GRIFFITH COLLEGE STUDENT HANDBOOK 2009 - 2010

Getting Started
Welcome…..2
Our Commitment to Students…..2
Your Commitment to GCD…..3
The Campus…..3
Registration…..4
Accounts & Fees…..6
Key people to know…..7

Student Life
Accommodation…..7
Alumni Association…..7
Cars & Parking on Campus…..8
Catering on Campus…..8
Computers, Printing & Photocopying…..8
Counseling Service…..9
Graduation…..9
Health & Safety…..9
Health Service…..10
International Office…..10
Library…..11
Maintenance…..12
Reception…..12
Shop…..12
MyGCD, Student Intranet, College Website And Email ….12
Students‟ Union and Sports at GCD…..14
Students with Special Needs…..16

Assessments & Examinations…..16

Additional Information…..18
Summary of Contact Details & Locations….18
Academic Calendar…..19
WELCOME

Welcome to Griffith College Dublin. This handbook contains useful information that you will need
during your time as a student with us. If you can't find what you're looking for here then drop in to the
relevant Student Services Office during the allocated times. You can also check out the Student
Intranet which provides a wealth of information for our student body.

Griffith College Dublin now has over 8,000 students who attend a broad range of full-time and part-
time courses including undergraduate certificates, diplomas and degrees as well as postgraduate
awards and professional preparatory and short courses. We are proud of the size and diversity of our
student body and welcome and respect all of our students equally.

On behalf of all staff in the College, we wish you well in your studies, and we hope that your time in
GCD offers social, personal and academic fulfilment.

OUR COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS

The College’s Student Charter outlines its commitment to all students in endeavoring to:

 Provide excellent teaching and educational resources to enable students realise their chosen
personal and career ambitions

 Promote an attainment culture whereby students are encouraged to give of their best

 Publicly recognise and celebrate the successes of our students in national and international
activities

 Provide a welcoming and nurturing environment where all students are treated with respect
and dignity

 Support and guide students in their academic and personal development towards their
educational and personal goals

 Embrace the diversity of our students through full inclusion and through the provision of equal
opportunities for advancement to all

 Provide equality of educational opportunity regardless of personal characteristics and

differences

 Provide for continuous improvement through the active consideration of feedback from
students, staff, alumni, employers and other external stakeholders.

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YOUR COMMITMENT TO GCD

As a GCD student, you are asked to observe the College’s Student Code of Conduct as outlined below:

 To be considerate of the needs of fellow students, staff and any authorised visitors to the
College

 Not to engage in any conduct which is intended or is likely to disrupt teaching, learning, study,
research, ceremonies, recreational activities, meetings, examinations, administration or other
activities undertaken by or within the College or organised as part of its approved activities

 To take responsibility, within student accommodation, for the actions of invited guests

 To respect the property of the College and not to use it for unapproved purposes

 To respect that some areas of the college are restricted to staff only.

 To attend classes and commit to the learning process.

THE CAMPUS

The College‟s seven-acre campus has a number of buildings, many of which are of considerable
historical significance.

CAMPUS MAP HERE: Griffith College Dublin Campus Map

Understanding Room Names

The naming convention we adopt will tell you the building, floor and number of each room and is very
easy to follow.

Example: Room A004

A = Arthur Griffith Building 0 = Ground Floor 04 = Room 4

Getting to GCD
Public bus services to the College include the 16, 16A, 19, 49, 49A, 56A, 122, 210, 49X and 50X. Two Luas
stops are within a 20-minute walk of the College - Rialto on the red line and Harcourt St on the green
line. Bus Éireann‟s Expressway Services to Naas and Newbridge stop on South Circular Road at 5.10pm,
5.20pm and 5.40pm Monday to Friday.

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REGISTRATION

The function of the Registration Office (whose main office is in Dublin) is to ensure that the College has
full and accurate records for each student. Any student who intends to sit an examination or submit
work for assessment needs to register at the start of the academic year. Students must inform the
Registration Office if they change their course, subject or contact details.

