Staffordshire University

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Staffordshire University
Motto: Create the difference
Established: 1971 (as North Staffordshire Polytechnic)
Type: Public
Chancellor: Baron Morris of Handsworth
Vice-Chancellor: Professor Christine King CBE, DL
Staff: 1,375
Students: 15,190[1]
Undergraduates: 11,795[1]
Postgraduates: 3,395[1]
Location: Staffordshire (Stafford; Stoke-on-Trent; Lichfield), Shropshire (Shrewsbury), United Kingdom
Campus: Urban and Rural
Website: http://www.staffs.ac.uk/

Staffordshire University is a university with its main campus based in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and with other campuses in Stafford & Lichfield.

Contents

[edit] History

North Staffordshire Polytechnic was formed in 1971 from the Stoke-on-Trent College of Art and the North Staffordshire College of Technology (both based in Stoke-on-Trent). The Polytechnic later (in 1977) absorbed a teacher-training college at Madeley.

The Polytechnic was able to develop traditional strengths of the component institutions, eg ceramics, computing and sports education. However, the mining department closed as result of the decline of coal mining in the 1980s. New subjects were developed, for example, in the 1970s North Staffordshire Polytehnic was amongst only a handful of third-level institutions in the UK to offer International Relations as a dedicated degree. The 1992 UK government Research Assessment Exercise placed the International Relations Department as the highest-rated in the institution.

In September 1988 the institution changed its name to Staffordshire Polytechnic. In 1992 it became Staffordshire University, one of the New Universities.

[edit] Accolades

The University is noted for its science departments; in 2002 Psychology was among the top ten in the country, while Molecular Biochemistry and Organismal Biosciences were rated as 'excellent' by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. Forensic science has a purpose-bought 'scene of crime' house.

Staffordshire University's Aerospace & Aeronautics research lab was, alongside both Birmingham and Manchester Universities, an official joint entry into the Ansari X Prize[citation needed].

The School of Computing was originally situated at Blackheath Lane on the edge of Stafford in GEC's former Nelson Research Laboratory. It offered one of the first BSc courses in computing in the United Kingdom and its first major computer was a second hand DEUCE. The School of Computing has now moved to a purpose-built building on the Beaconside campus and the newly refurbished Brindley Building in Stoke, and continues to offer one of the best respected computing degrees in the UK. The Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Technology (FCET) is a Cisco Networking Academy

The University was the first institution to introduce a single honours degree in Film, Television and Radio Studies in 1990. A new Media Centre was opened by Greg Dyke in 2005, comprising radio studios, television news desk and broadcast journalist suite.

Staffordshire Law School is highly regarded, and runs one of only five Legal Practice Courses to be rated "Excellent" by The Law Society.

The Forensic Science degrees (Forensic Science, Forensic Science and Criminology and Forensic Science and Psychology) were accredited by the Forensic Science Society (FSC) in 2007, one of four universities whose courses have been acknowledged for teaching services and high academic quality [1].

[edit] Campuses

Staffordshire University, College Road, Stoke.
Staffordshire University, College Road, Stoke.

Staffordshire University consists of two primary campuses, four smaller campuses, and some overseas links.

[edit] Stoke-On-Trent

The main campus is in Stoke town, Stoke-on-Trent, and primarily offers law, business, sciences, applied computing, arts, design and media production courses. these are split into two areas, one on College Road, and the other (which is more modern looking) on Leek Road.

[edit] Stafford

The Beaconside campus in the town of Stafford mainly offers engineering, technology and computing courses, together with the teaching of some business courses and also nursing on the campus. The Beaconside campus consists of the huge Octagon building, housing the Computing Sciences and extensive computer facilities, the JCB Schools Centre, The Beacon Building for Engineering (Which is currently under renovation), the new Ruxton Technology Centre (named after the previous Dean of School, Professor Tom Ruxton) for computer games design, music, film, design technology, digital film, 3D animation, automotive, aeronautic and sports technology and a new television studio centre opened by the H. M. The Queen on April 1st, 2006 as part of the University's commitment to media technology, in particular Film Production Technology and associated courses.

