Support Services in UCD
The social, personal and emotional welfare of students is the particular concern of staff in various offices in the University. These members of staff are involved in giving support and assistance to students if they encounter difficulties or problems during their years in UCD. They have considerable experience in dealing with all the areas of difficulty that can affect students, and are freely available to meet with anyone who would like to discuss a problem or who simply has a query.
The following is an outline of these key student support services.
Students’ Union
The Students’ Union provides a variety of welfare services for students, comprising help with grants and education problems, lists of available student accommodation and tenants’ rights information, information on health issues, a free counselling service and an employment office.
The Union also facilitates a volunteer programme to assist students with disabilities with reading, shopping, house duties and a variety of other services. Volunteers are recruited in September and then introduced to students who may require their assistance. Any student wishing to volunteer for, or to avail of, this service should contact the Welfare Officer.
For more information, log on to www.ucdsu.ie, or call 01 716 3108
Student Advisers
The role of the Student Advisers is to provide support for students, particularly First Years, by providing advice and information in relation to social, personal and practical issues and, where necessary, by referring them for more specialised advice to members of the academic or administrative staff or to the professional support services.
The Student Advisers are located in the Faculties where they work as a member of a team with a chaplain and representatives of the academic and administrative staff of the Faculty. Please do not hesitate to contact the Student Adviser in your Faculty if you need information or advice on any matter. Student Advisers can be contacted through the Faculty Office or at G003, John Henry
Website: http://www.ucd.ie/studentadvisers
Newman Building (telephone: 716 8372).
Chaplaincy
The Chaplains’ Offices / Student Advisers are at Room G005 John Henry Newman Building, Room 122 Science Building and Room G19 Earlsfort Terrace. Some Chaplains reside on-campus at St Stephen’s Chaplaincy Centre. The Chaplains work in close contact with other welfare services. Nurturing a sense of community on campus is seen as essential. Therefore, students are encouraged to become actively involved in University life and develop a sense of belonging. This is facilitated by the Chaplains’ personal contact with students and involvement with clubs, societies and Faculty Days.
A welcoming open-door policy exists to enable students feel welcome and to seek assistance, especially in times of distress, illness and bereavement. There is particular attention given to students’ special needs at the beginning and end of the academic year.
A referral system is directed towards academic sources. Availability to students is seen as a priority at all times.
Web Site: http://www.ucd.ie/chaplaincy
Student Counselling Service
The Student Counselling Service offers free, confidential and professional counselling to all registered students attending University College Dublin. You can make an appointment directly yourself by contacting the service on 01-7163133/7163143 or by calling into the reception of the Student Health Centre upstairs in the Students Centre. Counselling service opening hours are Mon – Fri 9.30 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00pm to 5.00 pm. Appointments are offered during these times.
For further information please look at the student counselling service website on www.ucd.ie/studentcounselling or contact the service at the numbers above.
The Student Health Centre
All consultations are treated in strict confidence. No information is given to others without permission.
UCD is committed to providing UCD students with access to a comprehensive Student Health Service which complements their existing medical services (family GP etc). In the current economic climate UCD must change the way it funds this service. It is no longer possible to maintain a free service for all students. From September 7th 2009 students will be charged for services offered by the UCD Student Health Service. These charges will enable UCD maintain the current level of medical services and also provide a platform for additional services. The services operated by UCD Student Counselling will remain free of charge.
Please call 01 716 3133
Out of Hours Medical Service
Emergency service is provided by:
EastDoc – 2094021 6pm-10pm weekdays
&10am-6pm Weekends/Bank holidays and
Contactors – 8300244 Available outside above hours
(There is a fee for the above services)
Disability Support Service
The aim of the Disability Support Service (D.S.S) in University College Dublin is to support students with a disability in their studies at UCD. Specific needs of each student are dealt with on an individual basis.
Currently, we provide support for students with a variety of disabilities including physical disabilities, sensory disabilities, dyslexia and significant ongoing medical conditions. There is a wide range of services provided directly to students with a disability, some of which include:
- Evaluation of student needs
- Library assistance
- Assistive technology – provision of and training
- Books on tape
- One-to-one reader service
- Braille service
- Information and advice
- Advocacy on behalf of students with a disability
The D.S.S co-ordinates services and works in co-operation with all Departments to include the needs of students with a disability in the provision of services within the University.
If you feel you may benefit from the Disability Support Service please contact the Disability Support Service Officer as soon as possible.
For Contact Information: http://www.ucd.ie/disability/contact.html
Website: http://www.ucd.ie/disability/
E-mail: dss@ucd.ie
New Era Programme
The New ERA programme, launched in November 1997, is part of the University’s strategy to address economic and social disadvantage by extending educational opportunities to students from marginalised communities. The principal aim of New ERA is to promote and support the participation of students from lower socio-economic groups who to date have been under-represented in the university sector. The New ERA programme works in close partnership with approximately thirty second-level schools, developing active links with pupils and their parents in the course of their second-level education. Additional places are created at UCD to accommodate the intake of students under the programme.
Students entering UCD through the New ERA programme can be confident that a range of supports (including financial, academic and guidance support) will be available to them throughout their time in University. These supports can also be extended to eligible undergraduate students who enter through the CAO. Eligibility for the New ERA programme is means tested.
New ERA has two offices on campus, one beside Theatre O in the John Henry Newman Building and the other at G04A in the Science Lecture Building. Enquiries can also be made by telephone at 716 8606 / 716 2359 and through the New ERA web page at: www.ucd.ie/newera/
Niteline is a voluntary student-run organisation that operates a telephone listening and information service for students. The volunteers come from UCD and TCD, VOLUNTEERS ARE FROM DCU MAYNOOTH, NCAD and RCSI and remain anonymous within the student body. Niteline is supported by the Students’ Unions of both ALL 6 universities. Callers can talk about anything that is on their minds, be it personal, sexual or study-related. Put simply, if an issue is important to you, it’s important to us.
Niteline
We are here if you ever feel that you would like to talk about anything to someone who will listen, accept and understand without judging or directing.
Phone lines are open on Mondays from 9:00pm to 1:30am and Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00pm to 2:30am,so if you find yourself needing a chat don’t hesitate to call.
If you would like to talk to someone and Niteline is closed please see our FAQ page for other resources available to students at the colleges we service.
Niteline is a confidential and anonymous listening service that is run by and for students from Trinity, University College Dublin (UCD), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), National College of Art and Design (NCAD), National University of Ireland, Maynooth, and Dublin City University (DCU)
Niteline’s number is Freephone 1800 793 793,
