Many students find that their tutor, supervisor or College advisor is a good person to speak to first when in difficulty. However, sometimes it is helpful to see someone who is not involved in your studies. For this reason, the College has a Welfare Team that you can get in touch with if you have any issues.

The College’s core Welfare Team comprises: the Welfare Officer, Academic Director, Academic Registrar, Disability & Finance Officer, Welfare Fellow, College Nurse, and College Chaplain & Multifaith Officer. The Chaplain & Multifaith Officer has a secular welfare role in addition to his faith responsibilities, and is ready to give pastoral help of any kind to all students in the College. The JCR and MCR have their own welfare officers and peer support systems, and everyone in College works together to ensure that any problems that do arise are dealt with in a supportive manner. On our College intranet, we have a dedicated Student Welfare section with lots of information on the support available, points of contact and more. It is important to emphasis that, no matter what issue or negative feelings you might have, we are here to help and you will always be supported.

Maintaining good mental health is just as important as maintaining good physical health and our aim is therefore to host/offer termly events in College that are dedicated to your mental and physical wellbeing, and welfare.

Student welfare in College is overseen by the Student Welfare Committee, which comprises student and staff members, and reports to the College’s Governing Body. Individual students are not discussed. For more information, see also the College’s Policy on Privacy and Confidentiality in Student Health, Welfare and Finance, and the Common Framework for Supporting Students with Disabilities.

Our Access Fellow, Dr Matt Williams, talks more about physical and mental wellbeing this video:

Dr Alex Lumbers, Academic Director, ​​has overall responsibility for the academic administration of the College, and oversees the Academic Office team. She is concerned with students’ academic progress, ensuring the delivery of high-quality teaching, rewarding excellence through scholarships and prizes, and dealing with any difficulties students may encounter.

Alex has a welfare responsibility for students in conjunction with that of subject tutors, and the other members of the College’s welfare support network. She is also concerned with academic discipline in College. She acts as Tutor for Graduates, and postgraduates may consult her on any matter to do with College provision for postgraduates, or on matters relating to their academic progress.

If you have any concerns regarding your subject, such as academic progress, working relationship with tutors or department or finances please contact Alex here.

Both Alex and Tahmina, our Disability & Grants Officer, can provide advice on hardship or receiving a bursary from the College or University and can help navigate Student Finance provision, as well as explain where to find help for any unforeseen financial difficulties.

The University and College do not tolerate bullying, harassment or victimisation in any form. All members of the College are expected to treat each other fairly and with respect, courtesy and consideration.

If you feel that you have recently experienced harassment, there are a number of people who are available to help, and advise you by clarifying the options open to you, assisting you in resolving the matter informally where possible, and supporting you throughout the resolution of your concerns. Information will be held in confidence, except in cases where there is an unacceptable risk to a member of staff, student or to the University.

The College has two Harassment Advisors for students who can offer confidential advice: Kirren Mahmood, Welfare Officer (welfare@jesus.ox.ac.uk); and the Chaplain (chaplain@jesus.ox.ac.uk). Students can also contact the University’s harassment line: harassment.line@admin.ox.ac.uk or 01865 (2)70760.

For further information about the college’s policies and procedures re harassment please refer to: Jesus College Policy and Procedure on Harassment.

You can also find university information on harassment. The University’s full policy and procedure on harassment can be found at: University Policy & Procedure on Harassment and there is also a helpful one-page flow-chart to guide students who are experiencing harassment.

The College is committed to supporting offer-holders and students who are care-leavers or estranged from their families. We recognise there are challenges in terms of finance, accommodation and specific welfare needs. The Disability & Grants Officer (Tahmina Sorabji) is the first point of contact for care-leavers and estranged students. They can provide advice on finance, including access to Hardship Funds. They can also liaise with the Accommodation Office on accommodation needs for vacations. They can be contacted at tahmina.sorabji@jesus.ox.ac.uk.

Our Welfare Officer, Kirren Mahmood, serves as the first point of contact for students dealing with any issues related to welfare or wellbeing and support is tailored to the specific needs of each student. This may include:

•    Offering a reflective space and actively listening to your problems

•    Developing a shared understanding of the presenting problem/s with the student

•    Psychoeducation and raising awareness of other significant issues including remits/criteria for relevant services

•    Sharing self-help resources and information

•    Supported signposting (directing our students to the most relevant services/ professionals for their needs)

•    Offering preliminary evidence-based interventions for mild to moderate difficulties such as low mood, anxiety, stress and feeling overwhelmed

Kirren is available for confidential drop-in sessions and pre-scheduled appointments. If you ever feel distressed, struggle with your mental health or any personal problem, experience relationship/ family issues, substance misuse, or you are just worried about your work, please do not hesitate to contact her. Your information will remain strictly confidential within the Welfare Team.

