Higher Education Information Sheet

FACILITIES AND RESOURCES

HIGHEREDUCATIONINFORMATION SHEETS

FACILITIES

Teaching roomsWhen you start your course you will receive a time table which will detail your teaching rooms. These rooms will be your designated study area for the times scheduled unless changed by your tutor. An advantage of studying in a college environment is the fact that class sizes are significantly reduced, meaning that students receive a high level of academic and personal support from lecturers and personal tutors, many of whom have postgraduate qualifications and extensive teaching and industry experience.

HE Study Room The HE Study Rooms are designated spaces for all HE students to use. They are located at both Bridgwater and Cannington Centres and can be used for study space and group work. They are an ideal environment for HE students to work together or for a quiet study space. All HE students have access to either room regardless of what site you are predominately located.

In order to enter the room at Bridgwater you will need to use your college student ID card to swipe access in to the room. If you have any queries regarding access please ask any member of the library team or the HE Quality Team HE@bridgwater.ac.uk.

Issue 1 — Jan 2015 Contents correct at time of publication

Hair & Beauty Zone (Bridgwater Centre)It includes six superbly furnished hair and beauty salons, in which students learn a range of hairdressing skills which includes haircutting, colouring and perming, and beauty treatments to include facials, manicures, pedicures, eyebrow shaping and eyelash tinting, waxing, massage and electrical body-toning treatments. Specialist courses in aromatherapy, reflexology and media make-up are also offered.

During term-time, the salons are also open to the public, enabling students to work with paying clients, under the supervision of experienced, qualified staff. See opening times and treatment details here. To make an appointment, please call the Hair and Beauty Zone on 01278 441310

Food & Drink Students can choose to eat and relax in a variety of outlets. The College Restaurants at our Bridgwater and Cannington Centres offer wide-ranging, value for money menus, with regular special offers and deals, whether you are purchasing breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Being a larger site, Bridgwater also has a fast-food diner, a coffee shop, a juice bar and various drinks and confectionery vending machines. Special dietary requirements are catered for where possible and we aim to source locally grown and organic produce.

Reprographics The Reprographics team are here to provide you with printing services. If you need to create a poster or display, Reprographics can help you with printing in colour, larger scale, on card or ring bind any documents you may need. They are located through the hatch in the main Bridgwater Learning Resources Centre where they will be happy to help you with any printing needs.

Childcare Centre (Bridgwater Centre)The Childcare Centre is located at the College’s Bridgwater Centre. The Centre has purpose built accommodation, with a secure outdoor area. The Centre is open to the general public and children of students, for children from four months to five years. For more information please contact the Childcare Centre on 01278 441270 or email childcare@bridgwater.ac.uk

Sports and leisure There are a number of sports facilities at the Bridgwater Centre including all-weather, floodlit, full size artificial turf pitch, a large sports hall with a sprung floor, a modern gym which is open to students and the community and two well-kept grass pitches.

The Fitness Zone is the College’s state-of-the-art gym, which has cardio and resistance equipment, individual weight resistance machines and free weights. It is utilised by Sport and Public Services students for no cost, but it is also open for students and public membership, at significantly reduced rates compared to the high street.

Also at the Bridgwater Centre is a four court sports hall (suitable for badminton, netball, basketball, volleyball, 5-a-side football and cricket), an astro-turf pitch (full size, all-weather, floodlit), two grass pitches, a cricket pitch, a rugby pitch and a dance studio – all of which are available to hire.

At our Cannington Centre we have a 9 hole, 18 tee Golf Course, Driving Range, Equestrian Centre and The Cannington Activity Centre – these are also open to the public. For public use price details and availability, give the Sports Centre a call on 01278 441322 or email sport@bridgwater.ac.uk

ACCOMMODATION (Cannington Centre)We understand that accommodation is an important factor when choosing to study away from home and we try to ensure that the accommodation we provide is of the highest standard for you to be able to learn in a safe, secure and enjoyable environment.

