Student Welfare & Emergency Policy

Student welfare is of prime importance to DCU International Academy. We want to assist our students in every way possible to ensure their experience is as positive and enriching as possible, educationally, culturally, socially and psychologically.

We provide welfare support via:

• Dedicated welfare officer.
• Dedicated staff to assist with specific areas such as accommodation and academic advice.
• Information in our Student Hand Book.
• Information on our website.
• Information on school notice boards.
• Information sent to students at the pre-arrival stage.
• Liaison with and access to specialized DCU departments. These include:
  • Campus Security Services
  • Interfaith Centre
  • University Clubs and Societies
  • International Office
  • Healthy Living Centre
  • DCU Restaurant
• Liaison with external bodies such as the Garda, tourist offices and citizens advice organizations.

We consider it the duty of all staff (and associated agents such as host families) to assist students as fully as possible- where appropriate and provided special training is not required. However, we also recognize that it is more reassuring – and more effective – to have a dedicated welfare support system with a nominated member of staff primarily responsible for providing and coordinating this service.

The issues affecting students are varied. Commonly student seek our advice and support about:

• Health
• Accommodation
• Immigration
• Homesickness
• Intercultural adaptation
• Travel, Transport and Tourism
• Socializing
• Motivation
• Dietary needs
• Security & Safety incidents & concerns
• Banking and financial transactions
• IT issues
• Entry requirements & procedures for graduate studies

Our dedicated welfare officer has personal experience of living and working abroad in cultures wildly different from her own. She is also the designated (fully trained) first aid officer.

The welfare officer is one of the first people new students meet on arriving at DCU. The welfare officer coordinates the “meet and greet” event and campus tours and hosts the first day induction and orientation.

During orientation the welfare officer emphasises her role and encourages students to approach her at any time with concerns of any nature. The welfare officer occupies a works station in front-of-house to ensure high visibility and encourage students to approach her. Also during induction the officer highlights key areas of information in the handbook; The Welfare Officer was instrumental in designing the student handbook.

The welfare officer is available from 08.30 am to 4.30 pm. When the welfare officer is out of the office (between 16.30 and 5.15 pm, on leave etc.) one of her front- of -house colleagues covers her responsibilities. These colleagues have duties closely related to those of the welfare officer and are familiar with her duties and responsibilities.

After the first week of study every new student is invited to a settling in session with the welfare officer. At this meeting students are invited to give feedback on their first few days and voice any queries or concerns.

The welfare officer liaises closely with the accommodation service and is in close contact with many of our established host families.

Emergency Contact Details

Contact phone number for key internal and external services and help-lines are publicly displayed in numerous locations on campus and on the DCU website.

Our student handbook also lists phone numbers of various emergency services and other help-lines.

Examples:

• Garda. Fire Service, Ambulance
• Nite-line
• Out of hours doctor, local dentist

 Office hours: 01 700 5678 or 01 700 6737

Special Circumstances

Very occasionally a situation may develop where none of the staff is adequately qualified to deal with the situation personally (medical emergencies etc.). Our policy in this regard is to contact the appropriate service (either internal DCU support service or external service or both) and remain with the student until the appropriate help arrives.