Engagement and the Lack of Engagement Process

What does the University mean by ‘engagement’?

The University expects that students:

  • attend and actively participate in all timetabled lectures, meetings and other activities arranged in relation to their course*, including those offered remotely;
  • make appropriate use of their UniLearn (e.g. Blackboard, Panopto, Turnitin);
  • submit assessments on time;
  • respond to University communications in a timely manner.

*Check with your course team about any specific requirements for your course. See also Student Charter.

Attendance and Absence

Good attendance is a crucial part of engagement, but we understand that sometimes you may have to miss a scheduled activity. For more information see Attendance and Absence.


Dolphins

Where your engagement with your course is considered to be unsatisfactory the Lack of Engagement process may be instigated by your course team.  They will contact you initially to discuss re-engagement with the course. If you receive an email it is important that you respond within the relevant timeframes.  The diagram below outlines the full process:

Lack of Engagement Process

This diagram is also available as PDF.

The Progression Advice Team will work with you to identify reasons why you aren't engaging. They will discuss your concerns or difficulties and explore options and support to help you to re-engage with your course.

Conditions of re-engagement will be agreed with you and shared with your course team. It is important that you meet these conditions, as you may be referred to be withdrawn if you do not.

Where re-engagement is not possible for you, they will explore other available options.

It’s important for you to get help. The Wellbeing Advice Team can help you look at the range of support options that may be open to you.

If you are unable to engage with your studies due to your physical or mental health the Support to Study regulations may apply. 

If the Support to Study process is unsuccessful, students may be referred via the Lack of Engagement process.


You should contact the Disability Advice Team to discuss the available support.

If you are unable to engage with your studies due to your physical or mental health the Support to Study regulations may apply. 

If the Support to Study process is unsuccessful, students may be referred via the Lack of Engagement process.

If your engagement issues are not resolved, you may be withdrawn from your course, in which case you will be sent a Notice of Withdrawal email.

If you are notified of an intention to be withdrawn, you have the right to appeal within 10 working days from the date that notification is received. The notification is sent via email, and will provide details of the appeals procedure.

The grounds under which you may appeal are:

  • That you were unable to engage in the University’s procedures at the time for good reason;
  • That the procedures were not conducted fairly and/or in accordance with the published regulations.

If you have been withdrawn due to lack of engagement, you will not normally be allowed to reapply for a minimum of twelve months from the date this decision was made.

After this period, you may have the right to re-apply but your previous study will be taken into consideration along with any supporting evidence of further experience or academic study taken since leaving the University. Please refer to the Admissions Policy.

Meeting with the Progression Advice Team will enable you to discuss your concerns or difficulties with your studies and will aim to help you to re-engage with your course. They will also signpost you to other support services.

Further support can be accessed through the Wellbeing Advice Team or the Chaplaincy.

Sometimes you might feel you need support that is independent of the University, for example if you’d like to bring someone along when you meet with the Progression Advice Team. In that case we would advise you to contact your Students' Union.


You may be thinking about leaving university for any number of reasons but there may be options or other things to consider before you take that last step. This Thinking of leaving USW? pathway provides suggestions, possible options, and advice on where to ask for more information or help.

If you have decided to withdraw or interrupt your studies it is essential that you contact the Advice Zone and complete the appropriate process as you will still be liable for fees until you have ended your contract with USW. Please note that ceasing to attend classes does not in itself constitute a formal withdrawal.