Living in on-site accommodation is a brilliant way of meeting new friends and gaining confidence and independence. For the majority of our students this will be their first time away from home and we will therefore make every effort to support students in their transition and make their experience as easy as possible.

Any student studying full-time has the opportunity to apply for accommodation. Priority is given to students who study a land-based subject, other specialised courses, those who live outside a 15 mile radius of the campus and higher education students.

The on-site accommodation comprises 116 rooms, the majority of which are single but we do also have a limited amount of shared accommodation available. Rooms are situated across our Cannington Centre. Students are housed dependent on their age and whether they are studying further or higher education; both catered and self-catering options are available for over 18 students. For under 18 students, accommodation costs include a meal card.

Dartmoor HallThe new accommodation block will be in use from September 2014 for full-time students studying at the College. Over 18s in further and higher education can stay there seven days a week, even during half term, and will have the option of a meal card for use in the on-site restaurant from Monday to Friday. Dartmoor Hall consists of 25 bedrooms, all en-suite with queen-sized beds, a desk study area, and wardrobe and drawer space. There will also be a large communal area with a wide-screen TV, as well as a dining area and full catering facilities. Free Wi-fi is available throughout the building which also includes locker rooms, a changing area, laundry room, bike storage and free on-site parking. See our Flickr album below for photos of the block.

Support & ActivitiesIn addition to accommodation, students have access to a wide variety of support and activities which are provided within the accommodation package by the Student Liaison Team; activities are diverse and aim to provide something for every student. All of our accommodation features security controlled access, CCTV and 24 hour security support.

Dartmoor Hall

HIGHER EDUCATION INFORMATION SHEETS

TECHNOLOGY HELPDESKThe Technology Helpdesk is a frontline service and first port of call for basic IT and Multimedia needs of staff and students.

Located directly opposite the Learning Resources Centre at Bridgwater, and close to Reception at our Cannington Centre, the Technology Helpdesk staff are available to provide help, advice and support with a wide range of technology-related activities.

The Technology Helpdesk can help with basic IT support such as logging on to College systems and basic system support, including mobile technologies support. There is also a wide range of audio visual equipment available to borrow including digital and video cameras, laptops, sound recording/playing equipment and data projectors and training and development in the use of the equipment is provided as required.

In addition, the Helpdesk can provide support for using our off-air recording facility IPTV, create student and staff ID cards as well as providing advice on copyright and printing requirements.

Blackboard has information on many IT queries; follow the link below to view this site: Technology Helpdesk

LEARNING RESOURCES CENTRE (LRC)The LRC offers a range of resources to help with your studies. There are areas set aside for quiet study or group work and you will also have access to networked computers, scanners and photocopiers. Wireless access is available throughout the LRC and students are welcome to use their own devices. At both the Bridgwater and Cannington centres there are specific HE Study Rooms which are exclusively for HE students. There you can study in quiet or hire the room to do group work, there are plenty of computers as well as power sockets for laptops. There are also tea and coffee making facilities.

You can borrow books (including fiction), course textbooks, magazines, journals, films and music. National and local newspapers are also provided. We have a collection of online databases and links to websites to help with your research. A free interlibrary loan system is available if we cannot supply books from our stock. You can borrow 6 normal (three week) loans and four restricted (one week) loans - these can be books, CD, journals or two film DVDs. As you are higher level students you can borrow an additional four normal loans.

Opening hours of Bridgwater and Cannington Learning Resources Centre can be seen below:

BRIDGWATER

Monday 8.30am – 6.30pm

Tuesday – Thursday 8.30am – 7.30pm

Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm

Holiday Periods 9.00am – 4.30pm

CANNINGTON

Monday – Thursday 8.30am – 6pm

Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm

Holiday Periods 9.00am – 1pm

(Subject to change, please call the LRC to confirm, 01278 441223.)