I’m Here Because of You – ACM’s Commitment to Investment

ACM. Investing in your Student Experience since 1995.

ACM is always hard at work, investing time and resource into improving YOUR student experience. Here follows a summary of how – thanks to YOUR input and feedback – we’ve been further improving the immersive music education environment we provide.

Here Because of You in 2014 / 2015

The brand new ACM Student Union facility
The brand new ACM Student Union opened in 2014 to a flurry of activity and continues to be a popular retreat for all students. Offering a dedicated student friendly space with a cafeteria, acoustic stage, free Wifi access and a base for the ACM Student Union team, the Riverside Building has become a valuable addition to the ACM Student Experience.
Read More about the ACM Student Union.

The ACM Pods Return
In January 2015, ACM announced the reopening of fully bespoke, air-conditioned, and soundproofed ACM rehearsal Podsm filled with equipment trialled by ACM Students including HH PA systems, Laney amplification and a selection of classic drum kits from legendary manufacturers including Tama, Pearl, Mapex, and Gretsch.
Read More about the new ACM Pods.

ACM launches the myACM Mobile App
In September 2014, ACM announced the very latest version of myACM, completely redesigned as a mobile-friendly web application. Students can now visit it from their mobile or smart tablet as well as from desktop and laptop devices, giving access to range of education, student benefits and enhancements 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Each quarter, we release new features for the app ; the latest release including an Attendance Analysis module and a suite of Masterclass videos.
Read More about the new myACM App.

ACM Opens MIT 3
In September 2014, ACM opened the brand new MIT 3 suite with 28 student workstations. Powered by Apple Mac technology and equipped with a widescreen display, each workstation is equipped with a 61 key Yamaha synth / keyboard, Ableton Push and Native Instruments Maschine Mikro controllers. Students can use the workstations to access the Native Instruments Komplete plugin range, Ableton Live, Logic Pro X, Pro Tools and much much more.

New Music Equipment
In December 2014, ACM took delivery of a range of new music equipment for use by students in their pursuit of a more involved music experience.

• 20 New Shure Mics.
• New Guitar Amps from Fender, Victory, Marshall, Laney distributed across ACM for use.
• New Bass Guitar Amps from TC Electronic, Orange and Mark Bass distributed across ACM for use.
• New acoustic, electric bass and guitars available for student use.
• New Zildjian cymbals distributed across ACM for use.

Other School Wide Improvements and Developments for 2014 / 2015

• RFID enabled ACM Student ID cards for lecture and events tap-in and attendance management.
• Enhanced online results and feedback.
• Enhanced Online Room Bookings function.
• A commitment to providing access to FREE Vocal Health Check ups.
• A continuation of providing access to discounted hearing protection (Read Audio).
• A brand new Interactive Whiteboard for use in Business lectures.
• Extended opening hours of Rodboro Building for increased rehearsal bookings.
• A brand new ACM Accommodation partnership with local lettings management company Handovers.
• Termly forums hosted by Kainne Clements (Executive Chairman of ACM) and ACM’s Senior Management Team.
• A brand new e-ticketing system to manage key ACM student facing department communications – IT and Registry.
• Enhanced student Wifi access points across all ACM buildings.
• An increase in ACM Industry Link and student-centric employability enhancement activities including Metropolis Studio trips, one-to-one industry link tutorials, industry focused masterclasses e.g. Stick ‘n’ Skins.

ACM Business School Improvements and Developments for 2014 / 2015

• New seminar group sessions model introduced to the ACM Business School.
• A commitment to providing a subsidised trip to Midem 2015 for ACM Business students.

ACM Production School Improvements and Developments for 2014 / 2015

• In response to student feedback to increase the lead time for large studio bookings, ACM has amended the online booking system to allow students to more adequately prepare and make the best use of their time in the studio. This change, which will remain in place for the remainder of the Spring term applies to Teaching Control, the Audient, SSL and Pro Control studios. All other rooms and tutorial bookings will remain at one week.

ACM will continue to monitor and review the booking system usage and student feedback.

• Increase in available tutorial hours with ACM Production tutors Tim Hart and John Gallen.
• Moving business lectures from studio spaces to increase bookable time.

ACM Performance School Improvements and Developments for 2014 / 2015

• Trimester 6 final performance dates were made available for final year performance degree students in January 2015 giving students time to establish their own bands, put rehearsals in place and fully prepare for this significant educational milestone.
• Discipline-specific tutorial slots were reintroduced to students.
• Sight-reading at Level 4 was made an ensemble activity rather than discipline-specific.
• Access to sight-reading and ear training activities were doubled to reflect the importance of these key skills.

These are just a snapshot of the technological, social and process improvements and developments ACM has made in the last year, made possible by the feedback you’ve provided.

We know there are still things that could be improved and we’d like to remind you that we take your comments, recommendations and feedback seriously. If you have any further feedback relating to your ACM experience (including the facilities, education, the ACM Student Union or anything else), there are a number of feedback forums available for students to utilise including:

• Your elected ACM Student Representatives.
• Your ACM Heads of School.
• The termly #AskKainne public sessions with ACM Executive Chairman Kainne Clements.
• By speaking to the ACM Registry Team (email registry@acm.ac.uk)

Remember: ACM is here because of YOU. Let’s continue to break new boundaries together.

Your feedback on the quality of your learning experience is an expectation of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education, Section B5: Student Engagement.