What is registration?
The Registration Office is responsible for ensuring that the personal and academic information
submitted to the external validating bodies for students taking courses at Griffith College is correct. The
Registration Office also liaises closely with the Accounts Office regarding student fees. It is essential that
you ensure that your details on the College‟s records are complete, accurate and up-to-date.
Completing your registration means registering online at www.my.gcd.ie and paying your fees in full.
Only then are you fully registered and will you be entitled to access the services provided by the
College to its students.
Returning students can log in to www.my.gcd.ie using their Moodle username and password. New
students must use their student number as their username and their date of birth as their password (if
your date of birth was the 1st of June 1990 you would use 01/06/1990 including the forward slashes).

Who needs to register?

Any student who sits an exam or submits any piece of work for assessment in the 2008/2009 academic
year must register.
There are no exceptions to this rule. Students sitting exams or submitting assignments in the autumn
cannot register for the following academic year until these results have been issued.
Students who do not pass all their subjects in the autumn must contact their faculty before attempting
to register with the College for the 2008/2009 academic year. Further details regarding this are
enclosed with your results in September.

Why register?
The College needs to ensure that we have complete and up to date details on each student. The
College must also have full records of students‟ elective choices so that students are correctly
registered with the external validating body and that they obtain credit at the exam board for work
they have submitted throughout the year. Students must also ensure that the College is informed if
contact details are changed. Without this information we will be unable to communicate with you
effectively.

What happens if my information is incorrect?

If your details are incomplete or incorrect, it affects the College, your validating body and ultimately
your own academic progress. You may be refused entry to an examination. The external examination
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board may not be in a position to approve your work. The College would be unable to communicate
with you. Your examination results and registration material might be sent to the incorrect address, or
the incorrect name or spelling might appear on your award parchment.

How do I change my details?

If your academic or contact details change after you have registered, it is your responsibility to either
update them online at www.my.gcd.ie where allowed, or inform your Course Administrator or the
Registration Office by submitting a Student Record Amendment Form (SRAF). The SRAF is available on
the Intranet. The SRAF must also be used by students who change their elective subjects during the
academic year. It is not sufficient to simply tell the lecturer. It is College policy that all changes to a
student‟s registration details must be entered on to a Student Record Amendment Form, signed and
dated by the student, and approved by the Faculty Course Director. Where it is applicable, relevant
supporting documentation must also be provided by the student. Please contact your Course
Administrator or the Registration Office if you require further information.

Registration for Supplemental Exams and Assignments

If you have failed or not completed an assessment component (assignment or examination) in your
January or May sitting you are obliged to re-take this component at the next available sitting. Even if
you have been granted a deferral in a module you must still re-register (regardless of whether fees are
outstanding or not). If you intend to submit a work placement report or final year project you must also
ensure that you have registered for this.

Deregistration
A student may be deregistered – and therefore forfeit all claims on a place in a class and on College
facilities, his/her fees and any financial grant or assistance being received – in the case of poor
attendance, inadequate or inappropriate participation in class, or if found in breach of any College
regulation or policy.

Contacting the Registration Office

You can e-mail registration@gcd.ie or alternatively contact +353 1 4163 356

The right to refuse admission

The College reserves the right to refuse admission to any of its courses of study at its absolute discretion.
The College reserves the right to make all appropriate enquiries of any applicant and of any student
who has been admitted.
If an applicant or student fails to disclose any information that in the view of the College could affect
the health and safety of others, the College reserves the right to refuse admission or to require the
student to withdraw from a course of study, as the case may be.
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ACCOUNTS & FEES

Should you have a query in relation to your fees you are welcome to visit the Office (D006), Mondays –
Friday between 11:00am and 5.30 pm. You can also email accounts@gcd.ie or call +353 1 4150 493 or
+353 1 4150 479 or +353 1 4150 483.

The Accounts Office manages all student accounts and payment of fees. We have a number of
policies that govern fee-payment procedures in the College. All of our Accounts policies and
procedures are available from the Accounts Office and are briefly outlined in the Registration & Fees
section of this Handbook

Please see below a summary of Accounts Policies and Procedures governing payment of fees.

