Course Rep Handbook (2023-24)

WrexhamStudents’Union CourseRepresentative Handbook 2023/24

Welcome to the guide for course reps. In here you will find all the information that is needed tobecomeaCourseRep.It’s an incredible opportunity for students to make a difference here at the University, and as a Course Rep the student voice goes a long way. In fact, course reps are at the core of what the Students’ Union does, being that our primary role is to representtheinterestsofourstudents.

For us here at the Students’ Union, the students’ voice is the most important thing. We want to hear what you and your cohort have to say, and giving constructive feedback is the main driver for change on your course. Make no mistake, one personcan,andusuallydoes,makeabigdifference.

So,ifyoueverneedsomeonetotalktoorreflectwith,pleasecomeandtalktoMaisieormyselfandwewilllisten.

Ihopeyouhaveafantasticyear!

Amy,PresidentofWrexhamUniversityStudents’Union

ForewordfromtheStudents’UnionPresident

CongratulationsonbeingelectedasaCourseRepresentative,whereyouwillplayakeyroleinhelpingtheUniversityto gatherstudentfeedback.AsactingDeputyVice-Chancellorwithparticularresponsibilityforthequalityofouracademic provisionhereattheUniversity,IworkcloselywiththeStudents'Uniontoensurethattogetherwecontinuetodevelop studentlearningopportunitiesacrossallcourses.YourroleasaCourseRepisvitalinthisrespect.Bygatheringtheviewsof studentsyoucanhelpinfluenceimprovementsatcourseanduniversitylevel,shapingfuturedevelopmentsandensuringthat weofferthebestpossibleopportunitiesforallstudentstosucceedintheirstudies.

IamdelightedthatyouhavetakenonthisimportantroleandlookforwardtomeetingyouduringCourseReptraining.

AmessagefromtheactingDeputyViceChancellor

Withbestwishesfortheyearahead, ProfessorAulayMackenzie,actingDeputyVice-Chancellor

2.YourStudents’Union

The Students’ Union is a representative body for the students – run by the students, for the students. The Students’ Union aims to promote the welfare and equality of the students at WrexhamUniversity,andistheretooffersupportto anyonewhohasanyconcernswhilsttheyarestudyingattheUniversity.

As an enrolled Wrexham University student,whetheryouarestudyingattheWrexhamUniversitycampus,oratoneof the local, national or international partner institutions; or on placement as part of your programme of study, you are automatically a member of the Students’ Union. If you wish to opt out of membership, please contact the Students’ Uniondirectly.

The Students’ Union will play a vital role in your time at Wrexham University. As well as offering advice, guidance andinformation,italsohelpsandencouragesstudentstorunandparticipateinsportsandsocieties.

The Students’ Union is an independent, autonomous, self-governing body. The President and Vice-President are the two full-time sabbatical officerselectedintoofficeannuallybythestudentbody,withamaximumtermofofficeoftwo years.

As a Course Representative, you will have the opportunity to engage in the promotion and development of the Students’ Union as well participating towards policy change within the Union, the Institution and nationally through theNUS.

3.WhatisaCourseRep?

WerelyoncourserepstobeactivecampaigningmembersoftheStudents’Unionwhowillworktowardsthegoalof improvingthestudentexperience.Theyareourearstotheground,workingtoresolvelocaldepartmentalissuessuchas feedbackstandardsorthefacilitiesavailabletostudentsandmuchmore.

CourserepsareresponsibleforengagingandmonitoringUnituasafeonlinespace,forfeedbackanddiscussion.

Unituiswhereanystudentrepsandstaffcancollectivelyraise,discussandresolvebothacademicandmoregeneral experienceissues.Theycanalsogivepraise,askquestionsorpostconstructivefeedbackanonymously.Itallowsthe Universitytorespondtoandactonfeedbackinrealtimetoensureyouhavethebestpossiblestudentexperiencewithus hereatWrexhamUniversity.

