Welcome to Orientation 2014!
This is your chance to learn all about LSE and your place in it. Find out what events are on offer next week to give you a flying start in the new academic year.

Moodle reset and upgrade
Make sure you're ready for the final Moodle resets and upgrade on Tuesday 30 September...

Nona Buckley-Irvine
Nona, General Secretary of LSE's Students’ Union, is raring to go for the new academic year, and has some excellent advice for everyone coming to LSE for the first time...

LSE named University of the Year for Graduate Employment

LSE has won University of the Year for Graduate Employment in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2015. The newspapers’ latest league table judged LSE as the top university for employability due to the School’s strong graduate prospects despite not having traditionally high-employment faculties, such as medicine and engineering.

This year saw a 6.3 point increase in LSE’s graduate employment rate – the biggest increase in the top ten ranked universities - with 83.4 per cent of graduates in a professional role within six months.

LSE Ranked Second in the World for Social Sciences

The London School of Economics and Political Science has kept its position as second in the world for social sciences, according to the latest global university league table.

The QS World University Rankings has, for the second year running, ranked LSE ahead of Oxford and Cambridge and just behind Harvard in its 'social sciences and management faculty area'. The latest overall rankings also rated LSE as the sixth best university in the world for employer reputation and seventh for the size of its international student body.

LSE is one of England's biggest university spenders on student outreach and bursaries

LSE has been recognised as one of England’s biggest university spenders on student outreach and bursaries, as a proportion of its fee income, in a report from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and The Office for Fair Access (OFFA) released over the summer. The report publishes the outcomes of all English universities’ 2012-13 access agreements, including the proportion of fee income spent on bursaries, spending on the National Scholarship Programme and the proportion of UK students who receive a grant.

Catherine Baldwin, Director of Recruitment and Admissions, said: “The School is encouraged by these latest figures from OFFA as they show that students from low income backgrounds continue to enrol at the School under the post-2012 funding arrangements. Our generous bursary package and outreach work with London pupils have helped a wide range of students from diverse backgrounds benefit from an LSE education. We hope that our continued investment in this area will give even more young people the opportunity to thrive and succeed at the School.” More
 

Four academics from LSE have been elected Fellows of the British Academy in recognition of their outstanding research.

Each year, the British Academy elects into its Fellowship UK-based scholars who are highly distinguished academics and who are recognised for their outstanding research and work across the humanities and social sciences.

Saw Swee Hock Student Centre nominated for RIBA Stirling Prize

LSE's Saw Swee Hock Student Centre (SAW), the first new building commissioned by LSE in over 40 years, has been shortlisted for the 2014 RIBA Stirling Prize.

The Stirling Prize is presented by RIBA to the architects of the building that has made the greatest contribution to the evolution of architecture over the past year. LSE's new student centre is nominated alongside the Library of Birmingham, London Aquatics Centre, London Bridge Tower/The Shard and the Manchester School of Art. The winner will be announced in October.

Julian Robinson, Director of Estates at LSE, said: “As soon as I saw John and Shelia's rudimentary first design ideas, prior to their formal selection, I had a sense that they had come up with something very special. As the design developed and then started to become reality, it became clear to me that they had indeed produced an architectural modern masterpiece. It is very gratifying the RIBA judges share our enthusiasm for this amazing building and have considered it worthy of a place on this year’s Stirling shortlist.” More
 

Dame Tessa Jowell joins LSE

LSE has appointed former Olympic Minister and Culture Secretary, Dame Tessa Jowell MP, as a Professor of Practice on a part-time basis. She will be working with LSE Cities and the Department of Government on a range of academic and outreach initiatives.

LSE launches new award for asylum seekers

LSE is set to offer financial support worth up to £20,000 per year for asylum seekers who have been offered a place to study at the School.

Students are required to register for their programme at the start of each academic year, and most continuing students are now able to register online via the 'Registration for continuing students' option on LSE for You.

You should ensure that you register as early as possible, and no later than Friday 31 October, after which the online registration facility will be switched off.

The following groups of students will not be able to register online, and will be emailed information separately regarding their registration arrangements:

• Students transferring from the General Course into the third year of a BSc degree
• Double degree students who are coming to LSE for the second year of their degree
• Students who are returning from interruption or who have been unregistered during the 2013-14 academic year.

Welcome from the Library

A warm welcome from the Library to all LSE students. Here is some guidance that will help you start your academic career at LSE:

• Your LSE card is also your Library card, which will allow you to borrow and renew books.

