Keele University - Innovation Centre 6

such a nice university, really spacious and green

Returned to Keele University after 39 years! Such a nostalgia trip.

There have been some kind, friendly students and helpful staff, especially in “Gregg’s” and in the library. However, there have been some rude, disrespectful lecturers and temporary teachers in the Language centre e.g. foreign ones with English as a second language rudely arguing with native speakers with English qualifications. English tasks have been given to students with mistakes in and students have been told that they have made mistakes when they have not. Library staff have been brilliant. The team leader, a really helpful lady, has sorted out issues such as rude staff brilliantly. Great volunteers work here. Credits have not been awarded correctly and have been deliberately changed for passed modules to cause students to fail. Some students have studied an extra module and they have heard nothing about any results. Student services are helpful but the department is too small with few staff members. Buses, public transport become full very quickly and drive through the middle of the campus. Parking is a nightmare, due to a lack of spaces. Plenty of activities and coffee mornings for international students but none for home students. At least there is “Gregg’s.” Queues are long in there and sometimes a seat cannot be found in the coffee shop (next door) because local people are taking up spaces with their friends and / or dogs. Students pay a fortune in fees to be in an infrastructure which is far too small for the number of students. The chancellor’s building has great facilities and food but, again, the toilets and food amenities cater for a smaller number of people than those on campus. An extra study / sitting area has been provided but is usually full. What about building a “Subway” or something near to the hotel? Another coffee shop as well? What about signs up (outside shops and cafés) e.g. “During week days in term time between 9 A.M. and 4 P.M. priority is given to students, staff and authorised visitors. Outside of these hours unauthorised visitors are required to check in at a designated point.” There should be “check in” stations around the campus. Unauthorised visitors (locals etc) should be asked to produce photo I.D. and register their car. Students and staff should be made to show their lanyard before being served anywhere. Security would be much better in this way and unauthorised visitors would be known to the university (in case anyone is ill or causes trouble). Disappointing and outdated with some rude, condescending staff 👍🏼(careers’ office) and a small number of “catty” students with false accusations of racism in lecture thestres (with no evidence) and some post-graduates have been given no help whatsoever. Meetings are either cattily offered months away (even for a quick chat) by language centre staff or by “Microsoft Teams” which is impersonal and can come across as dismissive, austere and a lack of interest. If you are an international student you will be treated well here. You will have coffee mornings offered as will Ph.D. students. No one else will. The church kindly offers tea and coffee making facilities but some students abuse it by being excessively loud and by not washing up cups. This is appalling when they are lucky to have this. I have no idea how these students (or Scottish, Irish ones) are selected for admission when every country has a different curriculum. How can qualifications be comparable? Why are A levels grades used as conditional offers when some students will not have them? To my knowledge, group interviews are not mandatory prior to conditional offers. There is a high number of students but a lack of replies to correspondence could be constrewed as rudeness. That includes terminating K.L.E. accounts quickly making access to results impossible or making payments. Toilets (Student Union) are often closed, due to vandalism after evening events, so a lift (or stairs) has to be used. A student union rep. called Jade was known to push the lift button (so that students wishing to use the toilet would go to the top floor) and then reprimand them.

There have been some kind, friendly students and helpful staff, but there have been some rude, disrespectful lecturers and temporary teachers in the Language centre e.g. foreign ones with English as a second language rudely arguing with native speakers with English qualifications. Library staff have been brilliant. The team leader, a really helpful lady, has sorted out issues such as rude staff brilliantly. Great volunteers work here. Credits have not been awarded correctly and have been deliberately changed for passed modules to cause students to fail. Some students have studied an extra module and the have heard nothing about any results. Student services are helpful but the department is too small with few staff members. Plenty of activities and coffee mornings for international students but none for home students. At least there is “Gregg’s.” Disappointing and outdated with some rude, condescending staff 👍🏼and a small number of “catty” students with false accusations of racism! (careers’ office) and some post-graduates have been given no help whatsoever. If you are an international student you will be treated well here.

I went to Keele University with my nephew age 11 to try out for a football team. The facilities they have are amazing. The fact youngsters can take advantage of this is brilliant