Onoccasion,acourserepmayberequiredtorepresentaviewthattheydonotnecessarilyagreewith,butifitistheviewof thestudents,thenitistheirresponsibilitytoarticulatethistothebestoftheirabilities.

Courserepswillalsohavetheopportunitytoattend;

● TheStudentLeadersConferenceandbeaguestspeakeriftheysowish

● EnrolforfreeontheAdvocacyModule

WSUwillprovideacomprehensivetrainingpackforallcoursereps.

What’sinitforme?

AsaCourseRepyoucangain…

● Recognitionfromyourpeersviapersonalfeedback

● AnopportunitytobenominatedforanawardattheAnnualSU Awards!

● Enhancedemployabilityskills,transferableforyourfuture career

● Anopportunitytoattendthefree20-creditAdvocacyModule

Butaboveallyouwillbemakingpositivechangetothestudent experience,notjustforyourpeersbutforstudentsinyearstocome!

FacultyReps

● FacultyRepsareelectedbystudentsfromwithintheFacultytogatherthewiderviews ofthestudentpopulationthroughliaisingwithcoursereps.

● FacultyRepswillbecomefullmembersofStudentCouncilwhichdecidesonUnion policy,mandatespeopletoputpoliciesintoactionandensurestheelectedofficersare representingstudentseffectively.StudentCouncilalsodiscussestopicsraisedby students,frompoliticaldebatedowntothesmallestareasofuniversitylife.Itisthe mostimportantforumfordebateanddiscussion,andwillhaveamajorinfluenceon thedirectionanddevelopmentoftheUniversityandStudents’Unioninthecoming years.

● FacultyRepsrunacademiccampaignsonissuesimportanttoyou!

● FacultyRepsarealsomembersofanumberofFacultylevelcommitteesasstudent memberstoprovidethestudentvoiceataFacultylevel.

● TherewillbeopportunitiesforyoutomeetwithyourFacultyRepthroughan organisedsessionarrangedbytheStudents’Union.Formoreinformationpleasevisit: www.wrexhamglyndwrsu.org.ukoremailKatie.Taffinder@glyndwr.ac.uk

For our PartnerInstitutionswecansupportyourjourneybyofferingonlineCourseReptraining,andwherepossiblewe willcollaboratewithpartnerinstitutionstoofferdirecttrainingsessionsatyourinstitution.

4.WhatIsUnitu&HowDoesItWork?

TheUnituPlatform:

1. StudentssharepromptedorspontaneousfeedbackontheirexperiencesbymakingapostontheirUnituboard.This feedbackanddiscussioncanbeaPraise/Issue/Question/Idea.Thecontentofthepostisnotvisibletostaffatthis stage.

2. Courserepsreviewthefeedbackpostsandrespondwhereappropriate.

3. Repscanchoosetosharethefeedbackwithstaffinthedepartment,bymovingittothenextlevel‘Opened’.Here staffcanseethecontentofthefeedbackandcanprovidearesponse,suchasexplaininghowachangewillbemadein responsetothefeedback.

4. Staffcanthenmovethefeedbacktothenextlevel‘InProgress’orthefinallevel‘Closed’,dependingontheir response.

5. Notablechangesandimprovementsinthedepartment/programmearethenrecordedinthe‘TogetherWeChanged’ sectionoftheUnituBoard.

YoucanfindacomprehensiveintroductiontohowUnituworksontheStaffTrainingsectionoftheUnituwebsite.

WhatIsAFeedbackBoard?

Afeedbackboardisacentralspacewherestudents,repsandstaffinteractwithfeedbackthatisraisedbystudents.Youcan findafullintroductiontotheFeedbackBoardhere.