• Use our website to find all the information you need on getting started in the Library and where you can receive help.

• You can search across the Library’s collections using Library Search.

• Find out who your department’s Academic Support Librarian is. You can arrange a one-to-one meeting with our specialist staff to discuss information resources for your studies.

• Book on one of our training workshops this term to help you learn how to find, use and manage academic materials for your studies.

• Follow the Library on Twitter and Facebook and our blog for essential updates to services and other items of interest.

New Undergraduate Students not living in LSE halls of residence: don’t forget to meet your student mentor

The Student Mentoring Scheme offers all new LSE undergraduate and General Course students who are not living in LSE halls of residence the chance to make connections with second or third year undergraduates, sometimes from your own academic department. Mentors are students like you, but with more experience of LSE.

By now, your mentor should have been in touch to introduce him or herself and to set up a time to meet during Orientation Week. This first meeting is your chance to get to know other new students and to ask your mentor any questions you may have to help you settle in.

Your mentor will also set up another group meeting with you in week two and at other times throughout the year. Mentors are also available by email to answer your questions.
Don't feel shy about getting in contact - mentors are disappointed when they don't have a chance to help.

If you are living off campus and you think you should have been allocated a mentor but haven’t heard anything yet, please email Studentmentoring@lse.ac.uk so we can look into it.
 

Facilities Guide 2014
The Estates Division produces the Facilities Guide for new students and staff. The guide is full of useful information to help you navigate around the campus. If you would like a hard copy, email Mandy Crane at m.r.crane@lse.ac.uk or visit the LSE Facilities Guide to access the online version.

If you are looking for a study room, see page 27 of the guide, or why not try 32 Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

Campus improvements
It has been a busy summer for the Estates Division, we are continuing to improve campus facilities and recent developments include:

• The replacement of the lift next to Tower 1 (between Clements Inn and Grange Court) works are progressing and will be completed in November.
• The majority of accessible toilets have been reassigned as Gender Neutral facilities – look out for the new signage.
• The New and Expectant Mothers’ Room has been relocated to the first floor of Tower 3 and now provides a private and comfortable setting.
• Two additional teaching rooms have been provided on the second floor of Tower 2.

We provide a variety of IT services for students including PC and printing facilities, 24 hour support, personal mobile device assistance, free IT training and online learning via Moodle.

Please have a look at our Key Information for New Students to find out more about how to get the most out of your IT facilities when joining LSE.

Stay up to date with the latest IT developments with LSEITNews, either on Twitter @lseitnews or by subscribing to our blog.

For help or support regarding LSE hardware and software, network and email account issues and general IT queries, contact our IT Help Desk or visit them on the first floor of the Library.

Our services include:

• Student PCs: Over 1,000 student PCs, including laptops to borrow and use in the Library
• IT Support for Disabled Students: IT support and assistive technologies
• Laptop Surgery: for assistance with personally-owned laptops and mobile devices
• Free IT Training: IT training is delivered in a number of ways, allowing you to enhance and improve your IT skills
• Online IT guides and FAQs: a series of online guides and FAQs offering advice and solutions
• Free Anti-Virus: if your laptop or personal computer is not properly protected it can become infected within a few minutes of connecting it to the network
• LSE Mobile: LSE’s own information app for mobile devices

LSE Careers is here to help guide you through the careers maze with a comprehensive range of careers and employment services. As well as online information, we offer personalised appointments and events to support you in securing your dream job.

Visit the information for new students section of the LSE Careers website for:

• advice on making successful job applications, including how to write CVs, application forms and cover letters and how to succeed at interview
• information about different career options and employment sectors
• details of how to book for one-to-one careers appointments and CV discussions
• event listings and booking, including careers fairs, seminars and presentations
• information about searching for part-time, graduate and voluntary jobs and internships

The Volunteer Centre sits within LSE Careers and is here to help you find a volunteering placement at a charity during your time at LSE. We had many successes last year, shown in our online brochure, and we hope to build on them in the 2014-15 academic year.

The Centre offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities for you to get involved in, whether you have one hour a week or two days a week to spare. It can offer a wealth of advice on volunteering in London and overseas, plus how you can make the best use of your opportunities to make a difference in the world and help gain new skills for your future careers. You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook and through our blog.

If you have a question about volunteering please arrange a one-on-one appointment with the LSE Volunteer Coordinator:

• Tuesdays at 10-11am
• Fridays at 2-4pm

These take place at LSE Careers, third floor of Tower Three. Please book an appointment on LSE CareerHub.

