Five University Staff Members Every Student Should Get To Know

I realize that from reading this blog, you could get the impression that going to university is some kind of major trauma you’ll never recover from (what with all the essay stress, exam stress, homesickness, break-ups, guns and zombies…) We’re not trying to put you off, honest! The idea is really to make sure you have the best time possible.

One of the simplest and most effective ways of doing this is just to remember how many university staff there are on campus, who are not only willing and able to help you out – they’re actually paid to do so.

Rather than waiting until a problem comes up, you’ll often get the most benefit by being proactive and familiarizing yourself with the various services available, even when everything seems to be going well. For one thing, there are probably ways of making your life easier that you hadn’t even thought of yourself.

So, here are my top five university staff members to get to know, to ensure you get the most out of your university experience…

1. Course tutors

This may seem obvious – they’re the university staff you’re most likely to come into regular contact with (also known as lecturers, supervisors, teachers, convenors, dons or professors).

Most academic tutors are very busy, but many are also extremely approachable, and keen to engage with their students. If you’re at a university with very small teaching groups (such as Oxford or Cambridge), then you’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions, challenge yourself, seek advice, and generally get the full benefit of their knowledge and experience.

In a larger group, you’ll need to make an extra effort. If you have a quick question, try catching the tutor at the start or end of a session. Otherwise, it’s common for academics to have weekly ‘drop-in’ sessions, when they make themselves available for students, or else you can email to arrange a good time to talk.

It’s best to get at least some face-to-face interaction, as you’re much more likely to stick in their mind that way – which could be useful in future if you need to ask for references, advice or contacts.

2. University Librarian

Even if you’re taking a course in which you spend more time in the lab than the library, you’re guaranteed to need at least one book during a semester – if not, you’re probably doing something wrong! And taking time to get to know a university librarian can definitely pay off.

Again, they’re often busy, but if you arrange a time in advance, they should be more than willing to give you a personal induction to all the resources available, both physical and online. (You will probably have had a group induction, but it’s difficult to pick up everything in one go, and they may not have covered everything in full.)

As well as ensuring you’re able to use all the research resources the university has to offer, establishing some personal rapport with a university librarian could also be useful if you want to ask them to purchase a new book or journal subscription, or if you’re having difficulty figuring out how to access what you need.

3. Accommodation advisors

Most universities have some staff in charge of helping students access suitable accommodation. Here, the benefits are obvious – whether you need help finding somewhere to rent, you want to change accommodation halfway through the year, you want to check your legal rights as a tenant, or you need to store your possessions during the holidays.

As will all the staff listed here, accommodation advisors are there to help. And while all of these issues may be things you’re able to deal with yourself, they’re likely to be much less hassle if you get help from someone who does this every day, knows the area, has good contacts and so on.

4. International student support

A growing number of universities have a dedicated team for supporting international students, and if you are studying abroad, they’re likely to be your first point of call for many issues – starting from before you arrive.

They’ll be experienced in helping with visa applications or renewals, applications, advising on what to take with you, fee payments and financial support, and pretty much anything else that comes up. It’s also part of their job to welcome international students, help them settle in and make sure their experience is a positive one.

5. Careers advisors

There may have been a time when career advisors just for those in the final stages of their degree. This is no longer the case. Nowadays career advisors have something to offer for all students. This could include:

• help finding an internship, summer placement or part-time job
• participation in a mentoring or work shadowing scheme
• access to volunteering opportunities in the local area
• employer fairs and talks from visiting speakers

I’ll finish by stressing that these are just a few of the many university staff worth getting to know on campus! Keep an open mind, return smiles, ask questions, and get involved…