Mathematics and Statistics

Mathematics and Statistics

Help and Advice for Undergraduate Students

You are always welcome to approach staff with any problems you have. Staff are not always in their offices. You may need to arrange an appointment at a class or by leaving a message with the secretaries. Emailing the staff member is another option.

People to see to get matters sorted out are your lecturers, tutors or class representatives. The class representatives’ names and contact numbers should be on your course web page . If not, see the Students Association. If you feel that you need further advice, then you may wish to get in touch with the departmental grievance contacts, Mike Steel or Irene David. The department’s disabilities contacts is Sarah Vincent.

Here are some common problems and what to do about them.

Course Planning

The course advisors listed below, will help with any problems you might have deciding which course best suits your needs.

Course content

For help with this, you can see your lecturer during her/his office hours. You can ask your tutor in a tutorial. Make sure you have specific questions to ask and that you have first worked at the problem yourself.

Lectures

Lectures are the framework on which to base your studies. If you are not happy about any aspect of lectures, first approach your lecturer. They do appreciate the chance to sort matters out at a personal level. You may wish to do this through your class representatives. You could also approach your tutor or the departmental grievance committee, or finally the Head of Department.

Tutorials

Our 100-level lectures often contain several hundred students, but they are supplemented by regular small––group tutorials in which you will be given personal assistance with problems arising from the lectures. The Department continues to offer tutorials at levels 200- to 400-level. The importance of tutorials cannot be over emphasised. If you do not participate in tutorials, then you will have great difficulty passing the tests and examinations; you should regard tutorial attendance as compulsory.

Talk to your tutor if tutorials are not working for you.

Tests and exams

Personal circumstances can cause you to miss a test or exam, or impair your performance in them. The University Calendar or the Enrolment Handbook should be consulted for the regulations concerning aegrotats, but you should also see the lecturer in charge of the course.

If you don't tell us, we can't help you!

Preparation courses

If you intend to enrol in MATH 101, MATH 102, or STAT 101 and feel that your background is inadequate then the preparation courses that we run in January/February may be for you. These courses are advertised in the Enrolment Handbook and in the Student Guide or on the Science Headstart page of the summer courses website. Pamphlets and further information can be obtained from Reception on Level 4, Erskine building.

Private tutoring

If you need regular individual help, a list of private tutors is available from reception.

Personal well being

Don't forget there are many university services available to help with your physical and mental well–being. These include the Student Health and Counselling Service, Liaison Office, UC Careers & Employment, International Student Support and the Chaplaincy Service. For further details see the Student Guide available from Level 1, Registry building.