2. Durham Students’ Union
Course rep training

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

4. 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

5. Purpose of a course rep Activity
The room is now a scale of 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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?

10. Types of communication
s 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

11. 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?

12. 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

13. 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
lecturer on behalf of students
Students wish they had more contact hours for their module
SSCC and department rep

14. 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

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

16. Questions ? ? ? ? ?

17. 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!