Introduction

1. Introduction 30 interviews were conducted with the various offices which cater for registered students in schools. 20 out of the 22 schools currently in existence in the university were surveyed, with AHC and LLC the two schools about to merge left out of the survey as current practices are due to change.

2. Among the 20 schools surveyed: • 50% had a combined office which catered for all students from undergraduate through to doctoral studies; • 13% combined their PGT/PGR offices and had a separate UG office; • 7% combined UGT/PGT offices and separated PGR; • Only one school separated students into separate offices for all levels.

3. 57% of the current offices open at least between the hours of 9-5, of which 8% opened earlier. All closed by 5. • A further 29% open at least between the hours of 10-4, with some opening slightly later or earlier, but all close by 4.30. • 6% of offices open later than 10, but are consistently open until at least 4. • 5% of offices, in essence around 2 or 3 offices, close for lunch. • These responses may not reflect offices’ actual opening hours when faced with absences, annual leave, training, or busy times such as staff out of the office in exam boards. Some offices operated reduced hours during vacations, or extended hours at start of year or during examinations.

4. Single telephone and email points • 59% of office have a single telephone number; • 41% of offices have a single email. • It needs to be considered that in those cases where an office had one number, that particular office may only cater for one group of students in that school, it does not mean that 59% of schools have a single telephone number, this also applies to the single email.