Inbrief,theFeedbackBoardworksinafewways:

● TheFeedbackBoardissplitintotwosections,privateandpublic:

○ Privateiswherestudents,repsandStudents’Unionofficers(iftheyhaveaccess)withinaspecificfeedback boardareabletoraise,discuss,resolveorescalatefeedbacktothepublicarea.Staffdonothaveaccesstothe privateareaoftheFeedbackBoard,howevertheycanseehowmanyfeedbackpostshavebeencreated,what programmeitrelatestoandtheyearofstudyofthepost’sauthor.Onceaposthasreceivedenoughvotesand cannotbedealtwithbyrepsandstudents,theelectedrepresentativescanescalatethefeedbacktothepublic area.

○ ThePublicareaiswherestaffmembersareabletoopenfeedback,review,commentandupdatestudents throughcommentinginthediscussionthreadorbymovingintooneoftwocolumns;‘Inprogress’or‘Closed’.

Forfurtherinformation,followthislink:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= lsmMdVt6aQ&feature=youtu.be

5.Responsibilities

CourseRepresponsibilitiesinclude:

● Completethetrainingdesignedspecificallyforcourserepsandtakeadvantageoffurthertrainingopportunities.

● NetworkwithkeyassociatesoftheStudents’UnionandtheUniversityattheannualStudentLeadersConference 2023.

● Gatheropinionsandfeedbackfrompeers,viatheonlinefeedbacktoolUnitu: https://glyndwr.unitu.co.uk/account/login

● Listentowhatstudentstellyouandpresenttheirviewsinaconstructive,clearway-evenifyoudon’tagree!

● Ensurethatyourpersonalviewsdon’timpactonyourabilitytorepresentyourpeers.

● AttendStudentVoiceForum(SVF)meetingstotalktostaffaboutwhat’sworkingwell,whatmightneedchanging andanynewideasyoumighthaverelatingtoyourcourse.

● Passonanytopicsyouwouldliketodiscussinthemeetingstotheorganisersotheycanbeaddedtotheagenda

● Communicatewithothercourserepsandfacultyrepstoidentifyanykeyissues

● PromoteandsupporttheacademicstaffwiththeStudentEvaluationModuleSurvey(SEMs)toengagehonestand openfeedback

● Closethefeedbackloop!Makesureyouworkwithacademicstafftoinformstudentsoftheoutcomesofanyissues raisedatStudentVoiceForums.

● UpdatetheStudents’Uniononanychangesthataremade.

PleaseuseUnitu,theonlinefeedbacktooltorecordfeedback.ForsupportingresourcesheadovertoStudents’Union websiteatwww.wrexhamglyndwrsu.org.uk

TheStudents’Unionwillbeexpectedto:

● Tosupportprogrammeteams’CourseRepElectionsbyrequest

● Provideface-to-facetrainingtohelpbeaneffectiveCourseRep,alongsideadditionaltrainingopportunities throughouttheyear

● Organisenetworkingeventsforrepstomeetfellowcourseandfacultyreps.

● Holdeventsormeetingswithrepsthroughouttheyeartoensurelinesofcommunicationaremaintainedbetween officersandtheUniversity

● BeonhandtohelprepswithanythingrelatedtotheirexperienceasaCourseRep

● MaintainalistofrepsontheSUdatabase

TheUniversitywillbeexpectedto:

● Electstudentrepsthroughacademicstaff

● Provideinformationaboutmeetings,dates/timesandvenuestoStudentVoiceForumsandcommitteeswellin advance

● Providedocumentationwhenrelevant,suchasagendaandminutesfortheirmeetings

● Recommendappropriatemembersofstafftoreferstudentissuesto

● Considerallfeedbackpresentedbyreps

● Actonfeedbackwhereappropriate

● Workwithcourserepstogivefeedbacktostudentsandclosethefeedbackloop.