Accounts & Fee Payment Policies & Procedures

1. Tax relief on tuition fees paid is available on a number of courses.*

2. Where course fees remain outstanding the College retains the right not to register the student with
their awarding body (e.g. HETAC, NTU etc.). Furthermore students will not be permitted to attend their
examinations or progress to the next year of the course.

3. Course fees are not refundable under any circumstances. Non-attendance for any reason is not a
valid ground for requesting a refund of fees.

4. In the event that a student has to repeat a full year of a course, the course fee applicable will be
the standard course fee for the academic year in which the student repeats the year.

5. In the event that a student has to repeat one or more subjects the fee applicable is the standard
subject price for the academic year in which the student repeats the subject(s).

6. Students classified for fee purposes as Non EU on application shall retain that fee status and continue
to pay Non EU fees for the duration of their course following admission, whether studying full-time or
part-time and irrespective of holding a work permit.

* Further details are available from the revenue website which can be accessed at www.revenue.ie or
alternatively contact 01-8736 100 or Lo-Call 1890 605090.

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KEY PEOPLE TO KNOW

Your Course Administrator

Course Administrators manage all the administrative issues relating to your studies. These include your
attendance record, assignment results, examination results and certified absences. Please make
yourself familiar with both their e-mail address and their contact hours.

Your Faculty Head

Your Course Director/Faculty Head has primary responsibility for all academic matters in relation to the
delivery and assessment of your course. Course Directors/ Faculty Heads (in conjunction with the
Registration and Examinations offices) handle all deferrals/exemptions and student progression issues.
Year Heads and Tutors assist Course Directors/ Faculty Heads by providing a similarly supportive role to
students within a particular class/group.

Your Lecturers & Tutors

Lecturers have primary responsibility for delivering the individual modules of your programme. Should
you encounter any difficulties with a particular module, you should first approach your lecturer/
tutor.

Your Year Head

Each class group is appointed a Year Head from the Faculty staff. The Year Head is responsible for the
smooth delivery of your course. In particular, they maintain strong communication links between the
Faculty, students and lecturers in a particular year.

STUDENT LIFE
ACCOMODATION
The College is delighted to be able to offer high quality accommodation on campus to over 650
students. Griffith Halls enjoys 24-hour security delivering a safe, secure environment for residents. You
can contact the Accommodation Office on +353 1 4163 320. The Student‟s Union can advise you on
how to find accommodation off campus and within the Dublin area. Contact them at +353 1 4150 418
for more information.

Alumni Association
Established in 2005, the Griffith College Alumni Association aims to maintain lifelong links with former
students, celebrate their successes and provide support. Membership of the association is automatic
and free upon graduation (or completion of courses), and currently stands at 15,000 members
worldwide.
Members can avail of the Griffith College Benefit Scheme which offers discounts on a range of goods

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and services. Registration and further details are available at www.gcd.groupscheme.com. For further
details of the Alumni Association, including a full calendar of events, please refer to our website
www.gcd.ie/alumni or e-mail alumni@gcd.ie

Cars & Parking on Campus

Parking facilities are available on campus. If you wish to park on campus, you must have a valid (2008-
09) College Parking Permit. You can request a parking permit during registration. If you change your
vehicle during the academic year, please contact the Registration Office during student service hours
to obtain a replacement permit. Full car registration numbers are required before a parking permit can
be issued.

Catering on Campus
Arthur‟s Bar & Restaurant is a superbly designed, state of the art addition to the College. The facility is
run by Campbell Catering, who produce good value meals with fresh, locally sourced products. Daily
menu choices include the “food to go” and “New York Deli” sandwich ranges, and a choice of three
main course options (including a daily vegetarian option). There is also a wok station where you can
select ingredients and watch as your meal is cooked. A fresh salad bar and specialty beverages are
also available. Opening hours are 8.30am – 8.30pm, Monday to Friday (close at 2.30pm Friday) during
the semester. Arthur‟s is also open for breakfast and lunch on weekends subject to course demand.
The catering team led by Chris Brownill are always happy to assist you and encourage all feedback.
The daily menu can be viewed on Moodle and the venue can also be rented out for functions.

