Helping students shine bright: Q+A with Catherine McCulloch

What’s the feeling like as a higher education student in animal management at Merrist Wood?

I think it feels very warm and welcoming. Students say they love the fact there’s a dedicated building and teaching space just for them – so almost all learning is delivered either there, in the animal management centre, or on the Merrist Wood estate. As a team of tutors we get on well, and I think that comes across to the students. It’s the little things that make a difference – for example, we know everybody by name, and we have a breakfast club with fruit, cereal and toast put out every morning for the students. There’s more to it beyond the teaching side, and we do some social events together, like film nights and trips. Tutors are always available to students – it’s a supportive environment of people who want to see students achieve their potential and do their best.

What does your job involve?

I provide academic support to students, and help students who need extra support. Even before students apply, we’ll have conversations and make plans for students if they have additional needs. Once students have started studying with us, I teach a whole range of academic skills through the Development of Personal & Professional Skills module. This covers a lot of things – how to use research materials online, how to structure an assignment, how to reference and cite research, and also things like presentations and time management – as many students are also working alongside their studies. It’s a whole range of skills that will set students up to succeed academically – and these skills can also be applied to their future jobs. The other part of my job is to have one-to-one sessions with students, and the content of these sessions depends on the individual needs of students.

What do students get out of one-to-one sessions with you?

There are all sorts of reasons students need a little extra support. So if they’ve got a low grade on an assignment, they can come to me and we’ll make an action plan together on how they can improve. If a student is struggling with a financial issue, we can help them find out about bursaries and other solutions. Some students have specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, so I can help them make a plan to navigate their work easier. For students who have ADHD, they can feel overwhelmed and distracted by all the ‘noise’ – so I’ll spend some time planning with them – either to tackle an individual assignment, or how to manage their week.

What do students say about the extra support they receive from you?

I think having someone to talk to who isn’t their teacher or lecturer – but who is still aware of what they’re studying – seems to be really helpful. We have a variety of younger students who came to us soon after leaving school, and also mature students. Everyone has slightly different needs – students coming straight from school may need a little support with the step up to higher education level, while mature students might need to regain confidence after being out of education for a while. Everyone is unique, but I’m here to help. Students have said things to me like: “I should have come to see you sooner” or “I didn’t realise you were going to be able to help me so much.” It seems to be reassuring for students to realise there is extra support available, and the fact it’s individually focused mean students get exactly what they need. It helps them succeed in their studies, and it builds their confidence too. It’s quite unique for a small department to have dedicated academic support, but we really see the benefits through how our students flourish.