be the student voice
Contents
Page
Introduction
1
Why do we need Student Representatives?
2
What is the role of the Student Rep?
2
How do YOU Benefit?
3
Essential meeting guide
4
(see training and meeting dates on page 8)
Terms of reference
5
How do I get my group involved?
6
What responsibility do I have to my group?
6
Signposting/How do I deal with complaints?
7
Student Rep training & meeting dates
8
Useful contacts
9
Liverpool Community College Student Union
10
Introduction Congratulations on becoming a Student Representative you now have the opportunity to influence change in college. This guide aims to help you to understand your role and how you can make the most of the experience. Being a Student Rep shouldn’t be too much work and this guide will help you get the most out of it in terms of personal development and achievement, without interfering with your other responsibilities. It also contains important information about people you can ask for help and support should you need it. Also note that if you feel concerned about doing this role alone you can ask your group to elect a second or assistant rep. 1
Why do we need Student Representatives? The college mission statement is: “To provide high quality education and training which is inclusive and matches the needs of our diverse students and the economy.” The college has many ways of assessing whether it is achieving this aim and relies on feedback from students to make sure that it is providing the best quality of service. Student Reps are valued as a crucial part of the process of feedback and improvement. The college is keen to ensure the student voice is heard. The key part of your role is to be the ‘voice’ for your particular group; to put forward ideas, needs and opinions so that students are having a say in decisions which affect them.
What is the role of the Student Rep? The role of the Student Rep is likely to vary from course to course. However there are some basic things that every rep should do.
As a rep you should: • collect ideas and issues from your group on a regular basis. • put forward student ideas, views and opinions, about courses,classes or the college as a whole. • attend Student Representation Conferences, where you can meet other reps, support each other and share information. • attend Course Team Meetings once a term which (your tutor will be able to provide dates, please ask). • take part an initial training session. • know what is going on in college: Reading notice boards, newsletters and college information. Being aware of current issues will help you in your role. • keep in touch with the Enrichment Team Leader - Alison Moore. She will be able to support and advise you. Let her know about problems and issues that you are dealing with. • be aware of college procedures such as the complaints and suggestions procedure. It is NOT your role to deal with individual student welfare problems. You should simply refer students to Student Services where there are staff who can help with all manner of issues. 2
How do YOU Benefit? As a Student Rep you will have opportunities that won’t be open to other students. You can gain new experiences and develop skills that will be of benefit to you in further study and in the workplace. Experiences - you will: • be invited to take part in the decision making process, influencing discussions regarding your course and the college, for now and the future. • learn more about your course and the college as a whole. • become more aware of educational issues and how they affect students. • meet new people, have fun and widen your horizons. • be offered the chance to become part of Student Union. Skills - you will: • develop personal, transferable skills which will enhance your CV/UCAS forms. • learn to negotiate effectively with a wide range of people. • gain confidence when speaking in front of others, learning and practising presentation skills • participate in meetings.
All Student Reps are offered training, some areas covered.. • The expectations of a Student Rep • Sign posting students to college services • How to use the college Complaints and Suggestions Procedure
Plus: All Student Reps who attend training and meetings receive a certificate on completion of the year All Student Reps can apply to join the Student Union Committee
Remember - what you gain from your experience depends on what you put in to it. Make the most of it. 3
Essential meeting guide Student Rep Conferences What are they? There will be two 'conferences' during the year to bring all Student Reps together to discuss a range of topics affecting students across the college and to gather your views. How will it work? You will be sent a booking form in advance with a list of 'discussion forums' which will take place during the half day event. By chatting to your group to gather their thoughts and issues you will be asked to pick your top two discussions you want to be involved with that are most relevant to you and your group. Plus - lunch will be provided and number of interactive activities will take place to help the college to understand your views.
Student Rep 'The Gathering' What is this? The Gathering will be an informal get together in the summer term where you will be asked to drop into the Enrichment rooms in the Learning Exchange between llam - Ipm to give us any final feedback on life as a student during 2011/12 and to have a free buffet lunch. Course team meetings Course tutors meet regularly with each other to discuss issues relating to a particular course. You should be invited to attend these meetings to put across the student point of view. You may be asked to attend a brief part of the meeting to discuss issues that relate to you and then be asked to leave. This is because other topics for discussion will either, not be of interest to you or may be of a confidential nature. Ensure you ask your tutor for dates each term.
