What is the role of the Retention team?
Along with a range of professional services teams and academic support systems at the university, the Retention team is here to help you succeed in your studies.
Some of our primary tasks include:
- Supporting you with reporting absences when you are unable to attend your classes
- Monitoring attendance and implementing the attendance and engagement policy
- Ensuring access to support when you receive attendance escalations to help you get back on track with your studies, and where applicable, explore support options
- Contacting students when patterns of non-attendance start to form
- Supporting alternative attendance monitoring for students with ASM agreements
- Monitoring engagement of Sabbatical Officers on sponsored visas
- Processing interruptions and withdrawals
- Helping students settle into university and contribute to a sense of belonging
Where does the Retention team sit in the university structure?
The Retention team is part of the Student and Academic Services Directorate (SAS), and within that area it forms one aspect of the Student Engagement and Retention team.
We contribute to and support a range of engagement activities workshops, Welcome events, and support interventions. We also work closely with academic and Faculty colleagues including Module/Programme Leads and Faculty Support Advisers.
What support is available if I receive an attendance escalation?
The attendance policy escalation process is there to identify low levels of attendance and ensure you have access to support. We know it may cause concern, but the Retention team is here to help so we encourage you to engage in the process.
Stage 1
At Stage 1 of the process, you will be asked to complete a form to tell us why you have been absent. We will provide you with lots of support information so you can access support services that may help you improve attendance as quickly as possible. You will have the opportunity to discuss any serious /ongoing attendance concerns.
Stage 2
If attendance continues to be impacted, you will be asked to book an online meeting with the Retention team. This is a supportive meeting, but we will explore in more detail your circumstances and discuss additional ways of helping you re-engage with your studies Where applicable, we may also discuss other options, including the option of interruption (taking approved time away from university).
We will guide you through these processes and, if you are in a position where you need to consider taking time away from your studies, please be reassured that you do not need to make any decisions during this meeting.
Stage 3
If attendance does not improve and you have not indicated that you are proceeding with interruption, you will be asked to provide information to support your continued registration. Please be reassured that staff are available to support you through this process.
Support
Support is available from the Retention team throughout this process. There is also support available from the GSU Retention team, Student Wellbeing Services, and from your Faculty Support Advisers.
Contact the Retention Team
If you have questions at any time during your studies about attendance, reporting absence, interruption, or withdrawing from your course, please let the team know. You don’t need to have received an escalation email to get in touch!
Remember to include your Faculty (FEHHS, FES, FLAS, GBS) and student ID in the email subject title.
FEHHS - Faculty of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
FES - Faculty of Engineering and Science
FLAS - Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences
GBS - Greenwich Business School
Appointments
Book a meeting online (you don’t need to have received an escalation email to book an appointment): SAS-Retention and Success - Support Meetings
Meet and Greets
The Retention team hosts drop-in sessions, meet and greets, shout outs, and welcome stalls at various times throughout the year across all three campuses. If you are passing by, please drop in and say hello.
We look forward to supporting you this academic year.
