1. Brighton Students’ Union Course Rep Training
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Brighton Students’ Union Course Rep Training

2. Session Aims Understand the Course Rep role
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Understand the Course Rep role
Introduce the skills you will use
Learn about support and resources available from the Students’ Union and University
Set goals for your role
Section 1: Introducing the role

3. What your school will know
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What your school will know
Date of course board (student-staff meeting)
Personal tutors
Key staff
Course specific info
Section 1: Introducing the role

4. Introductions
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Section 1: Introducing the role

5.
Section 1: Introducing the role

6. Independent Academic Advice Representation Entertainment and Events
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Independent Academic Advice
Representation
Entertainment and Events
Clubs and Societies
Shops, Cafes and Bars
Volunteering Opportunities
Section 1: Introducing the role

7. BSU- Sabbatical Officers
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Left to right:
Bethany Wren – Vice President Academic Experience, Frank Dankwa – Vice President Activities and Participation, Hayley Wood – Union President, Cat Bach – Vice President Campus Development 
Section 1: Introducing the role

8. The Representative Role
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Course Reps:
- What is their purpose?
- What tasks will there be?
- What skills do you think you will develop in the role?
- How do you think the role will benefit you?
Table discussions for each
Section 1: Introducing the role

9. Purpose
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To ensure the views of all the students on your course are represented on matters relating to teaching and learning
Student issues or suggestions are discussed with Course Rep
Course Rep speaks with staff about the issue
A solution is found and the Course Rep tells students what is being done
Students give feedback to Course Rep on the decisions that have been made
To work in partnership with the University and Students’ Union to improve and develop the student learning experience.
Section 1: Introducing the role

10. Tasks
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Gather Feedback - Seek students’ views about the course and their learning
Research issues
Present student views to staff informally and at staff/student meetings
Establish positive working relationships with staff and students and work in partnership to reach satisfactory solutions
Feedback - let students know of outcomes and on-going developments and keep the Students’ Union informed on relevant issues
Seek Support – from staff / SU when unsure about any aspect of role
Section 1: Introducing the role

11. Skills Listening Reflection Research Communication Presentation
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Listening
Reflection
Research
Communication
Presentation
Diplomacy
Negotiation
Organisation
Time management
Section 1: Introducing the role

12. Benefits
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Make a difference – by having a positive impact on the student experience and the quality of your course
Get to know other students and staff
Develop confidence and transferable skills
Good experience for future
employment
Build up your CV
Section 1: Introducing the role

13. What do Course Reps not do?
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Become involved with individual personal issues
For academic appeals, individual complaints, disciplinary meetings and issues such as bullying signpost students to the Students’ Union Support Service
For welfare problems – health and personal issues, financial and accommodation queries signpost to SSGTs and Student Services
Represent only their own views – Sometimes you may have to represent a view you don’t hold yourself
Section 1: Introducing the role

14. #ReadytoRep
Don’t take on too much!
The Students’ Union recommends a 20:1 student:rep ratio
Section 1: Introducing the role

15. What do Course Reps not do?
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When in doubt, ask us!
SU VP Academic Experience Bethany Wren
Tel:
SU Student Rep Co-ordinator Dan Simmonds
Tel:
Section 1: Introducing the role

16. Collecting feedback about your course
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Collecting feedback about your course
Introduce yourself before a lecture
Send a group via student central
Put up a contact poster on your course notice board
Set up a Facebook group
Use the SU Course Reps Survey Monkey account
User name: uobcoursereps
Password: feedback
Section 2: Collecting Feedback

17. Using Surveys #ReadytoRep Design a survey Timetabling Resources
Teaching quality
Feedback
TASK HERE
Section 2: Collecting Feedback

18. Section 2: Collecting Feedback

19. Section 2: Collecting Feedback

20. Section 2: Collecting Feedback

21. Previous Feedback
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National Student Survey (NSS) Find out what last years final year students thought about your course.
Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) similar to the NSS for postgraduate students
Course Board Minutes – look at what has been discussed at previous staff –student meetings. Find in your Course Area (Studentcentral)or ask at School Office
External Examiners Reports available at your School Office
Section 2: Collecting Feedback

22. #ReadytoRep
Scenario Discussion
Section 3: Resolving Issues

23. Scenario 1 How would you approach this situation? Who might help?
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Scenario 1
A couple of students have approached you on separate occasions to say they have failed an assessment but feel they were graded unfairly.
How would you approach this situation?
Who might help?
What outcome are you looking for?
Section 3: Resolving Issues

24. Scenario 2 How might you approach these issues?
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Scenario 2
Students have expressed concerns to you about the availability of copies of core reading material in the library. There are insufficient copies of the books they need. They would also like to see the library open for longer hours.
How might you approach these issues?
What outcome are you looking for?
Section 3: Resolving Issues

