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CIT SU OFFICERS Speak
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CIT SU OFFICERS - keeping you in the loop
Welcome to CIT to all of you who are just beginning first year and we also welcome back all of those students who are back with us during these unprecedented times for another year. We thank you for bearing with us. We look forward to working with you and will ensure the best possible student experience both for online and blended learning for the year ahead. We hope you enjoyed your summer and your families stayed safe and well! We here have been busy the last few months doing a lot of planning for the year ahead!
UPCOMING ACADEMIC YEAR 20/21 ... A WHIRLWIND OF CHANGE
So, in the past few months, you, the classes of 2020, have seen cancelled final year balls, race days and other pinnacle events on the college social calendar. You have experienced placements either postponed or cancelled. Erasmus students returning home. You sat and watched your lectures unfold across zoom. You showed utter patience and respect to lecturers trying their best, learning how to get their content and classes online. You had to adapt to a completely changing environment and sit exams in a way you never had to before. Most of you did this while serving the country in part time jobs that became full time. Our social care students along with others continued to serve on the front line. You, the student population, have shown that you are resilient. Rest assured that your Students’ Union have been working flat to the mat all summer, alongside management to ensure your best interests are at the forefront of every single decision made. Some decisions included; waiving the repeat fees, removing capping of repeat exams and for those who wanted to repeat to improve in Autumn did so for free. The Academic Plan for 2020/2021 for all years can be found online at www.cit.ie under the academic delivery section. This should also offer clarity for students who are still uncertain whether or not to sign into accommodation contracts. We acknowledge that this took quite some time to plan, by all involved, who were waiting for government guidance. Your patience was greatly appreciated.
STUDENT ACCOMODATION REFUND EFFORT
In March 2020, many of you had no choice but to leave your student accommodation complexes to return home amidst a pandemic. You returned to your hometowns where your work hours more than likely increased to cater for the demand in local grocery stores and other essential retail outlets and care homes. The student population stepped up to the plate to keep the cogs of our country moving. I fought long and hard for weeks to get your rent refunded with numerous accomodation providers. Many private landlords took the humane approach and accommodated their student tenants. However, after lengthy discussions and negotiations with particular Accomodation providers, and many many meetings, we didn’t get far with this argument as landlords were not obliged by law to refund any rent if the student left out of their own free will. Your Students’ Union was utterly disappointed with this excuse and are currently lobbying the government alongside USI to put a policy in place to protect our students from this happening again.
COVID CRAIC (THE ULTIMATE PARTY POOPER
College management, lecturing and support staff alongside the Students’ Union spent the summer months planning for your arrival back to CIT. Trying to make the transition into this new environment as smooth as possible. Your health and safety on campus is our number one priority and measures have been put in place to ensure that you are safe and looked after. This year is a little different to others and the college campus had to adapt to some physical changes too. Unfortunately the common room will not open until safe to do so. Please try your best to be mindful of arrows and the general flow of open spaces. There will soon come a day where we will return to normal but for now we all have to learn to adapt to a new system. Our partying will return but for now hold tough on the sessions, mind your buddies by keeping your distance and staying apart (we just don’t know who might be vulnerable or have family that they’re going home to at the weekends who might be at risk).
YOU’RE ALL A BUNCH OF LEDGEBAGS!
A special thank you to the entire student population for their patience during a time of complete change, to all staff working hard behind the scenes to keep CIT moving. Your hard work does not go unnoticed. I have every faith that the strong and resilient CIT community will pull through this time of uncertainty. Please don’t hesitate to contact myself (Aisling President), Cian (VP Welfare) or Zack (VP Education) with any queries big or small. We are still here working for you and because of you.
STUDENTS RETURNING TO CAMPUS
Please follow all the new markings of one way systems and as always obey the 2 metre social distancing, wash hands and wear a mask while indoors!
BE SAFE DAY
There will be a virtual Be Safe Campaign this year on the 6th October where information will be available on the following: • Consent, Contraception and Sexual Health. • Narcotics and Alcohol Information. • Personal Safety. • COVID-19.
STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUND/ LAPTOP SCHEME
Student Assistance Fund Application is available to download online.
http://www.mycit.ie/access_disability/student-assistance-fund
Applications will be accepted between the following dates: Semester 1: 28 Sept – 4 Dec
Please note that the SAF Application Form is only available online this academic year. No paper application forms are available due to COVID-19. Should you have any specific questions regarding a section of the form prior to submitting an application please email: student.assistance@cit.ie
Applications also now open for the Government Laptop Scheme to assist with online learning and can be made online through the Student Assistance Fund.
CLASS REP. ELECTION
WE’RE RECRUITING YOU!
In order that the right decisions are made, to benefit all, we need the voices of our students to be heard in the boardrooms! Class Reps are an integral element in the decision making process of the college and we here at the Students’ Union want to ensure that our students are the forefront of any decision made. Elections will take place for 2nd, 3rd and 4th year from 28th September 2020 to 2nd October 2020 and elections will take place for 1st year from 9th to 16th October 2020. Due to an unprecedented year the Students’ Union is asking course coordinators and other academic staff to facilitate Class Rep elections. The Students’ Union needs Class Reps to act as the chief spokesperson for their class. One of the main duties of a Class Rep is to liaise with academic staff and report back to the SU Executive at Union Council Meeting regarding any issues, concerns or ideas that their class might have. It is an absolute privilege to be a Class Rep and there are many benefits such as standing out in future job interviews, enhancements of CV’s and learning new skills such as management, negotiations and so much more. Class Reps training has been organised this year on a digital platform, where we have wonderful line up of very useful digital engagements. We are all very excited about working with you all throughout the coming year.
Yours sincerely,
AISLING, CIAN & ZACK, YOUR SU EXECUTIVE
