NRC’s Student Services Team ‘punching above its weight’

Northern Regional College has been awarded the Matrix Quality Standard for Student Services, the gold standard certification which underlines the College’s commitment to providing exemplary support to all students.
By Una Culkin
Published 18th Jan 2022, 06:33 BST
Updated 18th Jan 2022, 11:29 BST
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The Matrix Quality Standard is the international standard for ensuring the quality of delivery of high-quality information, advice and guidance.

The latest Matrix accreditation review noted that the College’s Student Services Team continues to ‘punch above its weight’.

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The Student Services Team ensures that all students have access to the full range of support and services offered by the College, including information and advice on Careers and Education Advice, Student Finance; Education Support; Northern Plus; and Counselling services.

Andrew Woodside, Careers Adviser, Emma Porritt, Education Support Co-ordinator, Carrie Fleming, Student Engagement Officer and Lisa Burns Student Finance Co-ordinator alongside Dr Laura Firth, Head of Student Experience, Stephen McCartney, Head of Student Services at the front rowAndrew Woodside, Careers Adviser, Emma Porritt, Education Support Co-ordinator, Carrie Fleming, Student Engagement Officer and Lisa Burns Student Finance Co-ordinator alongside Dr Laura Firth, Head of Student Experience, Stephen McCartney, Head of Student Services at the front row
Andrew Woodside, Careers Adviser, Emma Porritt, Education Support Co-ordinator, Carrie Fleming, Student Engagement Officer and Lisa Burns Student Finance Co-ordinator alongside Dr Laura Firth, Head of Student Experience, Stephen McCartney, Head of Student Services at the front row

Stephen McCartney, Head of Student Services, explained that the advice and guidance services provided by the Student Services and Careers Teams were assessed on four key elements for Matrix accreditation: leadership and management; resources; service delivery; and continual quality improvement.

He continued: “The Matrix Quality Standard highlights the consistently high standard of the support services that the College provides for all our students, and we are delighted that our accreditation has been renewed.

“Since 2015 when we were awarded the Matrix Standard for Careers Advice and Guidance, we have continued to develop new services offering additional support where needed in response to demand.”

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The assessment report highlighted key strengths of the College’s Student Support services during the pandemic, including: the support available when classes when online; improved access to digital services; continued availability of support through MS Teams, telephone, email chat and website; and being able to host key events and activities virtually.

When Northern Regional College first achieved the Matrix Standard in 2015, the focus was on Careers Advice and Guidance, but the Matrix assessment has since been extended to include the full range of student support services across the key areas of Education Support, Student Finance, Careers, Libraries, Student Engagement, and Health & Wellbeing.

Related topics:Northern Regional CollegeNRC