NEWS IN BRIEF
Your Services, Your Way
The University is launching a new website that will provide a 'one stop shop' to access the information and services you need. Information has been grouped into themes so that it can be easily accessed by students from a central point on the web, with no hassle of trawling through individual services' websites to find what they are looking for.
Additional features on the website include the ability to customise the theme of the pages, news and events, and you can even insert your own favourite links that will appear on your personalised homepage. Student engagement has been a key part of this project and many features of the new website, including the design and customisation, were student led.
This website launches in anticipation of the new Student and Administrative Services Building which will be completed at the end of 2009 and will provide a very wide range services to students in one location - an iconic building at the main entrance to the University.
Cathryn Harvey, Academic Registrar, said, "The new Student and Administrative Services building will enable us to offer exceptional service to students in one location, and we are working very hard to redesign and improve our current provision in preparation for the move to the new building. However, it's vital that we make information and services accessible virtually as well as physically, and this new website should do just that. I really hope that our students will find it useful.
So when will it be available?
20 May - a link will be available from the current clusters page (www.ncl.ac.uk/clusters) for you to have a peek at and start using
1 Sep - the student services website will be formally launched and replace the student clusters page
If you have any questions about the new website please contact studenteditors@ncl.ac.uk.
By Tom Delamere
O2 “Orgy of Fun” Campaign
O2 are currently running an “Orgy of Fun” campaign that sees universities compete for a whole host of prizes.
The competition is designed to promote O2’s new unlimited SIM card. Competing universities earn points when students become fans the O2 Facebook page. Weekly competitions, in which prizes include a Nintendo Wii and a holiday to Newquay, will run from the 6th of May and participation will earn universities more points. After six weeks, the four top scoring universities will win a fun day based on the television programme “It’s a Knockout”; food, drink and plenty of activities will be on offer for students to spectate or partake in and the event will be hosted by celebrity Dave Berry or (Radio 1’s) Chappers and Dave!
To take part and support Newcastle University, visit www.facebook.co.uk/o2fun and become a fan.
Brand Ambassadors for Newcastle University have also set up a “Newcastle Team” Facebook group for the competition which can be found at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12872792634.
The Edward Sawyer Fundraiser Ball
A fundraiser ball is to be held in memory of Edward Sawyer, one year on from his tragic loss.
Ed, who was once Features and News Editor of The Courier, died in a car accident in May 2007 whilst on a research trip in Sierra Leone. A hardworking individual with a great journalistic passion, Ed has been described by friend and current Courier Editor Gemma Davies as “one of The Courier’s most talented and influential contributors” adding “he will be sorely missed. I’ve no doubt that he would have gone on to be a great journalist one day.”
The ball will be held at The Oakham Rugby Football Club on Saturday 14th of June, 6.30pm until late. The event is in aid of Timap, a legal organisation Ed worked with in Sierra Leone. Dress code is lounge suits and cocktail dresses with a touch of Africa.
Tickets, which cost £45 each, can be purchased in a variety of ways and are on sale until Saturday 17th of May.
For ticket purchase and event information, visit http://edsawyerfundraiser.googlepages.com/edsawyerfundraiser.
UK’s Average Weekly Rent for Students is Increasing
The average weekly rent for a student in the UK has risen 1.5% from last year’s figure to £61.48, a staggering 17% increase over four years according to data from accommodationforstudents.com.
For a student in Newcastle, the average rent stands at £58.90 per week. This amount is below the national average but one that has increased at more than double the rate of the national figure over the past year, showing a growth in student popularity. Leeds and Nottingham show similar trends.
Statistics advance that renting student accommodation in Southern England is more expensive, with London being the dearest city to rent in; the average weekly rent for a student in the capital is £102.85.
In Scotland, Edinburgh and Glasgow have average weekly student rent rates above the UK average along with Dublin (included in accommodationforstudent.com’s survey for the first time this year) in Ireland. Belfast, however, appears to be an anomaly, with rents 16% below the UK average for students per week.
Less popular student locations, such as Stoke and Middlesbrough, offer more affordable accommodation with average weekly rent in the £40 to £45 bracket.
