of the programme. The award classification correlates to the PPA achieved and the Award Classification Bands

relevant to your programme of Study. For further information, please contact your Faculty. Award Classification Bands

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Masters Degree (NFQ Level 9) PPA Award Classification

40-59 PASS

60-69 2nd CLASS HONOURS

>=70 1st CLASS HONOURS

Post Graduate Diploma (NFQ Level 9) PPA Award Classification

40-59 PASS

60-69 MERIT

>=70 DISTINCTION

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Honours Degree (NFQ Level 8)

Higher Diploma (NFQ Level 8) Higher

PPA Award Classification

40-49 PASS

49-59 2nd CLASS HONOURS GRADE 2

59-69 2nd CLASS HONOURS GRADE 1

>=70 1st CLASS HONOURS

Certificate, Higher Certificate

(NFQ Level 6)

Degree (NFQ Level 7)

PPA Award Classification

40-49 PASS

49-59 MERIT GRADE 2

59-69 MERIT GRADE 1

>=70 DISTINCTION

All awards — other than minor awards and supplemental awards shall be classified

A ‘Pass’ classification of an award is a positive statement of achievement.

Minor Awards and Special Purpose Awards are normally unclassified. Special-purpose awards which have a volume of at least 60 credits and are comparable to a major award (at the same NFQ level) may have the same classification as the major award.

Exam Boards

Examination Board meetings are normally held twice a year, in June and September. The

purpose of the Examination Board is for external examiners to review student work and to

approve students’ provisional results.

What to do if you fail an exam?

What Constitutes a Fail

For most programmes, the pass mark is 40%. If you receive less than 40% in your overall

assignment mark and/or your overall examination mark you must resubmit the assignment

/retake the exam of the failed component for consideration by the supplemental Exam

Board in the autumn at the next available sitting. However, two very important

consequences should be noted:

• Regardless of how well you perform in your repeat exam or assignment the results of that

component will be capped at the minimum pass mark. • For most full time courses, failure in

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the repeat attempt in any module automatically means you are not normally permitted to

progress to the next stage of the award.

Discussion of results Students are afforded the opportunity of discussing their results with lecturing staff. Such consultations are aimed to give guidance regarding future performance. Requests for a consultation meeting must be submitted in the appropriate manner as outlined in faculty guidelines. Administrative re-check of assessment results A re-check refers to the operation of checking the administrative recording and addition of marks; it does not involve any review of assessment performance. Request for re-checks must be received not later than five working days after the results have been released on my.gcd. The request must be submitted on the appropriate form to the Course Administrator, together with the receipt of fee payment of €100. In the event of an error being found, the fee will be refunded. Appeal of results

Further information on the following is available on Moodle:

• Important info on conduct and guidelines before, during and after examinations

• Special circumstances incl. extensions, deferrals and appeals

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Administrative/Student Support Locations and Contact Details

Department/Service Email Address Telephone Number Room Number

Accounts/Fees Office [email protected] +353 1 4150 483 D006

Admissions Office [email protected] +353 1 4150 411 D013

College Counselling

Service

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Examinations Office [email protected] +353 1 4150 485 D216

` +353 1 4160 348 D216

[email protected] +353 1 4140 498 Link block,

International Office [email protected] +353 1 4150 488 D009

+353 1 4150 449

Library [email protected] +353 1 4150 490 ArthurGriffith,

2nd floor

+353 1 4150 491

+353 1 4150 492

Registration Office [email protected] +353 1 4163376 D005

Reception [email protected] +353 1 4150 400 Arthur Griffith,

ground

Students’ Union [email protected] +353 1 4150 418 Meagher

Building

Quality Assurance Officer [email protected] +353 1 4150411 D005

Faculty Locations and Contact Details

Business [email protected] +353 1 4150 416 D105

[email protected] +353 1 4150 425 D105

Computing [email protected] +353 1 4150 428 W103

Design [email protected] +353 1 4150 423 B Block

Graduate Business School [email protected] +353 1 4150 494 A111

Journalism [email protected] +353 1 4150 451 D014

Law law @gcd.ie +353 1 4150 462 D204

Leinster School of Music & Drama [email protected] +353 1 4150466 B003

Academic Calendar 2013-2014

SEMESTER 1

SEMESTER 2

Week W/C Date Activity Week W/C Date Activity

16/09/2013 Semester One Induction 20/01/2014 Semester Two Induction

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1 23/09/2013 Lectures Start 19 27/01/2014 Lectures Start

2 30/09/2013 20 03/02/2014 Prep Boards

3 07/10/2013 21 10/02/2014

4 14/10/2013 22 17/02/2014

Provisional Results

Released

5 21/10/2013 23 24/02/2014

6 28/10/2013 24 03/03/2014

7 04/11/2013 GCL Graduation 4th 25 10/03/2014

8 11/11/2013

Assignment Week /

Graduation Ceremonies 26 17/03/2014 Assignment Week

9 18/11/2013

27 24/03/2014

10 25/11/2013 28 31/03/2014

11 02/12/2013 29 07/04/2014

12 09/12/2013 30 14/04/2014

13 16/12/2013 Lectures End (20/12) 31 21/04/2014 Lectures End (25/4)

14 23/12/2013 32 28/04/2014 Study Week

15 30/12/2013 33 05/05/2014

Exams Start Wed May

7th

16 06/01/2014

Exams Start Wed 8th

Jan 34

12/05/2014

17 13/01/2014 35 19/05/2014

Exams Finish Wed May

21st Fashion Show May

21st

18 20/01/2014

Exams Finish Wed Jan

22nd / Jan 22 open day 36 26/05/2014

Semester 3

Week W/C Date Activity

40 23/06/2014 Results released (27/06)

41 30/06/2014

26

42 07/07/2014

43 14/07/2014

44 21/07/2014

45 28/07/2014

46 04/08/2014 Exams Start Wed 6th

47

48 18/08/2014 Exams Finish Friday 22nd

49 25/08/2014

50 01/09/2014

51 08/09/2014

52 15/09/2014 Results Released (20/09)

53 22/09/2014

Semester One 14/15

Lecturers Start