25. Scenario 3 How would you approach this situation?
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Scenario 3
Students feel like a module from the previous semester didn’t help them explore the subject. They wanted to see more varied assessments than just essays and presentations. They notice the assessments for a module in this semester are similar.
How would you approach this situation?
What outcome are you looking for?
Section 3: Resolving Issues

26. Resolving Issues Talk directly with Course Leader / relevant tutor
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Talk directly with Course Leader / relevant tutor
Take issue to a more formal meeting – Course Board or staff/ student liaison meeting
Maintain confidentiality – ask before you mention other students by name
Unsure how to proceed?– ask the Students’ Union
Section 3: Resolving Issues

27. Student-Staff Meetings
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Before
Gather Feedback
Check previous minutes
Speak to other Course Reps
Rehearse what you plan to say
During
Raise students issues
Ask questions
Take notes
After
Report back to students
Check minutes for accuracy
Follow through on action points
If you cant attend a meeting ensure you send your apologies and a written report or co-opt another student to attend
Section 4: Rep skills
Before
Gather points

28. In your handbook…
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Section 4: Rep skills

29. Last Years Reps….. #ReadytoRep Gathered other students opinions 93%
Provided feedback to staff
86%
Provided feedback to students on your course on issues
79%
Attended Course Board (or Staff/Student meetings)
77%
Discussed issues informally with course leader/other staff
63%
Sorted out students individual problems (which are not related to your course as a whole)
32%
ed students about filling in a survey following instruction from academic staff (e.g. National Student Survey)
Organised social events
23%
Carried out administrative tasks (e.g. timetable distribution, photocopying)
11%
Section 4: Rep skills

30. Action based Setting goals Specific Measurable Realistic Timed
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Consider what you need to achieve in your role using SMART goals
Specific
Measurable
Action based
Realistic
Timed
Section 5: Get started

31. SMART example
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-By December I will have gathered and shared feedback for the first term.
Specific: Only feedback for taught content
Measurable: 50% participation
Action based: Conduct survey, write up results
Realistic: Only commit 1hr per week
Timed: Complete by December
Section 5: Get started

32. What Course Reps have achieved
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Dissertation tutors were changed; better lines of communication were opened; more thorough feedback was given on assessments; more information on topics/assessments was given
we managed to challenge word counts for essays- some of which were too tight given the outcome criteria that needed to be reached.
the organisation of student central was really messy and unclear for one of the subjects, this was changed and became much clearer.
Coursework deadlines clashing was brought up, these were then changed so that there weren't pieces of coursework from different modules all due in on the same day.
Section 5: Get started

33. Useful Resources
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Students’ Union Website ngs/coursereps
BSU Course Reps facebook group
Course Rep Handbook
UoB Course Rep Policy
Students’ Union Offices
Section 5: Get started

34. Information Services We are here to help
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Section 6: Information Services

35. Digital Toolkit #ReadytoRep Click to find out more! Need Help?
Get your devices online
Access to study materials and course communication
Download Microsoft Office for FREE
Blackboard Mobile App – for studentcentral notifications
Use an electronic notetaking tool
Online submission of assignments
Create your ePortfolio
Need Help?
Click to find out more!
Section 6: Information Services

36. Help and Support …and once again! Course Leader School Academic Rep
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Course Leader
School Academic Rep
…and once again!
SU VP Academic Experience Bethany Wren
Tel:
SU Student Rep Co-ordinator Dan Simmonds
Tel:
Section 7: Support and guidance

37. Rep Forums Termly meetings on each campus
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Termly meetings on each campus
Platform for reps to resolve issues collectively
Give the SU feedback
Section 8: Support and guidance

38. School Academic Reps Laurence Howell l.howell2@uni.brighton.ac.uk
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School Academic Reps
Laurence Howell
Applied Social Sciences
School Academic Rep
Section 8: Support and guidance

39. School Academic Reps The key responsibilities for the School Reps are:
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School Academic Reps
The key responsibilities for the School Reps are:
Meet with Course Reps on their issues around the academic experience
Discuss collective issues raised by Course Reps on the School Boards and/or other relevant meetings
Attend Students’ Union meetings and help shape policy to guide what the union does to support students
Feedback to students on changes that have been made with their input
Section 8: Support and guidance

40. Have a great year - and stay in touch!
And finally….
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What we’ve covered today:
Understand the Course Rep role
Introduce the skills you will use
Learn about support and resources available from the Students’ Union and University
Set goals for your role
Have a great year - and stay in touch!
Section 8: Support and guidance

41. #ReadytoRep
Any Questions?