O U S AStudent Support
O U S A provides a number of ways of supporting students. The most obvious is the local branch, which not only provides social events, it also offers an opportunity for students to get together and discuss ways of dealing with issues relating working and coping with family life while undertaking intensive study courses. We can swap experiences and ways of managing different problems, as well as sharing our successes.
There are also more specific ways in which O U S A provides support for students:
S S L and D S L are elected by Regional Forums and are regionally-based, so often have a wealth of contacts, both locally and within the wider O U community. They understand from experience what it is like to be an O U student and will not dismiss as trivial something that is causing concern.
To be put in touch with a S S L or D S L, please contact the O U S A Office via email: ousa@student.open.ac.uk, telephone: (01908) 652026; or write to:
O U S A,
PO Box 397,
Walton Hall,
Milton Keynes,
MK7 6BE
Student Support Links
Student Support Links (S S Ls) are Open University students who volunteer their time to help others with problems that are affecting their studies, when they may not feel able to approach their tutor for whatever reason or are not sure whom to contact.
S S L: Roland Darvell
Disabled Student Links
Disabled Student Links (D S Ls) have a similar brief, but with particular reference to issues affecting disabled students. They can usually put the student enquirer in touch with the right people and resources, or provide a listening ear if that is what is required.
D S L: Caroline Hands
You can also get help, information and advice from the
Disabled Students Group
Student Academic Links
There are also student support volunteers associated with faculties, again elected for each region. At the moment, all these posts in the Eastern Region are vacant. If you’d like to consider standing for one of these posts, or if you’d like more information, contact
Steve Blake, E C M
| Faculty | S A L |
|---|---|
| Arts | Roland Darvell |
| Education & Language Studies | Jo Pearce |
| Health & Social Care | Wendy Davies |
| Business & Law | Sue Fuller |
| Maths & computing | Bill Willows |
| Science | Karen Scott |
| Social Science | Rachel Extance |
| Technology | Michael Magarinos |
Peer Support Online: O U S A — P S O : The Unknown Support Group
Why unknown? Well...
- The volunteer Peer Supporters who offer the service do so anonymously and confidentially;
- many students are currently unaware that this support is available to them
For information go to O U S A Peer Support Online
