Science Faculty

Tutorial Action Plan

The Faculty of Science of the UAM has a Tutorial Action Plan whose objective is to help students with their academic integration and university life. It also seeks to advise them on the resources available for learning and offer them support in making decisions about their academic itinerary and professional goals.
For this purpose, all students taking courses adapted to the European Higher Education Area have been assigned a Tutor who will guide them in a personalised manner. In addition, regularly scheduled informative sessions are held from the moment courses begin on the major issues for each course, issues such as the course objectives, selection of elective courses, internship options, visits to other countries, final year completion, etc.
Consultations on the Tutorial Action Plan should be directed to the Vice-dean Office of External Practical Training, where this activity is coordinated.

Preamble

The Faculty Meeting Faculty of Sciences of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in June 2008 approved, among its general lines of action, the objectives of “broadening the application of the Tutorial Action Plan that provides for student orientation and monitoring of their learning progress.” Additionally, the Governing Council of April 2008 set out in their “Criteria for the Development of Learning” that an academic orientation programme must be included in the design of new degrees, which includes tutorial action planning. Given the need for developing tutorial action plans, the Committee for Coordinating the European Higher Education Area approved on April 21, 2009 a document of “Basic Directives for the Degree Tutorial Action Plan of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.” Drawing on these directives, the Faculty of Science will develop and implement the Tutorial Action Plan of its degrees adapted to the European Higher Education Area.

1. Objectives and agents of the degree tutorial action plan (PAT).

The PAT will be divided into sequential activities in accordance with the objectives of the degree and the student's needs in terms of information, training and orientation. Tutorial action will have following basic objectives:

To facilitate the students' academic integration into the university and encourage their participation in university life and in the organisations devoted to participation and management.
To guide students in the availability and use of learning resources.
To provide support to students in configuring their academic and professional goals.
To guide students on options for job placement and continuing education.

The officials responsible for developing the various activities within the PAT are:

University: Vice-Chancellors, Office of Student Orientation and Services, COIE, Library Services, etc,
Faculty of Science: Vice-deans Office (Office of External Practical Training, Office of International Relations, information services, etc.) and degree coordinators.

2. PAT development phases

Reception. This lasts from pre-registration until the end of the first semester and is the transition phase from Secondary Education to University. This phase includes the initial group meeting with the students where information is provided on curriculum, academic regulations, facilities, university services, etc. In addition, this phase will present the PAT, the tutors and the first meetings with these tutors. At the start of the second semester, a new group meeting will take place.
Follow-up. This lasts from the first to the third undergraduate year and involves guidance in curriculum planning (selection of itinerary, mobility, external practical training, etc.), extracurricular activities and suggestions for the registration of subjects and academic performance improvement. Vocational guidance and information on final year projects is also offered.
Completion of studies and professional placement. Lasts for the final year in the degree. Student information and orientation will be provided for preparing the final year project, internship training, job placement and continuing education.

3. Job functions of the PAT agents

All PAT agents will participate in all phases and share the same general objectives while the main activities performed by each will be different:

4. Appointment, recognition and training of tutors

To ensure the carrying out of the PAT included in the reports for verification of degrees, the Degree Committees will propose the number of tutors and the departments from which they originate. All departments of the Faculty of Science are eligible. The departments in turn will designate the tutors from among the permanent teachers in their staff. If needed, the departments may designate tutors from among the non-permanent teachers. The selection of Teaching Assistants would be advisable.

Pending approval of the Faculty Activity Plan (PAP) by the University, the Faculty of Science will adopt a recognition of the dedication of two hours by the tutors for each student and academic course tutored. Teachers who serve as tutors will teach, by request of the Degree Committees, between 5 and 15 students, with 10 the recommended number. The tutoring of a student will start the first year and continue until the completion of studies with possible tutor reassignment should the student's academic itinerary depart significantly from the tutor's area of knowledge. In exceptional cases, the departments may relieve an assigned tutor from one authorised student to another. The tutors will receive an appointment and institutional accreditation as such.

Training of tutors may be carried out through manuals, online material or in person. The Faculty of Science will develop a manual and schedule for the PAT targeted at tutors. The University will offer tutors a training service and basic support for the PAT, as well as an institutional information website and resources for tutorial action.

5. PAT Schedule

Table 2 shows the PAT schedule for the degrees run by the Faculty of Science. The Degree Committees may extend the activities included in their PAT schedule; however the Faculty of Science will ensure the consistency in the structure of the PAT for their degrees.

6. PAT Coordination

The Vice-dean of External Practical Training shall act as coordinator of the centre's PAT. Each degree will have a PAT coordinator appointed for that purpose. During the first year of implementation of the degrees, pending the appointment of coordinators, the Vice-dean of External Practical Training will also assume the coordination of PAT in the degrees.

The coordination functions of the centre's PAT include:

Preparation of concise manuals for tutors with the description of activities to be undertaken, the time and resources to be used, as well as a guide to frequently asked questions and recommended responses.
Contact with pre-registered students to provide information on the Faculty of Science for the chosen degree and to offer a helpdesk service.
Assign tutors to students.
Mediation in cases of conflict between tutors and students and reassignment of tutors if necessary.
Monitoring and review of PAT.
Meetings with Degree Coordinators and PAT Degree Coordinators to establish content and schedule of activities.
The functions of the PAT Degree Coordinators include:

Meetings with tutors to establish content and schedule of activities.
Collaboration in the preparation of manuals for tutors.
Collaboration in PAT monitoring, evaluation and review.
Collaboration in the assignment of students to tutors.

8. Student obligations

Students must contact their tutors after the initial group meeting to facilitate meetings between tutors and the tutored. Attendance at meetings convened by the tutors is mandatory. Students are required to contact their tutor before attempting academic management such as withdrawal from courses and changes in registration or validation, actions which may depend on the tutor's report. Such a report shall be mandatory for resolving permanent cases.

9. Monitoring, evaluation and review of PAT

During the implementation of new degrees, the PAT will be evaluated and reviewed annually as the need for changes arises, always with approval by the Faculty Board. A survey will be conducted of the students and those involved in its development to identify deviations and possible actions for improvement and correction.