6.5
Student Support Services
At University wide level, the Student Learning Advisory Service, Careers Service, Disability and Dyslexia Support Unit and Counseling Service all provide students with vital support. The general feedback in the focus group relating to these services was around accessibility and availability. Students highlighted that the Student Learning Advisory Service can be difficult to locate, whilst the waiting time for an appointment at the counseling service is perceived as being too long. The Kent Union Advice Centre received positive feedback from members of the focus group and the professionalism of the service was commented on, like other student support services, some students seemed unclear about where the service is located. Kent Union’s Advice Centre has offers advice on a range of matter including housing, immigration, academic appeals and student finance. Staff in Advice Centre offer assistance to students who complete applications to the Access to Learning Fund (ALF). At the end of the 2006/07 Spring Term a survey was carried out to provide the University’s student financial support functions gain a valuable insight into the efficiency and effectiveness of the service provided. Overall the results were excellent, with 99% of students rating the information and advice provided by the Kent Union Advice Centre as either good or very good*. This result confirms that the student advisors have the ability to correctly assess a student’s individual circumstances and support students.