Important:Fromtimetotimestudentsmayapproachyouwithsensitiveandpersonalissues.Pleasedonottrytoresolve theseissuesandreferstudentsCathClark,StudentAdvisorattheStudents’Union:suadvice@glyndwr.ac.uk

*FAOALLPROGRAMMES*

6.CourseRepElections

Pleasecanyoureturnalltheinformationrequestedintheformbelowto:Katie.Taffinder@glyndwr.ac.uk

TheStudents’UnioncontinuestorelyheavilyonstaffteamstopromoteandholdCourseRepElections.Thisyear,toease theworkloadaroundthebusiesttimeoftheyear,theElectionstimelinewillchange; Level5and6CourseRepElectionsaretotakeplacefrom1stAugust-31stAugust(whereverpossible) Level4CourseRepelectionsaretotakeplacefrom25thSeptember-13thOctober.

IwouldbegratefulifallnominationsforLevel4arereturnednolaterthanthe16thofOctober2023to katie.taffinder@glyndwr.ac.uk

● CourseRepsareelectedbytheircohortnotbystaff.(Thisensuresourdemocraticprocessesaremet).Pleasenotethat courserepswhowereelectedinpreviousyearsarenotautomaticallyrepsforthisacademicyearunlessthecohort agrees.Brandnewelectionsshouldtakeplaceeachyear.

● WeaskthataminimumofTWOrepresentativesareelectedpercourse,peryear.

● Academicstaffshouldaskthosewhowishtorunforcoursereptoputtheirnamesforwardandanelectionshould takeplacefacilitatedbyprogrammeleaders.Ourrecommendationisthatstudentsputforwardtheirreasonsto becomeacourserepandthesearethensharedtostudentsbytheprogrammeteam.Theelectionprocesswouldthen takeplacebystudentsemailingtheirpreferredcandidatetotheprogrammeleader.Thisisjustoneideabutthe processmustbedemocraticandfair.Onceelected,staffshouldemailKatieTaffinderat Katie.Taffinder@glyndwr.ac.ukbythedeadlineprovidedabove.

● Lastly,electedrepswillreceiveanemailtotheirstudentaccountfromtheStudents’Unioninformingthemofthe nextstepstotakeintermsoftrainingandsupport.

Formoreinformationonthecourserepsystempleaseheadoverto:

https://www.wrexhamglyndwrsu.org.uk/main-menu/student-voice/course-reps

Pleasefindbelowthetemplatetobefilledoutandthetimelineforelectingcoursereps.

7.StudentVoiceForums(SVF)

SVFmeetingsareachanceforstudentstoformallydiscuss thequalityoftheirlearningexperiencewithacademicstaff. Itisalsoanimportantphasethateitherescalatesorcloses thestudentfeedbackfromUnitu.Thiswillthenconclude withstaffandpartnerscreatingsolutionsasaresultofthe feedback.

● Course reps and students to give feedback to staff about their programme(s) and overall student experience

● Reviewing the current programme(s) to inform changeandimprovementregularly

● Studentsaretofeed‘theStudentVoice’intotheUniversity’sstrategicdecision-makingforthefuture.

Whentoattend

The meetings are usually held twice a year at the end of semester 1 and 2. An invitation will be sent to all listed attendees via Moodle or the University’s email system. The Course Rep is responsible for knowing the date,timeandlocationofthe SVF. The meetings can take a number of forms, such as face-to-face or online. Please be prepared forthisbyensuringthat youhaveaccesstothecorrectmeetingplatform.

*AttendingSVFsismandatoryforallcoursereps

Whocanattend?

● Themeetingwillbechairedbysomeoneindependentfromthemanagementanddeliveryoftheprogramme(s)

● Courserepswithintheprogramme

● AllenrolledstudentsinthedepartmentprogrammecanattendSVFs

● Courseandmoduleleaderswithintheprogramme

● AmemberoftheStudents’Unioncanbeinvitedwhennecessary

Whatcanbediscussed?

AlthoughthereisasetagendaatSVFmeetings,italsogivesyouthechancetofeedbacktostaffaboutyourcourse,shape changesforfutureenhancementofthecourseandalsotheUniversity’sstrategicdecision-making.Youshouldcontactthe Chairbeforehandifyouwishtoincludeanythingontheagenda.