Computers, Printing & Photocopying

Currently over 300 Windows PCs and 75 Mac PCs located across 12 computer laboratories, offer
industry standard software for student tuition.

There are over 60 open access PCs available at all times for students to carry out research, work on
assignments and do printing on. A 40-seater Open Lab W004 is available for student use daily and a PC
booking system allows students to secure the use of a PC for scheduled periods in the Open Lab
(details on www.it.gcd.ie). Students can use their ID number to book PCs for assignment or research
work. In order to facilitate all students, this rule is strictly enforced. More details about this system can
be found on www.it.gcd.ie. The Open Lab PCs provide Internet access and Microsoft Office and is also
the main area for printing with 6 copier/printers located in the print centre next door. The Library also
contains 20 PCs for research and printing. There are 2 copiers/printers available with one offering full
colour.

WiFi is available in most locations on campus. The network is called „gofreegcd‟ and it is an
unencrypted network which requires the configuration of proxy settings on your PC or laptop. Please
see www.it.gcd.ie for a definitive list of locations and instructions on connecting.

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COUNSELLING SERVICE
A professional counselor is available to any student experiencing personal difficulties. The service is
completely confidential and free of charge. You can make an appointment by contacting the
counselor, Carole Wardlaw, directly on +353 87 9729335. Alternatively, the Student Development
Officer or a member of your Faculty can contact Carole on your behalf.

GRADUATION
This year more than 1,000 students will graduate from Griffith College with Higher Education Training
and Awards Council (HETAC), Nottingham Trent University (NTU), City & Guilds (CGLI) and GCD
qualifications. The 2009 Graduation Ceremonies will take place on-campus in the Griffith College
Conference Centre where on the day graduates can look forward to celebrating their achievements
with family, friends and staff. Evening entertainment is also provided. Further details of this event are
available on www.gcd.ie/graduation

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Accidents and Emergencies

It is extremely important that any accident or injury is immediately reported to a member of staff in
order to facilitate prompt medical attention. In the absence of a member of staff in the vicinity of the
incident, Reception should be notified, Security may also be contacted at +353 1 4150 495.

Evacuation and Fire Alarm Response

All College buildings are equipped with fire alarm systems and fire extinguishers. The fire alarms will be
activated and the buildings evacuated if a fire or other incident occurs which endangers persons
inside the buildings. As stated in the College‟s Safety Statement whenever a fire alarm is activated you
are required to evacuate the building, go to your nearest assembly point and do not return to the
building until the all clear is given by a Fire Marshall or designated member of Staff. If you discover a
fire or other incident which endangers the people inside a building, raise the alarm by breaking the
nearest available break glass point and then follow the evacuation procedures. Do not attempt to
tackle a fire. Please co-operate with all instructions from a Fire Marshall or designated member of Staff.

Please note: Fire drills are conducted from time to time. As with actual fire alarms, fire drills require
immediate evacuation of the building and outdoor assembly. Please make yourself aware of your
nearest means of escape.

Property and Equipment

You must not intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse any equipment etc. provided for the
safety, health or welfare of students and staff. Should you become aware of any defect in equipment,

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or of property, place of work or system of work, which might endanger safety, health or welfare you
are requested to report this to a member of staff.

HEALTH SERVICE
Harcourt Health Centre is a combined GP and Dental practice close to Griffith College at the junction
of Camden Street Upper and Harcourt Road.

Doctor Telephone +353 1 475 9544 Dental Opening Times:

General Practice Opening Times: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 10:00am – 7:00pm
8:00am – 7:00pm Tuesday, Friday:
Tuesday, Friday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
8:00am – 6:00pm

Dentist Telephone + 353 1 475 9551

INTERNATIONAL OFFICE
The International Office is located on the ground floor of the Daniel O‟Connell building (D009 and
D011). The International Office acts as a resource for international students in the College. You can e-
mail the International Office at international@gcd.ie or visit the office during their contact hours
(10:00am-6:00pm, Monday to Friday).

