Professional Study mentor
Description
Professional study mentor support is not academic tuition.
A professional study mentorwill, in conjunction with any specialist equipment and software provided by DSA, aim to develop the students’ skills for autonomy in the learning environment.
Professional study mentor support should be seen as a role that will introduce coping strategies and techniques. A professional study mentor encourages a student to build on their strengths and avoid negativity.
Working with their professional study mentor, the student is expected to develop their own confidence and organisational skills in order to manage theirworkload and deal with issues that impact upon study.The long term aim is to help the student maintain academic progress but professional study mentors do not provide subject specific support or general academic assistance.
Professional study mentors are highly skilled and the support they provide is specialised, which is reflected in the hourly rate usually awarded for this type of support.
Professional study mentors do not simply provide general encouragement or administrative/organisational support. Similarly, they do not carry out tasks on behalf of the student such as reading, typing, proof reading, editing, driving etc.
It is recognised that flexibility is required ensuring that any support provided should be tailored to the needs of individual students. However, it is also recognised that professional study mentors and students need a framework for their sessions so that responsibilities can be outlined and expectations can be negotiated appropriately.
As part of their role,professional study mentors are expected to establish and maintain professional boundaries, respect confidentiality within appropriate disclosure levels, ensure the support they provide falls within the DSA guidelines and refer students to other resources to help with queries that do not fall within the study mentor role. For example, if a student needs help interpreting assignment questions and course materials, the professional study mentor will refer the student to their OU regional centre to request additional academic support. Similarly, if the student requires basic study assistance, the professional study mentor will refer the student to their original needs assessor to request a supplementary recommendation.
If a student required medical support (e.g. counselling), the professional study mentor would encourage the student to contact their G.P. or other relevant healthcare professional.
Qualifications, skills and experience
Study helpers are employed by the student they are supporting, not by the DSA Office or Open University. The DSA Office can only assist the student with the associated cost of employing a study mentor if the study mentor is appropriately skilled, experienced and qualified. All professional study mentors must meet the following criteria:
- Be educated to degree level or equivalent
- Have a relevant* professional qualification (or equivalent relevant* experience)
- Have a proven record of successfully providing professional study mentor support to studentsin theHigher Education academic environment.
- Have an awareness of the particular challenges posed by distance learning.
*Relevant to the student’s particular disability, e.g. mental health condition, Aspergers Syndrome, autism, etc.
Ideally, a professional study mentor will also have an up to date CRB check report.
The DSA office may ask thestudy mentor to provide evidence of their qualifications, skills and experience before agreeing to assist the student with the costs associate with employing them.
Please be aware that qualifications in subjects not related to professional study mentor support provision will not be considered.
Regrettably, if the helper chosen by the student is not appropriatelyskilled, experienced and qualified to provide professional study mentor support, the DSA Office will not be able to assist the student with the associated cost of employing them.
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