WhathappensafteranSVF?

Feedback on actions from SVFs should be provided to students via theMoodleHubwithintwoweeksoftheSVFmeeting. The course leader or relevant staff memberswillfollowupanyissuesandwillnotifycourserepresentativesofanyoutcome or changes. It is then expectedthatthecourserepsandprogrammeleaderwillfeedtheseoutcomesbacktostudentsthrough variousmethodsdiscussedearlierinthishandbookandwillassistthedepartmentinany‘TogetherWeChanged’material.

MoreinformationonStudentVoiceForums,includingtheSVFGuide,canbefoundontheStudents’Unionwebsite andonMoodle.

8.WhatistheNationalStudentSurvey(NSS)?

TheNSSisahigh-profileannualcensusofnearlyhalfamillionstudentsacrosstheUK.Conductedannuallysince2005,it isanestablishedsurveyandproducesusefuldatatohelpinstitutionsandstudents'unionsidentifyareasofsuccessandareas forenhancement.TheNSSiscompletedbyfinalyearstudentsandgivesachanceforstudentstogivefeedbackontheir studentexperiencethroughascoringmethodonareassuchasmoduledelivery,assessmentsandassessmentfeedbacketc. TheresultsofthissurveygopublicandareusedtodeterminewheretheUniversitywillsitintheuniversityleaguetables.

DuringSVFmeetings,studentswillhavetheopportunitytoseethepreviousyear’sNSSscoresfromtheircourseand suggestwaysforthecoursetoimproveforthefuture.AsaCourseRep,itisexpectedthatyouwillsupporttheStudents’ UnionandtheUniversitytoencouragefinalyearstudentstofilloutthisimportantsurvey!MoreinformationontheNSS willbegivenatCourseReptraining.

9.WhatisanExternalExaminerReport?

WhatisanExaminerreport?

Theexaminers'reportsareanessentialstudyresource.Usethemalongsidetherelevantsampleexamstogetinsightinto themarkingprocess,includingcommonstudentmistakesandhowtoavoidthem.Thelatestreportscontainquestion walk-throughsandperformancefeedbackonquestionssatbystudents.

Theexternalexaminerreportwill:

● Ensurethattheperformanceofstudentsisassessedfairly

● AdvisetheUniversityonwhethertheacademicstandardsofallofitsawardsareconsistentwiththestandardsof similarawardselsewhere

● Provideanexternalevaluationoftheeffectivenessofacademicregulationsandanexternalmonitoringofthe consistentandfairapplicationofthoseregulationsandassociatedprocedures

10.StudentEvaluationModuleSurveyandCourseReps

SEMsistheprimarytoolforgettinghonestandconstructivefeedbackfromstudentsabouttheirperceptionofthe effectivenessoftheteachingandlearningexperienceoftheUniversity’sprogrammes.Itistheresponsibilityofthemodule leaderstosetupthecompletiondatesonthesurveysandtocommunicatetheuseoftheSEMstotheirstudents.Theywill thenactuponthefeedbackgiven,offerresolutionsorexplanationsforallpointsraisedanduploadawrittenorrecorded summaryofthistotheMoodleStudentVoicespaceforthemodule.ThecourserepswillreporttotheStudentVoiceForum (SVF)thatallmattersfromtheSEMactivityaredealtwithandclosed.

ItisimportantthatcourserepsactiontheirSEMs,asthisisvaluablefeedbackthatenablespromptresolutions!