Special Note on Attendance for International Students

Apart from College regulations as set out above, the Irish Department of Justice Guidelines outline that
International students must maintain an attendance level of 80% or more for the duration of their
course Any attendance level lower than 80% is not acceptable to the Department of Education. Given
these guidelines our International Office also monitors attendance on a regular basis to ensure that all
International students adhere to this regulation. If there is a valid reason for non-attendance, you are
required to provide an explanation along with any relevant documentation to your Course
Administrator and also send a copy of this documentation to the International Office. In this case,
certified or documented absences will not affect your attendance record.

Visa Extension Letter Requests

This service is only provided by the International Office. Students must apply for a Visa Extension letter
using the on-line letter ordering system – www.gcdinternationaloffice.ie. Having completed the letter
ordering process, you will automatically receive an email giving the date you must call to the
International Office to sign off on your request. When doing so, you will be given your attendance rate
and the date after which you may go to the Garda National Immigration Bureau to renew your visa. It
is imperative that you have a valid email address when using the above on-line letter ordering system.
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For your information, you should apply for a Visa Extension letter a minimum of 21 days prior to your visa
expiring.

THE LIBRARY
All the library staff are there to help with your information needs during your time as a GCD student.
They can assist you with sourcing information for your assignments and dissertation including access to
books, journals and databases. They are there to facilitate you, so please feel free to consult them at
any time.

The Library Collection includes books, journals, dissertations, music manuscripts, CDs, videos, DVDs and
computer software as well as online journals and databases for all faculties. Colour printing, scanning
and photocopying facilities are also available within the library.

Inter-library loans
We encourage you to contact us if you are finding it difficult to source a particular textbook or article.
If we do not carry it within our own resources we will be happy to see if we can source it through our
contacts.
For more detailed information on any of our resources and how to get the most out of them as well as
general information on library policies you can access our information page through Moodle.

Library Opening Hours

During semester:
8:30am - 9:30pm Monday to Friday
10:00am - 6:00pm on Saturdays
12:00pm - 6:00pm on Sundays

Outside semester:
10:00am - 8:30pm Monday to Friday
10:00am - 6:00pm on Saturdays

Closed on Sundays
Please note: Library opening hours may change from time to time, so keep an eye on new notices in
the Library and on our information page on Moodle.
Contacting the library
Phone: +353 1 415 0490 Email: library@gcd.ie

You can access the library section on the college website at www.gcd.ie/library

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MAINTENANCE
As a student of GCD, you are asked to treat the College buildings and the campus with respect and in
accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. Our maintenance team provide an ongoing service
to ensure that the College grounds and classrooms are maintained at a high standard for both our
day and evening students. Please assist them by disposing of your litter in the bins provided and by
noting that eating and drinking is NOT permitted in classrooms, computer laboratories or in the Library

RECEPTION
The College‟s Reception Team provides assistance and direction to students in relation to room
locations and scheduled classes. Reception is open from 8.30am-10:00pm Monday-Friday, 9:00am-
5:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays during semester. Opening hours vary outside term-time. Please note
that Reception staff cannot accept coursework on behalf of a Faculty, nor can they provide a
messaging service on behalf of students, except in emergency situations.

SHOP
The College shop sells a range of snacks and cold and hot drinks. The shop also provides
photocopying/printing cards for College machines, stationery supplies and daily newspapers at
student rates.

STUDENT CARDS
A new student card is issued to students at the beginning of every academic year during their
programme of study, and is valid until August 31 st of the following year. If you lose your card, a
replacement card is available from the Registration Office for a fee of €20.

All students must carry their GCD Student Card at all times, and must produce it if requested by a staff
member of the College. Your GCD Student Card remains the property of the College and must be
returned to the Registration Office if you withdraw or are deregistered from your programme of study.

MyGCD, STUDENT INTRANET, COLLEGE WEBSITE AND EMAIL

MyGCD will be your central resource for all your online college needs during your time with us. Through
this site you will be able to access all your Griffith Online services including Moodle, student email, and
online payments.

