Durham Students’ Union Course rep training

Welcome & Introduction Session Purpose Overview of Session; timings, logistics, groups, how we will work Roles and responsibilities Housekeeping Alarms Mobile phones / email Exit points Facilities

Session overview Congratulations on becoming a course representative! Thank you for coming along to this session which will help you in becoming the best course representatives that you can be. By the end of the session you will; Clear understanding of role and responsibilities of a Course Representative Consider how to represent and communicate with classmates and teaching staff Have good knowledge of where to go for support

Purpose of a course rep Activity The room is now a scale of 1-10. The left side is 1 and means “completely disagree” and the right side is 10 and means “completely agree” A course rep works for their department A course rep highlights issues but does not solve them A course rep should represent their own views first A course rep’s main role is to attend meetings

Purpose of a course rep To continuously improve the student learning experience in partnership with your department and Students’ Union To represent your classmates’ views and opinions on all matters relating to learning and teaching To provide both positive and negative feedback to staff To act as a communication channel between staff, students and the Students’ Union

Committees/Forums Student Staff Consultancy Committees (SSCCs) Once a term Student and staff reps present One staff and one student co-chair Opportunity to share student feedback and concerns Often referred to as SSCCs Academic Affairs Forum All course reps and faculty reps Wide range of topics discussed Chance to discuss departmental and faculty specific issues

Other Reps Department Reps Faculty Reps Faculty Rep Photo Represent the department Sit on Board of Studies Contact for issues that cover whole department e.g. modules choices Faculty Reps Represent the whole faculty Sit on FECs Contact for recurring issues in multiple departments e.g. diversity of assessment methods Faculty Rep Photo Faculty Rep Photo Faculty Rep Photo

How important is communication? Activity Think about and write down all the methods of gathering student views you can What are the pros and cons of each communication method? Which ones you think would work best in your department and why?

Types of communication Emails Focus Groups Online survey Facebook group Anonymous feedback box One on one meetings Chat before lectures Drop in hours Paper survey ENSURING COMMUNICATION IS TWO-WAY

What issues can I bring to an SSCC? Curriculum Feedback Methods of assessment Resources (lecture notes, slides, books) Timing of lectures and assessment What could you bring from your course?

What have past course reps achieved? Modules being completely redesigned for subsequent years Additional lectures being put on when students perceived that content had not been presented effectively Guidance being produced by courses to ensure consistent marking Having model answers given as part of summative feedback to enable improvement Reps managed to get smaller seminars to enable discussion and debate Timetables changed to better suit students More social opportunities to better integrate joint honours students with each other Collaboration with your department is key

A student has a problem – who do I pass it along to? A student complains about a lecturer Encourage resolving issue themselves by contacting the lecturer/departmental administrator/module leader A student has been accused of plagiarism and wants to appeal Signpost to Students’ Union Advice Service Students want the lecturer to put detailed notes up on DUO Email lecturer on behalf of students Students wish they had more contact hours for their module SSCC and department rep

Step by Step Introduce yourself to your class as the course rep Gather student opinion Attend SSCC (Student Staff Consultative Committee) meetings Provide feedback to staff and students Attend and participate in the Students’ Union Academic Affairs Forums

Who to go to for support Lisa Whiting (Academic Affairs Officer) *email address* Mike Potter (Engagement Facilitator) *email address* Your student or staff SSCC Co-chair Your Faculty Rep

Questions ? ? ? ? ?

Session overview Thank you for participating in the training You should now have Clear understanding of role and responsibilities of a Course Representative Consider how to represent and communicate with cousemates and teaching staff Have a good knowledge of where to go for support Don’t forget to pick up your resource packs!