Welcome back!
Published on 20 September 12
When you get back to Manchester, you might notice a few changes. Here’s a brief guide to the improvements that have taken place over the summer that will enhance your student experience.
The Alan Gilbert Learning Commons
The new Alan Gilbert Learning Commons is nearing completion and will be available for you to use very soon. See next week's My Manchester Newsletter for full details of the opening of this exciting building.
The Main Library has extended its opening hours and will now be open each day until midnight. These hours will operate until the Learning Commons is open 24/7, when the Main Library will revert to normal opening hours.
For more details see the Library Service web site.
The University College
The University College for Interdisciplinary Learning – brand new this year and exclusively for Manchester undergraduates - gives you the opportunity to broaden your educational horizons, to step out of your disciplinary comfort zone and explore subjects that fascinate and inspire. More details.
My Manchester
The My Manchester student portal has undergone some improvements during the summer, in response to student feedback.
Enhancements include;
- A modern design
- A Blackboard tab that allows quick access to online learning tools
- Live jobs, events and social media feeds
- More powerful and visible search function from the Home tab
- Access to online help and support resources via the floating ‘ask me’ tab
- Optimised for viewing on mobile devices
iManchester App
The new iManchester app is now available for you to download onto your smartphone for free. It helps you find your way around campus, locate your nearest PC Cluster, search the library catalogue and provides you with quick access to My Manchester, Blackboard and much more!
The app has launched on Android and iPhone - download it from here. A Blackberry and a mobile version will be coming soon.
Student Charter
This document has been put together with the Students’ Union and sets out what students and the University can expect from each other as partners. For more information, click here.
New and improved printing
You can now print off all your documents using the pull printing service on which is available throughout the University. To use the pull printing system you need to print>swipe>pull, click print on your computer, swipe your student card on any printer with a card reader and press pull and select your job from the list.
The new system is more convenient as it allows you to print your work off at any printer within 24 hours of clicking 'print' and you only get charged for the items you collect, saving money on accidental printing.
Secure charging lockers
The library has now introduced some Secure Charging lockers. The Secure Charging Station is a bank of 30 secure individual lockers located on Blue Ground in the Main Library which offers a convenient, secure and free way to charge your laptops, phones or other mobile devices.
Refurbished Students' Union
The Students’ Union has now completed its refurbishment and it now offers more social seating areas for students in need of a lounge and offers a greater range of facilities.
Biko's Café has now re-opened on the ground floor of the Students’ Union and boasts a greater variety of food including a selection of cakes and sweet treats. The Union bar has also updated their menu, offering a wider range of foods, from gourmet burgers to twice fried fries.