The site will also provide you with access to your current and past exam results, information on the
Students' Union, the college counsellor, student discounts and more. You will be able to update your
personal information. For example, in the event of a change of address or phone number you will no
longer have to go to your faculty in person, simply update your details online here.

GCD‟s Intranet or Learning Management System (LMS) is called Moodle. It is the main resource for your

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course information. On Moodle you will find all the information on your course and subjects including
past exam papers, course notes and exam timetables and results, access to information databases
and prevailing College regulations. You will also find procedures and academic and supplemental
registration forms along with information on the Students‟ Union, International Office and much more.

The main GCD sites are:

www.my.gcd.ie – the main portal site for accessing all other services, also provides access to exam
results and changing personal information www.moodle.gcd.ie – the main site for coursework and
information www.webmail.gcd.ie – for accessing your GCD email www.it.gcd.ie – for guides and
videos on how to print, configuring your laptop, setting up anti-virus etc.

www.su.gcd.ie – for information on all SU activities.

GCD‟s Intranet or Learning Management System (LMS) is called Moodle. It is the central resource for
college information. On Moodle you will find all the information on your course and subjects including
past exam papers, course notes and exam timetables and results, access to information databases
and prevailing College regulations. You will also find procedures and academic and supplemental
registration forms along with information on the Students‟ Union, International Office and much more.
The main GCD sites are:

www.moodle.gcd.ie – the main site for coursework and information

www.webmail.gcd.ie – for accessing your GCD email

www.it.gcd.ie – for guides and videos on how to print, configuring your laptop, setting up anti-virus etc.

www.su.gcd.ie – for information on all SU activities.

Your GCD username and password

Once you are fully registered you should be able to log on to all of the GCD systems. Your username is
your student number and your password is your date of birth e.g. 28/05/1983. Note that if you change
your password on one system this will not be reflected in the others.

Terms and Conditions for Use of the GCD College Network

All students sign the „Terms and Conditions for Use of the GCD College Network‟ form when they
register with the College. No student is permitted to use the College's computer facilities without
having first done so. This form is available at www.gcd.ie/termsandconditions.pdf and also from the
registration department

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Student email

All students are assigned a new college email account. This account will be for life. All communications
from the college will come through this account including assignment information and exam results so
make sure you are in the habit of checking it daily.

Getting help

Contact: IT Helpdesk - W002, +353 1 4150 499 or email helpdesk@gcd.ie

Hours: 9:15am – 7:00pm Monday to Friday

If you have a Moodle specific query please email our dedicated Griffith Online support at go@gcd.ie.
Limited IT support is also available at the Library helpdesk.

STUDENTS’ UNION AND SPORTS AT GCD

Griffith College Students‟ Union is the representative body for all GCD students. As the largest
independent College in Ireland, GCD has placed an emphasis on expanding the Students‟ Union in
line with the expansion of the College. All students are actively encouraged to become involved so
that they can directly influence and organise activities and events. The SU Officers hold full-time
sabbatical appointments for a period of one academic year and they are elected by their fellow
students every year.

The 2008-9 SU Officers are:

Jacquie Ryan (Student Union President, Entertainments and Welfare Officer)
Paddy Daly (Clubs and Societies Officer)
Mark Corcoran (Griffiti Editor unelected)

The Students‟ Union can be contacted by emailing su.president@gcd.ie or alternatively you might
prefer to drop into the SU Office which is open daily from 9:30am-5:30pm.

The College‟s full-time Student Union Manager offers advice on settling into college life and assists in
the running of the SU. The Student Union Manager John McSweeney can be contacted by emailing
john.mcsweeney@gcd.ie

Sports and Societies

GCD has a range of sports clubs and societies, many of which are organized by students. Current
sports clubs include basketball (men‟s and women‟s), rugby, soccer (men‟s and women‟s), volleyball,
table tennis, pool, chess, darts, cricket, tennis and rounders. All sports clubs and societies can be

14
viewed at the Freshers‟ Marquee which is held on the first week of term, and details are available from
the Student Union Officers throughout the year.

