Course Rep Training 2014/15 Ellen-Rose Jones – VP Pontypridd

Your role as Course Rep Gather student feedback about your course Attend meetings and feed back any issues raised by students Feed back to students what has been said at the meetings Provide a link between staff and students Coordinate with SVRs for issues that cut across courses Direct students in need of support to the right service

Communications Make sure students on your course know who you are (social media, , face-to-face interactions) Make sure you know what services are available to students in case they need you to signpost them in the right direction Report back to students on your course on what you have been doing and what is being done about the queries they raised

What you can do Coordinate with Student Voice Reps Work with Academics by mentioning good practice as well as issues with the course Look into a specific issue and campaign for change by using available data such as: -National Student Survey, -Key Information Set (KIS), -UniStats, -University-wide surveys, -Organise focus groups, -Create a survey, -Come up with solutions -Become a Change Agent (you can ask for help from your SU)

How you can have an impact on your course and enhance your skills? Attend training events organised by the SU Attend staff/student liaison committees: Attend Course Boards: you can be present for part of the meetings which covers one or more courses; review of the major issues that have emerged throughout the year and previous years; forms a critical review of courses; issues are identified by students, staff and employers; leads to a Course Report setting out a specific action plan Complete and return Module Evaluation Forms and encourage your course mates to do so. Attend Course Rep Assembly (more information to come) Attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM): have a direct say on the direction of the Students’ Union and get involved in the SU Attend the National Course Rep Conference: aims: facilitate networking, provide skills and development workshops, campaign ideas, and debate. You will receive further training sessions (more info on NUS website)

Who do I go to for support? Academic staff or Course Leaders for issues specific to your course Student Voice Representatives for issues that affect the entire Faculty Students’ Union for support or advice on campaigning Sabbatical Officers for extra support in your role

Who are the other student representatives? SVRs: -Next level up from Course Reps -Appointed by the SU -Deal with cross-Faculty issues Find out who they are. Sabbatical officers -Help students with complaints and appeals procedures -Help campaign -Represent student views -Give academic and welfare advice to students -Attend University meetings

Sabbaticals SU President: Carys Rhiannon SU Vice-President Pontypridd: Ellen Rose Jones SU Vice-President Cardiff: Rozalind Green SU Vice-President Newport: Drew Burman

What qualifies as a poor student experience? What can be disruptive to students’ learning?

Student experience Course issues Specialised equipment IT and library Assessment and feedback Academic support Student engagement Quality of teaching Communications

Student essentials Course Issues (timetable, assessment deadline ‘bunching’, work placements or field trips) Specialised equipment (accessible, quality of software, up- to-date) IT and library (sufficient books, journals and computers, easily accessible) Assessment and feedback (clear marking criteria, constructive and timely feedback) Academic and personal support (sufficient one-to-one time with tutors, easily accessible; careers advice) Student engagement (possibility to give feedback on your course and get involved in the course review process) Quality of teaching (innovative, stimulating and engaging) Communications (staff absences, changes in the University structure)

Academic Board Quality Assurance Agency Ethics Sub-group Partnerships Quality Sub- Committee Regulations and Examiners Sub- Committee Faculty Quality Assurance Committees College Quality Assurance Committee Learning & Teaching Enhancement Committee Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Branch Committee Partnership Forum Learning & Teaching Professional Standards Group Faculty Learning & Teaching Enhancement Committees College Learning & Teaching Enhancement Committees Research Committee Research Programmes Sub-Committee Higher Academic Awards Committee Appeal Board Assessment Infringement Committee Committee on Fitness to Practice Academic Board Committee Structure -SVRs attend FQAC meetings; Faculty Forums; FLTECs, etc. -VPs attend Course Review and Revalidation meetings; bring issues to the attention of specific committees; sit on a rotational basis on Academic Board; etc. -SU President is a member of the Regulations and Examiners Sub-Committee; QAC; Academic Board; etc.

Students’ Union Representation Structure Trustee Board – Officers, external trustees, Student trustees, Alumni trustees Union Exec – Student Council Chairs & Sabbatical officers Student Council x3 – All elected Student council officers for that region AGM (Annual General Meeting)- All students

Student Council SU President Chair Student Council Cardiff SU Vice president CardiffBlack Students OfficerInternational Students OfficerLGBTQ OfficerMature Students Officer Post-Graduate and Part-Time Students Officer Societies OfficerSports OfficerSupported Activities Officer Students with disabilities Officer Welsh Language OfficerWomen’s Officer Chair Student Council Pontypridd SU Vice President PontypriddBlack Students OfficerInternational Students OfficerLGBTQ OfficerMature Students Officer Post-Graduate and Part-Time Students Officer Societies OfficerSports OfficerSupported Activities Officer Students with disabilities Officer Welsh Language OfficerWomen’s Officer Chair Student Council Newport SU Vice President NewportBlack Students OfficerInternational Students OfficerLGBTQ OfficerMature Students Officer Post-Graduate and Part-Time Students Officer Societies OfficerSports OfficerSupported Activities Officer Students with disabilities Officer Welsh Language OfficerWomen’s Officer

Support Services Advice Centres (guidance on personal or academic difficulties) Accommodation Services Immigration & International Student Advice Careers & Employability Service Resident Tutors in Halls Chaplaincy Student Mentoring Disability and Dyslexia Service Student Money Advice Team GradEdge – Developing Employability Study Skills Service Health Service The Wellbeing Service

Changes to your University What has improved since the merger? What remains to be done? Do students feel they have been consulted and informed enough on the changes happening to the University and their courses? How could their views be sought?

What next? Find out dates of your course meetings with staff Find out if there are any other forums to discuss academic issues with staff i.e. at school level Find out who your SVR is and make contact Carry out your first piece of research. Ask your students what is working and what isn’t. Always report back to your students on what you have been doing.

Upcoming Events Course Rep Awards Student Led Teaching Awards (nominate staff/students who make a difference) Keep an eye out on the SU website and get involved

QAA Review 2014/15: Institutional Review by the Quality Assurance Agency Student Written Submission You can get involved: focus groups, surveys, raise issues with SU staff. You can attend the review visit (03/14 and 04/14) More info: /institutional-review