The Counselling Service is here to support and help you get the most from your time at LSE. We can help with personal and emotional problems, whether or not they affect your studies.

If you would like to speak to one of our counsellors please complete and forward a registration form and we will make you an appointment as quickly as possible. At your consultation we can look at a number of options which are about getting the help and support you need.

The Language Centre has lots to offer new and continuing students.

Do you think you might need help with your English?
If English is not your first language and/or you have never studied in an English speaking environment before, the Language Centre offers a comprehensive support programme available to all students.

Want to take a language as part of your undergraduate degree?
You can take a French, German, Mandarin, Russian or Spanish course as a fully assessed part of your undergraduate degree. You do not even have to have studied the language before. Four Literature and Society options are also available as well as Linguistics for Social Scientists.

Do you want to take a language course while at LSE?
If you are a postgraduate student or an undergraduate who cannot (or chooses not to) take a language as part of your degree, we have a programme of extra-curricular courses. Our Certificate Course programme offers Arabic, Catalan, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Priority is given to LSE students initially and remember that you may be entitled to a free language course under the LSE Language Policy.

Additional services
If you have an important piece of work to submit, there is a proofreading service available to LSE students at cost.

You can join the Bee Keeping Society, dig in with the roof gardens, write for the Sustainability Blog, or if you’re living in halls of residence, get involved with Student Switch Off – a competition to cut energy use in halls.

Each year our team of dedicated student callers pick up the phone to speak to alumni and friends of LSE from across the globe. They update them on the latest School developments, talk to them about their experiences of being at LSE and ask them to make a donation towards the vital work of the LSE Annual Fund.

We are currently recruiting student fundraisers for the team and offer a starting salary of £11.02 p/h. Apply here.

Check out LSE Catering’s restaurants, cafés and pub. With tastes and budgets to suit everyone – explore them all and discover your favourite.

LSE Chill is an open performance night, organised by LSE Arts which takes place on the last Friday of every month during term time – singers, bands, actors, poetry readers and aspiring comedians all welcome.

LSE Perspectives is a monthly online gallery that features photographs taken by LSE students and staff, and LSE Arts is looking for submissions for their next gallery

So if you have taken any artistic images on your travels, in your home town or even just here in London, why not submit them for LSE Perspectives so that they can be shared with the LSE community.

The Library has changed its policy for overdue books. If you have an overdue loan you will no longer be charged a fine – but you won’t be able to borrow anything else until your overdue book is either returned or renewed.

1. In any new or existing Word file, type the text you wish to re-use and apply any formatting required.
2. Select the text.
3. From the Insert tab, open the Quick Parts list and select AutoText. The General dialog box opens.
4. At the bottom of the box click Save Selection to AutoText Gallery.
5. The first two words appear as the default name.
   a. If the first 4-6 letters of the default name are unusual, keep it.
   b. Otherwise, change it to something short and memorable.
6. To insert the text into any Word document:
   a. If you kept the default name, start typing it. A small box appears displaying the name and beginning of your saved text. Press ENTER to insert it.
   b. If you changed the name, type it and press F3. The short name is replaced with the AutoText entry.

The programme includes an exciting mixture of debates, lectures, exhibitions, concerts and film screenings. Highlights include lectures by former LSE Director Professor Lord Giddens on ‘The Politics of Climate Change 2014’; former President of Malawi Dr Joyce Banda; LSE Professor of Behavioural Science Paul Dolan on ‘Happiness by Design’; Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić; Columbia University’s Professor Jagdish Bhagwati on ‘Poverty and the Pope’; Anthony Giddens Professor of Sociology at LSE Judy Wajcman; former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Tessa Jowell and former leader of the Liberal Democrats Lady Shirley Williams.

Information about all of these events can be found on LSE events website and you can also follow us on Twitter - twitter.com/LSEpublicevents.

A reminder that for the majority of ticketed LSE events, an allocation of tickets for LSE students and staff is set aside, available for collection from the NAB SU Shop on a first come, first served basis.

Next year's LSE Space for Thought Literary Festival, the seventh Festival to be held at LSE, exploring the interaction between the arts and social sciences will be taking place from Monday 23 - Saturday 28 February 2015, with the theme Foundations.

Put the dates in your diary and look out for the full programme online in December 2014. Past Festival programmes can be viewed online here.