NUI Galway SU Class Reps Handbook 2010-2011

Class Reps

Handbook 2010-2011

Introduction Hi,

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Emmet Connolly here. I’m the Vice President/ Education Officer with the Students’ Union.

I’ll be working full-time for the year ahead to represent and organise students here in NUI Galway.

A key part of my job is to run the Class Reps Council, which is the most important part of the Students’ Union. It’s the Class Reps that decide on Union policy, that mandate the SU officers like myself to do certain things or adopt policies, and that form the grassroots of the Union. In short, you guys act as a watchdog on the officers, making sure they do the work they were elected to do.

You guys are our people on the ground who can give us an insight into what’s going on in the lives of the 17,000 students we represent here in NUI Galway. You’re our eyes and ears, and act as the link between the elected SU officers and the ordinary students.

Without you, we wouldn’t know about the problems you and your classmates might be having around campus.

Importantly, we try to get reps from different communities in the University; Undergraduates, Postgraduates, traditional students, mature students, disabled students, international students and so on. This allows us to have a better insight into what the real issues are, even if they only affect certain people on campus.

This handbook is designed to explain to you what the Class Reps Council is, how it works, and what part you as an elected representative of your class, have to play in the Students’ Union.

If you were a class rep last year, I welcome you back and hope to continue to work with you this year. If you are a first year who has decided to become a class rep- good for you! You’ve made a good choice and you won’t regret it. Don’t forget that your schedule of meetings for the year ahead is enclosed in the back pages.

All the best,

Emmet Connolly.

What is the Class Reps Council (CRC)?

The Class Reps Council (CRC) is a forum of students elected by their class to represent their interests to the Students’ Union (SU). The CRC consists of all the Class Reps and the executive officers of the SU (the nine officers elected each March). Each class ordinarily elects anything between one and four reps, depending on the size of the class. Class Reps mandate the executive officers to follow through on CRC decisions, policies etc.

Essentially, the executive officers work for, and are accountable to, the CRC. If we’re not doing our jobs, call us out on it.

Who are the Executive off icers?

Peter Mannion

Emmet Connolly

Robin Allen

Emma Conway

Meliisa Mannion

Tadgh Tynan

Darragh O’Connor

Ciara Staunton

President (full-time, paid)

Equality Officer (part-time, unpaid)

Oifigeach na Gaelige (part-time, unpaid)

Clubs’ Captain (part-time, unpaid)

Eric Coleman Brockie

Postgraduates Officer (part-time, unpaid)

Vice President/ Education Officer (full-time, paid)

Vice President/ Welfare Officer (full-time, paid)

Societies Chair (part-time, unpaid)

Student Development Officer (part-time, unpaid)

1. What does the Class Reps Council do?

The main roles of the CRC are to:

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• Oversee the work of the Executive officers • Act as an open forum for student issues, where issues of concern to students can be raised and action taken • Represent each class and College to the Students’ Union • Communicate information between the Executive officers and the various classes and Colleges • Elect student representatives to various university committees The whole point of the CRC is to give the executive officers the best possible insight into what issues are affecting the students. Issues can then be brought to the attention of the executive officers and be dealt with as quickly as possible. If we’re not made aware of issues, we can’t fix them.

The executive officers also report to the CRC on what they’ve been up to in the course of their work, and what developments have occurred recently in the SU and the university as a whole. Each executive officer presents a report at each Class Reps meeting, which allows the Reps to question the officers on how well or not they’re performing their duties.

As I said earlier, the Class Reps can mandate the Students’ Union to undertake specific policies or do certain things. These CRC decisions can only be reversed or changed by a Students’ Union General Meeting or referendum of the entire student body.

Structure of Class Reps Council The CRC was reformed in 2007 and now consists of three main bodies: • The various Faculty Class Reps Councils (Faculty Councils), of which you are a member of one.

• Union Body (each Faculty Council sends 7 reps to this), which you can become a member of.

• The Full Class Reps Council (‘Full Council’) which is made up of every class rep, and everyone is asked to attend

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The provisional schedule of meeting times, dates and locations are listed in the back pages of this booklet.

Faculty Councils The Faculty Councils are held regularly during the year. Each Faculty Council meets tion twice a semester, with times and meeting places being sent to the Reps well in advance of each meeting. The Faculty Councils discuss issues that affect them in particular, such as exams, problems with lecture scheduling, lecturers etc.

There are currently Faculty Councils for:

Law, Commerce, Engineering, Science, Arts, Health Sciences, and Postgraduate Students. Postgraduate reps can chose to sit either their particular Faculty Council or the Postgraduate Council, or both (we hope you chose both!) However, research student reps must attend the postgraduate council meeting.

Union Body

This is a fairly new innovation of the Class Reps system, having been introduced in 2007. It meets twice a semester in the Siobhan McKenna theatre. The main purpose of the Union Body is to discuss issues that affect all students, regardless of their faculty, such as the SU Health Unit, parking and transport, facilities on campus etc. Each Faculty Council elects seven of their own to sit on Union Body, so the Union Body consists of 49 Class Reps (seven faculties electing seven Reps) and the nine Executive officers. Union Body can mandate the Executive officers to do certain things and undertake specific policies.

Full Council

Each semester, one Full Class Reps Council is called, to which all Class Reps are required to attend. Full Council is important because it allows the Executive officers to communicate with all the Reps at the same time, especially on the bigger issues facing students. Full Council allows to receive a mandate to act on behalf of the students, with as wide a spread among the different student communities as possible (Undergraduate, Postgraduate, mature students and so on).