Kirren is also one of the College’s Harassment Advisors and oversees the student Peer Supporters (trained by the University Counselling Service).

She is based in Staircase 1, Room 4 and is available all year round. Her working days are Mondays 10am-6pm, Tuesdays 10am-6pm, and Fridays 10am- 6pm.

Contact the Welfare Officer.

Students are encouraged to register with a local NHS medical practice, which supplies two College Doctors who hold a surgery in College twice a week during term, and also see students at their regular surgery and in an emergency. Our College Nurse holds a surgery in College from Monday to Friday during term, for consultation and minor medical matters.

Contact the College Nurse

When you join Jesus, you’ll get lots of information on all our health support services and how to register with a local GP.

The University has a wide range of resources to help colleges create an accessible and inclusive learning environment for students with disabilities, and here at Jesus we aim to remove or reduce any barriers to learning to help you make the most of your time here at Oxford.

Tahmina Sorabji our Disability & Grants Officer is responsible for advising students about provision and support available for a wide range of disabilities- seen or unseen and can help you with any reasonable adjustments you may require to have the full experience of what this college and university has to offer. She can work with you to explore the type of support you may need to study well here and access all parts of your education.

This may include:
–    A sensory or mobility impairment
–    A long-term illness or physical/mental health condition
–    A specific learning difficulty (SpLD) such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or ADHD
–    A social or communication difficulty such as autism spectrum condition

Tahmina serves as the main College link to the central Disability Advisory Service (DAS) – a team of specialist advisors who provide information and advice on disability issues and facilitate access to study for all students. If you need to access further support and assessment from the DAS, Tahmina will be able to guide you through the process and may liaise with linked staff members from the DAS (Kevin Rayson and Sarah Jones).

Tahmina also manages exam support for students for University exams and College Collections (College exams).

If you have a disability or think you may have one – a long-term physical or mental health condition that affects your ability to carry out day-to-day activities, you are welcome to consult with Tahmina confidentially in the first instance.

Tahmina is also the Grants Officer and can advise on a range of financial matters. She can advise students facing financial hardship and tell you about bursaries or scholarships available through the College or University. She can support you with navigating Student Finance, and guide you with finding the right help for any unforeseen financial difficulties.

Contact the Disability & Grants Officer.

The College chapel and chaplaincy is for all. The Chapel is a quiet place within the heart of College – it is open for all members of College to go for space in the midst of a busy day. It can be a space to pray or nap, read or just take some time out.

The College Chaplain & Multifaith Officer  can provide pastoral support and is available for everyone in College – students, Fellows and staff, regardless of religious affiliation or belief. All are welcome to come and chat, to help think through problems, to seek support in times of crisis, or just to have a listening ear as they reflect on what’s going on in their lives.

Contact the Chaplain & Multifaith Officer 

Our Junior Deans are Munib Mesinovic, Lisa Zillig and Natasha Ali. They have a rotating roster, and are available to our students out of hours (7pm-8am) during term time (weeks 0-9) who require help or advice for any pastoral/welfare issue, personal problem, illness or crisis and finally matters relating to inconsiderate or antisocial behaviour.

Call the Junior Dean mobile on 07590 807399.

Sometimes students prefer to speak with a peer rather than a staff member and we are aware that students are likely to look to each other first for help before reaching out to staff members. Which is why Jesus College also has a friendly peer support team!

All student peer supporters have been trained with the University Counselling Service to enable them to listen effectively, communicate sensitively, maintain confidentiality, respect boundaries, and help you get in touch with professional support services if needed. Peer supporters are here to chat about anything you want to get off your chest, big or small.

For further information please visit Jesus College Oxford Peer Support.

You could also find links to the JCR and MCR websites below:
•    Jesus College Junior Common Room website
•    Jesus College Middle Common Room website

As a supportive and inclusive community, Jesus College is committed to the University’s Transgender Guidance and Policy. The first point of contact in College for a student transitioning is the Academic Director, Dr Alexandra Lumbers (alexandra.lumbers@jesus.ox.ac.uk). Other members of staff, such as those in the Welfare Team, may also be approached.

We acknowledge that some students may have concerns about transitioning within the student context (perhaps regarding those at home finding out), and we can certainly be flexible in coming to arrangements on such issues if they are raised.

Students requiring time away from their studies for medical reasons should feel free to mention this to us so that options for deferral and/or suspension can be discussed. All conversations regarding this process will be handled sensitively and respectfully.

See also the University-wide policy and guidance. Students may also find Gendered Intelligence resources useful – especially the mentoring for students, and https://www.transunite.co.uk/.

Information on how to change your email name may be found here.

As well as the College Welfare Team, the University Counselling Service also offers expert help to students, and the University has a wealth of support available via its Mental Health website.