Nursing courses are taught just around the corner from Beaconside on Blackheath Lane following the integration into the University in 1995 of the Shropshire and Staffordshire College of Nursing and Midwifery, which also has bases in Shrewsbury, Telford and Oswestry.

[edit] Lichfield

In 1998, in partnership with Tamworth and Lichfield College, the University opened a newly built campus in Lichfield quite near Lichfield City railway station.

[edit] Shrewsbury, Telford and Oswestry

This part of the university is mainly for nursing and midwifery courses.

[edit] Overseas

The University has around 5000 students studying overseas on Staffordshire University awards in China, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Greece, Spain and France. (as of June 2005 [2])

[edit] Notes

The University is seeking to develop in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent College and Stoke-on-Trent 6th Form College and with the co-operation of the local education authority and the city council, a "University Quarter" in the urban area to the north-east of Stoke-on-Trent railway station that is already home to the University and the two colleges. The vision is that the University Quarter, through the promotion of excellence, in education, design, architecture and sustainable regeneration will attract both students and developers and become a gateway to the city and to the region. [2]

Nursing courses are taught just around the corner from Beaconside on Blackheath Lane following the integration into the University in 1995 of the Shropshire and Staffordshire College of Nursing and Midwifery, which also has bases in Shrewsbury, Telford and Oswestry.

In 1998, in partnership with Tamworth and Lichfield College, the University opened a newly built campus in Lichfield quite near Lichfield City railway station.

[edit] Accommodation

[edit] Accommodation policy

[edit] Facilities

There are two types of accommodation available at Staffordshire University.

Firstly the En-Suite Halls, which are smaller flats in size and accommodate around 6-8 students in Stoke and 3-5 in Stafford.

Secondly there are the shared bathroom options. These flats house around 14 students in Stoke and 3-7 in Stafford.

Each set of halls comes with a cooker, microwave, freezer(s) and fridge(s).

Students also receive a starter pack containing the following:

  • Cutlery
  • Bedding
  • Crockery
  • Saucepans and Frying Pans
  • Toilet rolls
  • A "handy brown cardboard storage device"
  • Towels (for the kitchen and bathroom)
  • Washing-up utensils
  • Baking tray

The halls are basic but at the same time very affordable (for example, at Stafford Court, the cost is £80 per week en-suite or £60 per week otherwise (2007/8)).

The full accommodation contract, in nine different languages, is available at [3]

[edit] Halls of Residence

The University prides itself on low accommodation costs which range from around £54-£80 a week (2007/8), inclusive of bills, and also prides itself on assuring accommodation for all first year students.

All accommodation is situated close to all teaching, sporting and Union venues.

[edit] Stafford

[edit] On-Campus

The Stafford campus has its own halls of residence, Stafford Court, comprising over 264 en suite single study bedrooms and 290 single study bedrooms with shared facilities. The various houses take their names from villages in Staffordshire: Brocton, Derrington, Eccleshall, Gnosall, Haughton, Knightley, Levedale, Milwich, Norbury, Ranton, Shugborough and Weston. A separate block of larger flats, named after the village of Yarlet, is also on the same site. This comprises an additional 51 single study bedrooms over three floors, each accommodating 17 residents who share a kitchen, dining room and four shower rooms. All of these halls are directly opposite the Stafford campus buildings on Weston Road. All accommodation on the Stafford Campus has 24/7 Security with Stafford Court benefitting from secure access to the accommodation via a two-way intercom system and students can book the "Aston Common Room" for social events at no cost to them. The post room is open from 1pm to 2pm on weekdays (excluding Bank Holidays) for students to collect their post. Students in Stafford On-Campus accommodation have free access to the Internet, via "ResNet", which also allows access to the university network. Keycom is an optional telephone package to which residents can subscribe. A handset is provided in every room. Calls within Halls are free.

[edit] Off-Campus

The off-Campus accommodation at Stafford is called "Beaconside Village", and is ex-RAF accommodation. Beaconside contains 54 semi detached houses arranged around a communal green area, and provides 161 reasonably sized bedrooms. It is situated 1km from the teaching campus.

These properties do not have Keycom or ResNet facilities, however many have had Virgin Media or other services installed by previous occupants.

