Student Support

Life can be tough and its easy to get down during long hours in the library, but Girton has so many places to turn for help or just a friendly ear when in need.  With our long corridors mixing all year groups there's usually help close at hand, from similarly nervous freshers in the first few days, from good friends thereafter, and from those straying close to graduation who have seen it all before.  

Its hard to understate how tight people are at Girton, and with our large year groups there's always somewhere that you'll slot in, but if you are experiencing problems there's help at hand:

Welfare

JCR Welfare

The JCR Committee (the Girton student union) dedicates a large chunk of its budget and officers to student welfare.

  • The Welfare Officers hold weekly office hours where anybody is welcome to drop in for a confidential chat, adivce and referral to other services.  They give everyone a bit of a boost in the middle of term too, with free film & pizza nights, tea parties and massage classes.
  • The LBGT Officer (an out-of-date LGBT in the JCR Constitution) is responsible for the welfare of students identifying as LBGT, holding weekly office hours and organising social events within Girton and with other College LBGT reps.
  • The Womens' Officer represents womens' needs to College, and is the link to CUSU's Womens' Campaign.  Girton has a proud history of sex equality in education, and still offers some women-only accommodation today.
  • The Ethnic Minorities Officer represents the needs of non-white-British students to College, and is the link to wider University equality campaigns.
  • The Internationals Rep represents the needs of non-UK students to College and is in College to help students get ready for life in the United Kingdom (setting up bank accounts, registering with an NHS GP etc.) during International Freshers' Week before everybody else arrives.  The Rep also runs social events targetted at non-UK students throughout the year.
  • The Access & Academic Officer represents undergraduates' study needs to College, and is particuarly helpful for study and appeals advice during exam (Easter) term.

Carry on Nurse

Less chaotic than their cinematic versions, the College Nurses provide a free and confidential service, doling up adivce, treatment for minor illnesses and referral to NHS services from their rooms on Hospital Wing.  They have free condoms too, if you find yourself wanting.

Sadly, Jo Brand isn't on the Staff.

Tutors

Every student has a Tutor who is not in their academic field and is concerned solely with personal welfare.  Meetings once a Term and weekly open office hours keep things settled between students and the University during personal or financial difficulties that you might not want to discuss with your Director of Studies (DoS).  For absolute emergencies during Term time there's always a Tutor on-call.

Failing your Tutor you can also see the Senior Tutor during their weekly office hours.  Equivalent to a Dean at other Cambridge Colleges, the Senior Tutor sits on College Council and is charged with the welfare of all students in College.

Director of Studies (DoS)

Your DoS is a fellow at College who oversees your academic progress.  Termly meetings and reports from your supervisors are in place to identify areas where you might want more help, or to discuss problems that are affecting your work.  If you're lucky you'll get some free booze from time to time - to settle exam nerves, obviously.

Chaplain

The Chaplain is a non-denominational and confidential source of advice within College.  Available reguarly throughout the week, he can be contacted during Chapel services or at his office opposite Chapel, but don't try talking to him around his beloved (and deafening) Harley Davison.

CUSU

Cambridge University Students' Union (CUSU) represents all Cambridge undergraduates, and JCR Committees (except for the occasional temporary dessertion) at various levels throughout the University itself.  They employ several full time sabbatical officers who are elected yearly to support students with the £555 000 budget.  Campaigns include Access, the Black Campaign, and the Womens' Campaign, there is a free and idnependent counselling service on offer, and CUSU host several club and social nights for specific (e.g. LGBT) and the wider student population(s).

Disabled Students

Details of the accessibility of the main College site and Wolfson Court are listed on the College website, along with contact details for futher inquiries.  Don't forget that the best way to get to know College is to visit.

The JCR is proud of the diverse undergaduate population at Girton and welcomes applications from everybody.  We believe that the only criteria that should be considered during admission is academic ability.

Work has begun on a new College wing, due to be completed in 2013 for the 2013 entry and boasting 50 new rooms, 6 will be fully accessible and a lift will provide access to all levels.  The works will also improve access to the swimming pool, gym and weights room, and provide direct access to the rest of the College building.

Finances

The University of Cambridge stands firm in its view that no student should leave due to financial difficulties, and as one of the most diverse Colleges in Cambridge Girton strongly upholds this principle.  There is a range of financial support available at Girton, from College bursaries, travel grants and emergency loans.  

Money really isn't an issue - in fact the bursary scheme is so generous that life as a Cambridge student is remarkably cheap.

Tom O'Pray, the JCR Access & Academic Officer