The Students’ Union currently assists and funds a wide range of societies including:

Pro Evolution Comedy Club

LGBT Book Club
Culture Society Cards Club
Chinese Society Dance Club
Paintball Poker Club
Christian Society Air Hockey
Fantasy Managers

Students are encouraged to approach the Societies Officer with any ideas for new clubs and societies.
Schedules for all societies and clubs are available from the SU office and are posted on the College‟s
notice boards.

Sporting Facilities
GCD has use of the nearby Iveagh Grounds sports facilities, which are available to Griffith College
students for a fee of €50 for the duration of the academic year. Please contact the Students‟ Union for
details of joining and availing of these facilities.

There is also a fitness room on campus that all Griffith College students can avail of. It‟s equipped with
treadmills, bikes, weights etc. Before using the fitness room students will be asked for a €15 deposit in
return for their „key fobs‟ and be required to sign a „conditions of use‟ form. The fitness room is
unsupervised and therefore students must have knowledge of how to use the machines and must take
responsibility for their own safety. There is a pool hall on the top floor of the Meagher Building and the
SU also has sporting goods available for student use on campus including footballs, basketballs, rugby
balls etc.

To organize access to the fitness room or borrow any sporting goods from the SU Office simply contact
the Sports Officer by emailing su.sports@gcd.ie or phoning +353 1 4150 460 or by dropping into the
Students‟ Union. Students are asked to leave their student card with the SU Office until the borrowed
items are returned.

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Entertainment & Events
The Students‟ Union organises a wide range of student events throughout the year providing including Freshers‟
Week and the Freshers‟ Ball, weekly GCD Nights, Rag Week, DJ Competitions, Battle of the Bands, and of
course the seasonal Halloween, Christmas, Valentine‟s and Paddy‟s Day celebrations.

Contact the SU President for further details by emailing su.president@gcd.ie, phoning +353 1 4150 418

STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

In order to enable the College to support students with special needs, students are asked to disclose the nature
of their needs at the beginning of the academic year to their Faculty Head, Course Director, or Year Head, and
to provide supporting documentation. Late notification may result in the College being unable to fully
accommodate certain special needs. If necessary and where possible, the College will establish alternative
arrangements in respect of course delivery or the assessment of coursework and examinations. All records will
be kept in the strictest confidence.

ASSESSMENTS & EXAMINATIONS

Introduction
Your academic progress at Griffith College is assessed through a combination of assignments and
examinations. It is the responsibility of every student to acquaint themselves with the College‟s rules &
regulations governing examinations (QA E9). All forms and policies referred to in this section are
available to download from the student Intranet (Moodle). If you have any further questions relating to
college assessment procedures please contact your Course Administrator. Alternatively you can
contact the examinations office on examinations@gcd.ie or +353 1 4150 486.

Assignments and Projects

• All course work must be submitted by the appointed deadline. It is college policy not to grant
extensions other than in exceptional circumstances.
• It is important to make and keep a copy of every assignment/ project/ dissertation you submit to the
college.
• Assignments will not be accepted without a signed Assignment Cover Sheet. (These are available
from your faculty and the student Intranet.)

Examinations
For courses that are divided into semesters, examinations typically take place in January and May.
Exams for linear based courses are in May. A supplemental examination sitting takes place in August
for all courses.

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PLEASE SEE MOODLE FOR A FULL LISTING OF ALL COLLEGE REGULATIONS REGARDING EXAMINATIONS,
INCLUDING GUIDELINES ON PROCEDURES BEFORE, AFTER AND DURING EXAMINATIONS.

Prohibited Materials
You are not permitted to take any material into the exam venue that might give you an unfair
advantage over other students. You also may not write notes of any kind on your person. Items which
you may not take into an exam include mobile phones, walkmans, MP3 players, IPods, programmable
calculators/ dictionaries, computer hardware/software, lecture notes, texts, papers, dictionaries and
pencil cases. Any unauthorised material found in your possession will be confiscated immediately and
your actions may be construed as an attempt at cheating. A full investigation will take place which
may result in disciplinary action.