[edit] Stoke

[edit] On-Campus

At Stoke, Halls of residence are primarily situated on the Leek Road Campus. The shared-bathroom accommodation was sponsored by various local potteries, and halls are therefore named after them, for example Royal Doulton, Coalport, Minton, Spode, Aynsley and Wedgwood Halls. The on campus en-suite accommodation is contained within Clarice Cliff Court, comprising of 7 halls of about 30 students over three floors, are named after female ceramicists: Rachel Bishop, Eve Midwinter, Jessie Van Hallen, Charlotte Rhead, Jessie Tait, Millicent Taplin and Star Wedgwood. Carlton House, Caledonia Road, Queen Anne Street Flats, Cromwell Court, Church Street and Sovereign House are situated off campus, each housing up to 6 people.

[edit] Off-Campus

Away from campus, within a 10 minute walk from the campuses, there are other University owned accommodation, rented to 2 years and post-grad students, and 1st year students who have requested this.

Each of the halls have large car parks, which are free for students to use.

[edit] Private sector

Private sector housing in Stoke-on-Trent is very affordable with prices ranging from £38-£55 a week (exclusive of bills) for basic terraced houses.

The Shelton area of Stoke is where many students choose to live after their first year. The area has many houses which are used by students - each fairly big in size.

Although the area may appear slightly run down and shabby most of the private accommodation is very good and provides students with good access to the University facilities. The closeness of Shelton to the university have turned into what is effectively a mini-student village.

Alternatively there is also the popular College Court Halls - which are privately, not University-run and operate in a similar way to halls. The Halls are situated opposite to Hanley Park and are within close range to the University. The Halls are also newer than most accommodation in the area and also provides students with a large common room with SKY television access. However the cost is much higher than the houses in Shelton.

Private sector accommodation in Stafford tends to be about £10 per week more expensive than in Stoke, but is still very affordable.

[edit] Students' Union

Staffordshire University Students' Union (SUSU) aims to represent students at Staffordshire University, England. SUSU is run by five Sabbatical Officers and four part time Executive Committee Officers, all of whom are held to account by a Union Council.

Student media at Staffordshire University is collectively referred to as GKmedia. It comprises a monthly student newspaper called GKnews, formerly known as Get Knotted (with reference to the Stafford Knot), a radio station that broadcasts on the internet called GKradio and GKtv.[3]

For evening entertainment, a common activity of students, there are Legends and The Lounge (formerly Sleepers) at Stafford, and Ember Lounge (formerly Odyssey) and Leek Road Venue (LRV) at Stoke.

The union provides plenty of weekly events, considering it has two campuses to keep happy. Stafford hosts A "Clubs and Societies Takeover" night on Mondays, Tuesdays are Student nights in Stafford centre, so the union does not provide a specific event, Project Friday, with DJ Chris Lauriello on Friday nights, and a Quiz night on Sundays. At the LRV at Stoke, there is Monday Nights Quiz, Tuesdays Nights Revolver with DJ's Ali and Bigun. Gobble on Wednesdays, Super Friday on Friday with DJ Dan. Saturday nights play host to live music nights which in the past have included Wheatus, Alan Fletcher (Dr Karl from Neighbours) and The Hoosiers. Sadly, the Student's Union has failed to meet popular demand and accommodate the numerous requests for an R'n'B night.

Wednesday afternoons are put aside for the Universities sports teams to carry out their weekly fixtures. These include the Netball, Rugby union and Football sides, as well as each campuses 5-a-side leagues.

At the stoke campus, the LRV plays host to a number of excellent nights. These include a wednesday night (gobble) and a friday night (superfriday). These nights are extremley popular amoungst the community of students, and are seen to be highly rated and also highly recommended to all prospective students.

For more information, see SUSU Website.

For a list of clubs and societies, see List of Clubs and Societies

[edit] Notable alumni

Also the many famous artists produced by Burslem School of Art can be regarded as alumni, as the university is the successor institution.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2006/07 (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet). Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
  2. ^ Maps and further information on the Stoke-on-Trent University Quarter.
  3. ^ GKmedia Website.

[edit] External links


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