4
Before, during and after any meeting… • check the correct date, time and venue • if you can’t attend, arrange for someone else to attend in your place • read any information that you have been sent prior to the meeting. This could be: an agenda, reports, or minutes of the previous meeting • check the student intranet ‘Student Rep’ pages within ‘Enrichment’ • talk to your group about any issues they would like raised and make notes of these to bring with you • be prepared to raise the ‘student voice’ at the meeting • arrive on time • make a note of anything interesting to report back to your group • ask questions if you don’t understand something in the meeting • update and discuss issues with your group - if they don’t know what is going on they are not being represented properly
Terms of reference Agenda - a list of items to be discussed at a meeting. Sent to you in advance of the meeting to give you a chance to talk to students about what is going to be discussed. AOB - ‘Any Other Business’. Normally written at the bottom of an agenda and is a chance for anyone to discuss an item not yet discussed. Apologies - it is polite to apologise to the chair in advance if you are not able to attend a meeting. Chair - is the person who takes the lead in the meeting. Their job is to take everyone through the agenda Minutes - are a record of what was said in a meeting. These will be made available after meetings and should be checked to ensure you feel they are a true reflection of the issues covered. 5
How do I get my group involved? Communication is a key part of the rep role. There are many forms of communication; you can involve your group using the following techniques to consult with them. Groups tutorials: Ask your tutor for five minutes in the weekly tutorial session to update the group about information you have been given e.g. Enrichment opportunities or information from the newsletter. Or to ask the group for issues to raise at any meetings. One to one consultation: Speak to members of your group independently to get feedback on issues Email: If people are happy to give you their email address, update them or ask questions this way. Also encourage them to log onto the college student web pages to find out information about the college for themselves. Notice boards: Use the notice boards in your room to inform your group of who you are and how they can contact you (N.B. DON’T advertise your personal phone numbers) or of opportunities they can become involved with. (speak to the tutor before using boards). Suggesting box: Put a suggestion box in your classroom as an anonymous way to get ideas or queries from your group. Voting and Questionnaires: If you need a quick response to a particular question or issue, why not run a quick vote during a tutorial session (speak to the tutor first) or put together a questionnaire. Social networking: Social networks to chat to your group and help you to gather views
What responsibility do I have to my group? As a trained Student Representative, you will be expected to bring general course and college issues to meetings as detailed earlier. But what about more serious issues? - the expectation of you when a student brings a serious issues to you is to ‘Signpost’. 6
Signposting You are unlikely to be a trained counsellor or advisor, therefore if someone approaches you, in your capacity as a Student Rep, with a more personal or complex problem you should NOT try to deal with this yourself. There are many people in the college who are trained to deal with different issues (some contacts can be found on the back of this guide). If you are unsure of the specific contact to give them, Student Services or the Enrichment Team should be contacted for guidance.
How do I deal with complaints? Most students at Liverpool Community College will have an enjoyable and problem free time. However if you or another student on your course experiences a problem and feel the need to complain, there is a Complaints and Suggestions procedure that you can access. Follow these points of action when making a complaint: 1. If possible, try to resolve the complaint informally by speaking to your tutor or course team leader. 2. If this is unsuccessful or the complaint is of a serious nature there is a simple and easy to use complaints and suggestions procedure. 3. You can pick up a form from Student Services and staff there will help you to fill it out. 4. Completed forms should be left with Student Services. 5. If you need additional help, please feel free to contact the Enrichment Team Leader for help or advice. 6. Complaints and suggestions are taken seriously by the college and you should get a response within 10 working days.
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Student Representative Training Student Rep Training • Monday 17th October
12-1pm Vauxhall Room Student (Room G33)
• Tuesday 18th October
12-1pm The Learning Exchange (Enrichment rooms)
• Wednesday 19th October
3-4pm The Learning Exchange (Enrichment rooms)
• Thursday 20th October
12-1pm The Learning Exchange (Enrichment rooms)
Half term • Monday 31st October
12-1pm The Learning Exchange (Enrichment rooms)
• Tuesday lst November
3-4pm The Learning Exchange (Enrichment rooms)
• Wednesday 2nd November
12-1pm The Learning Exchange (Enrichment rooms)
• Thursday 3rd November
12-1pm Bankfield Road (tbc)
• Monday 7th November
12-1pm targeted session
Student Rep Conferences Part 1 - Autumn Term Wednesday 30th November 9am-1 pm
The Learning Exchange Atrium
Part 2 - Spring Term Tuesday 20th March 12-4pm
The Learning Exchange Atrium
Summer Term Student Rep Gathering Wednesday 30th May
1am-1pm The Learning Exchange Enrichment room 8
enrichment
useful contactss Enrichment Team Teaam Leader
alison.moore@ @liv-coll.ac.uk 0151 252 3737 7
Learning Mentors
learningmentor o s@liv-coll.ac.uk ƚǁŝƩĞƌ͗ ΛůŝǀĐŽůůŵĞŶ Ž ƚŽƌƐ 0151 252 3789 9
Counselling and Wellbeing
talktome@liv-c - oll.ac.uk 0151 252 3777 7
Finance and Welfare
askann@liv-coll.ac.uk o 0151 252 3625 5
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faceboo ok.com/livcoll @LivCollEnrich
Liverpoo ol Community College 9
Liverpool Community College Student Union: All college students are automatically part of the Student Union when you join the college; this is because through Enrichment we are an affiliated member to the NUS (National Union of Students). This means that you can buy an NUS Extra card which provides you with loads of offers and discounts online and on the high street for just £11 a year. The SU is so much more though; it is also about students having the chance to take on key lead roles, raising student issues and campaigning for change locally and national for students now and in the future.
Why get involved? • Do you want to get extra skills and training for your CV and university application? • Do you want to be part of the National Union of Students (NUS) Conferences and training? • Do you want to lead student activities making sure students hear about issues that affect them? • Do you want to be part of making sure student’s voices are heard? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions then you should think about becoming an SUC member. Get in touch with us to find out more about the SUC (Student Union Committee)... enrichment@liv-coll.ac.uk / twitter@livcollenrich