11.HowYouCanSupportCourseReps/DealingWithIssues

● PromotetheuseofUnitu,theonlinefeedbackplatformforallstudentsandcoursereps

● Supportcourserepstopromotethemselvestothestudentsbygivingthemaregularopportunitytospeakin sessionsoruseofadiscussionboardonaMoodlepage

● Encouragecourserepstoattendtrainingsessions,accesssupportwhereneededandengagewithrelevant opportunitiesasmuchastheyareableto

● Provideaninclusiveandsupportiveenvironmentforcourserepstosharehonestviewsandopinionsabouttheir course

● Providechancesforcourserepstomeetregularlywiththecourseteam;workingwiththemwhereverpossibleto tacklefeedbackattheearliestopportunity

● Pro-activelytacklebreakdownsincommunicationorperceivedperformancebyseekingsupportfromthe Students’Unionwhenrecognised

12.AdvocacyModule

Thisprofessionalcoursehasbeendesignedtoprovidetheskillsandknowledgetopractiseindependentadvocacy.Theskills andknowledgeacquiredthroughthiscoursewillbetransferable,enablinglearnersfromarangeofdisciplinestoemploythe principlesandpracticesofindependentadvocacyinavarietyofsettings.

Youwilllearnmoreaboutthepurposeandprinciplesofindependentadvocacy,theadvocacyrelationship,howtodevelop andmaintaintheadvocacyrelationshipandhowtorepresentthevoiceofothers. Thiscoursewillexpandonyour understandingoftheCourseRepresentativesystematWrexhamUniversityandgiveyouaformalacknowledgmentofthe trainingyouhaveundertakenandtheroleyouhavefulfilledasaCourseRep.

Thiscoursewillrunmorethanonceduringtheyearonafirst-come,first-servedbasis.Itisverypopularsomakesureyou signupquickly.Alltheinformationforthismodule-includingthedatesandhowtosignup-canbefoundontheStudents’ Unionwebsiteatwww.wrexhamglyndwrsu.org.uk.

Assessmentswillbepracticalandnotwritten.

CHECKLIST

1. SetupyourCourseRepcalendarfortheyear;including‘savethedates’forElections,SVFs,StudentLeaders Conference,trainingandtheAdvocacyModule

2. HavethedatesforallStudentVoiceForum(SVF)meetingsoftheyear

3. Ifyoucan’tattendone,organisereplacementsearlyandbriefthemwithUnituandoralreports

4. EnrolintheonlineCourseReptrainingsessions.SignupontheStudents’Unionwebsite

5. Pleaseattendthetrainingastherearealwaysimportantdevelopmentsthroughouttheyear

6. Haveaccesstomodulefeedbackandexternalexaminers’reports.

7. NSSdata?Yourpersonaltutor/programmeleadercanprovideyouwiththeseortheywillbeavailableontheStudent VoiceForumHubonMoodle.

8. Haveaccesstoallofyourstudents,includingoff-campus,mature,international,home,part-timeanddistance learners.Also,identifyacommunicationmethodtoenableyoutocontacttoalloftheaboveifrelevant

9. Signuptotheextra20-creditAdvocacyModule

Hints&Tips

● AddanideaonUnitu

● E-maildistributionlist

● Spaceonthedepartmentalnoticeboardforpictures,currentissues,contactdetailsandfeedback

● Pigeonholeinthedepartment(thiswillbecomehandyforanyanonymouscomments,completedquestionnaires,ora wayforthedepartmenttoleaveanypapersofinterestforyou-makesureyoupublicisethisifnewatyourmeetings)

● Internetforum

● FacebookGroup

● Weeklydrop-insessions

● Updatesthroughdept.societiesetc.

Fromtimetotime,theStudents’Unionmaycontactyoutosupport themwithcampaignsorevents.GettinginvolvedwithUniongivesyou thechancetomeetotherstudentswhilstsupportingyourUnionto advocateforabetterstudentexperience.Therearealsoanumberof sportsteamsandsocietiesthatyoumaybeinterestedin,andifyou contactusthenwecansupportyoutofindtherightclubforyou.

Whilstwewillendeavourtofullysupportyouduringyourtimeasa CourseRep,weunderstandthatthingsdonotalwaysgotoplan,which mayimpactyourresponsibilities.Ifyouareunabletocontinuebeinga CourseRep,pleaselettheStudents’Unionknowsothatweareableto findareplacement.