Role of Personal Tutor for LLM Distance Learning Programmes

The role of personal tutor for distance learning students is rather different from that of an on campus personal tutor in a number of respects.  Distance learning students need a different type of support from that offered to on campus students.  The latter are usually studying full time and have access not only to their departmental personal tutor but also to the full range of on campus support services as well as the camaraderie of other students.  In contrast, distance learners are more likely to be mature people who may have been out of education for many years.  They often have responsible and demanding jobs and are studying in isolation, whilst having to balance the demands of employment, study and family life.  The support of the personal tutor is thus vital and is often crucial in maintaining both the desire and ability of distance learners to continue with and successfully complete their studies.

Amongst other things, personal tutors should:-

• assist students with the process of induction into distance learning;
• facilitate and support students in identifying the electronic resources available to them and the routes to access documents via those resources;
• be accessible by email to both UK and overseas students at times when distance learning students are more likely to be engaged in study;
• discuss and agree a realistic personal timetable for the completion of the modules in Part One of the course;
• refer academic queries to the appropriate module co-ordinator;
• encourage students to attend study schools and to engage with fellow students for mutual support and for enrichment of their study experience;
• establish a rapport with students early on in their course so as to give students help and advice about pastoral/non-academic matters insofar as s/he is competent to do so;
• seek to ensure that no student withdraws from the University prematurely for want of support and guidance;
• refer students who need help in coping with a disability to the appropriate University Support Service;
• respect any confidential information s/he receives, unless the student agrees to its further communication to e.g. academic staff or course co-ordinator;
• remember that the guiding principle should always be that the relationship between personal tutor and student must remain a professional, not a personal one.