Check out what students have said about using the Support & Advocacy service

Who are the Support and Advocacy team?

Support and Advocacy are the 'advice' part of the Student Union that runs a confidential service independently from the University.  Support and Advocacy can help if you:

• Are unhappy with your course (eg standard of teaching, course content, study facilities etc).
• Want to complain about a wider University service (eg housing, library, campus facilities)
• Want to find out if you can appeal your results
• Have been accused of academic misconduct and would like some support
• Are facing disciplinary proceedings from the University
• Want to report an incident  involving another student
• Would like housing advice

Here are a couple of examples of the feedback we have received from students who have used our service:

Story 1:

I found the service provided by the Student Union Support & Advocacy Team to be very useful. My Exceptional Circumstances application had been declined and I had thought the matter was closed. I contacted your department in the hope that the decision could  be reconsidered.

You made matters easier for me by liaising with {University staff member}allowing me to make progress with my problem. By doing so, you took the stress and worry away. You sorted out the confusion surrounding my situation and made me realise there was a positive way forward.

By listening to me and treating me with respect you put me at ease and gave me confidence that the matter would be resolved. Thank you for your understanding of my situation and for the help you gave me. I remain extremely grateful.  

Story 2:

When I was accused of cheating in my exam I didn't understand what was happening and I was so worried -- I thought I would l have to leave University and go back to China without a degree. I wasn't sleeping well because I was so worried about how I would tell my parents. You were very calm and patient with me and helped me understand that this was not going to happen.

I was very grateful that you came to the misconduct meeting with me, you know I got so nervous with the panel and you helped me explain what had happened in the exam to them. When they gave me a zero mark I was really upset again, the worst thing was thinking that they didn't believe me and they thought that I had cheated. Your appeal statement was great, it said everything I was feeling and gave me a legal point as well.

I don't think I would have tried appealing without your help, and I coudn't have written that statement on my own. So now I have been believed, and the zero mark has been taken away so I won't have to do a re-sit in the summer.  I have told my friends about your advice, and I will definitely tell them to talk to you if they have problems with their courses".  

How can you get in touch?

By visiting our office (Room 134 in Falmer House)
By phone (01273) 877038
By email advice@sussexstudent.com