Your results
Examination results are normally available within 5 weeks of the completion of the examinations. You
may access your results on the student intranet (Moodle) using your student number and password.
(Semester results remain provisional until they have been approved at the relevant Exam board at the
end of the academic year.) You will also receive notification of your results by post. It is your
responsibility to ensure they are sent to the correct address. Any changes to your contact details
should be submitted to your faculty before your exam(s).

Interpreting Results
What to do if you fail an exam?
If you receive less than 40% in your overall assignment mark and/or your overall examination mark you
must resubmit the assignment /retake the exam of the failed component for consideration by the
supplemental Exam Board in the autumn at the next available sitting. However, two very important
consequences should be noted:

• Regardless of how well you perform in your repeat exam or assignment the results of that component
will be capped at the minimum pass mark, which is normally 40%.
• For most full time courses, failure in the repeat attempt in any module automatically means that you
will not be permitted to progress to the next stage of the award. It is important to check with your
Course Administrator, which modules constitute award stage subjects and therefore contribute to your
overall award.

What constitutes a fail?

If you receive less than 40% in your overall assignment mark and/or your overall examination mark you
must resubmit/retake the failed component(s) only (either examination or assignment) at the next
available sitting.

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Exam Boards
Examination Board meetings are normally held twice a year, in June and September. The purpose of
the Examination Board is for external examiners to review student work and to approve students‟
provisional results.

Further information on the following is available on Moodle:

Your grading system and calculating your GPA
Important info on conduct and guidelines before, during and after examinations
Explanations of final award categories
Special circumstances incl. extensions, deferrals and appeals

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Administrative/Student Support Locations and Contact Details

Accounts/Fees Office accounts@gcd.ie +353 1 4150 483 D006

Admissions Office admissions@gcd.ie +353 1 4150 411 D013

Counsellor --
Carole Wardlaw +353 87 972 9335 off campus

Examinations Office examinations@gcd.ie +353 1 4150 486 D216

GC Recruitment recruitment@gcd.ie +353 1 4140 498 Link block, 1st floor

International Office international@gcd.ie +353 1 4150 488 D011

+353 1 4150 449

Library library@gcd.ie +353 1 4150 490 Arthur Griffith, 2nd floor

+353 1 4150 491
+353 1 4150 492

Registration Office registration@gcd.ie +353 1 4153 356 D005

Reception reception@gcd.ie +353 1 4150 400 Arthur Griffith, ground

Student Support student.support@gcd.ie

Students‟ Union su.president@gcd.ie +353 1 4150 418 Meagher Building

Quality Assurance Officer qa@gcd.ie +353 1 4063360 D208

Faculty Locations and Contact Details

Business business.administration@gcd.ie +353 1 4150 416 D106

Computing computing.administration@gcd.ie +353 1 4150 428 W103

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Design design.administration@gcd.ie +353 1 4150 423 B Block

Journalism media.administration@gcd.ie +353 1 4150 451 D014

Law law.administration@gcd.ie +353 1 4150 462 D204

LSMD (Leinster
School of Music
And Drama) leinster.school@gcd.ie +353 1 4150466 B003

Academic Calendar 2009-2010

Semester 1
Exam/Review Boards
7th September
for August Repeats
Induction Week 14th September
Lectures Start 21st September
Assignment Week & 9th November
Graduation Ceremonies
Lectures End 19th December
Study Week 4th January
Exam Week One 11th January
Exam Week Two 18th January
Semester 2
Lectures Start 1st February
Assignment Week 15th March
Semester Two Ends 1st May
Study Week 3rd May
Exam Week 10th May
Exam Week 17th May
Exam Week 24th May
Exam Boards 14th June
Results Released

Disclaimer
The information in this handbook is intended as a guide for students of Griffith College Dublin and is correct
at time of release. All matters contained in this handbook are subject to change, and the College reserves
the right to alter any of the details contained herein at any time. Information posted to the Student Intranet
supersedes all information included in this Student Handbook. Full Calendar downloadable from
www.gcd.ie/calendar

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