The work of a Class Rep The most important part of your job is to represent your classmates. You are the voice of your class and it’s up to you to make us Executive officers aware of problems you’re facing, and bring us ideas for how to make the Students’ Union more effective for ordinary students.

Another key part of your job is communication. If you are made aware of problems by your classmates, you should take the issue up with the appropriate person (for example, a lecturer or course convenor) if the issue is fairly small. If the issue is more serious, contact the Students’ Union Executive officers either by email or at the next Class Reps meeting.

It’s also vital that you introduce yourself to your class as soon as you can after you’re elected. There’s no point in being a Class Rep is no one knows who you are, so be sure to stand up in front of your class, tell them your name and give out some contact details, either a phone number or email will do fine. You might want to set up a Facebook page instead for ease of communication and for organising social events (e.g. ‘NUIG First Year History 2010-11’). Also, be sure to give them the gist of what your job is and make sure they know that you’re the guy/girl to go to if they have any problems.

Class Reps also organise class parties. These are a great way of getting to know your classmates, especially if you’re in 1st year, whether as an Undergraduate or a Postgraduate. The College Bar can usually arrange concessions, free hot food and more, depending on how many people you’re bringing. The best thing for you to do is contact Cormac O’Donoghue, the bar manager, at collegebar@nuigalway.ie You can also contact the Executive Officers or other Class Reps for advice on how to organise a really good class party.

Of course, it’s really important that you actually attend Class Reps meetings. The full list of meetings for 2009/10 is listed at the back of this handbook, and I’d recommend you highlight the ones you’re supposed to attend (which will be your Faculty Councils and the Full Class Reps Councils at least) and keep this handbook for the year ahead.

Depending on your enthusiasm for the job (which we hope is high), you can also organise social events for your class. Some examples include trips around Ireland and abroad (Dublin and Edinburgh are popular), paintballing, bowling, an amateur sports event for them (girls vs. boys tag rugby for example), or a charity event to raise money for College tion Week. There’s always the traditional nights out in town, but why not use your imagination and make your time in college more memorable! Don’t forget to give serious thought to ordering class rep hoodies aswell.

For you Postgraduate class reps, we would advise you to get involved in the Postgraduate Research Society, which was recently set up with help from the Dean of Graduate Studies, Pat Morgan, and the Students’ Union. More information and contact details can be found on the Society’s webpage at http://www.socs.nuigalway.ie/ society_profiles/view/76

Your role, in depth . . .

Representation

You are the voice of your class. If all class reps actively get involved in the class reps meetings, and propose new ideas and raise issues, the Union can be very effective at bringing about positive changes that will help all students here at NUI Galway. It can’t be taken for granted that the full-time officers will know about all the issues that affect ordinary students unless you tell us. We simply don’t have the time or the resources to be checking up on every class to make sure things are going okay, and that’s the whole reason we have class reps, so you can bring the issues to us.

It’s important to realise you are representing your class, and not yourself, when you’re in a class rep meeting. So if you know your classmates are opposed to an idea that’s being discussed, you must reflect that in your vote at the meeting, regardless of your own personal views. Try to get the support of your classmates if there’s a contentious issue up for discussion at a later class rep meeting (such as the Facebook ban or parking issues).

As well as having a representative role between your class and the Students’ Union, you also have a role between your class and your lecturers, School, College and the University as a whole. Get involved in the staff-student liaison meetings if your School organises them, and if they don’t, why not meet up with the Head of School to have them set up. This is a great way of getting your classmates views put across to the people who can best address problems with courses, whatever they may be (timetabling, tutorials, individual lecturers, exams etc.)

Consultation

You must introduce yourself to your class at the earliest opportunity, and to as many as your classmates as possible (so a 9am Friday lecture is not ideal). Tell them who you are, what your job involves, how you are linked to the Students’ Union, and what you want to do for them for the year ahead.

Research student reps should let the relevant student in their discipline know who they are. It is probably a good idea to let the discipline secretary know who they are. This way the secretary can let new students know who the rep is.

Here’s an example of an Undergraduate introduction, but most of it can apply to any class, whether Undergraduate or Postgraduate.

‘Hi, I’m John Smith, I’m from Athenry and I’ll be your class rep for the year ahead. I’ve just set up a Facebook page under ‘NUIG First Year History 2010-11’ where I’ve put up my contact details and I’ll be inviting you all to join that. I’d like to organise a class party in the College Bar for you all sometime next week, so if you can all leave a comment on the page, or email me, about what days are good or bad for you, we can work something out from there. If you have any other ideas about events we should organise or trips away you think we should run, just leave a comment or email or just talk to me in person. My role as class rep is basically to act as the go-to person when you have a problem with the course, or with the University as a whole, or if you have any complaints or ideas you want passed on to the Students’ Union. I’m one of a couple hundred class reps in the University, and our job is to collectively tell the Union officers what to do, whether that involves new campaigns or events, or to do something about our courses or facilities on campus. I’ll be attending three class rep meetings this semester where I can raise any issues you have with the full-time Students’ Union officers, so don’t hesitate to let me know of any issues, whatever they are, in person, by email, or on the Facebook page, or by phone or email. Anyway, I hope to have a date set for the class party by the end of this week, and if you want to suggest another social event, I’m all ears. If you’ve any questions about the Students’ Union, you can check out their website at www.su.nuigalway.ie My own email address is.example.2@nuigalway.ie and I’ll be checking it regularly. Thanks’.

As an aside, it’s important to realise that you should try to arrange chats or lecture addresses about upcoming events, meetings or class parties, either at the very beginning of a lecture or at the very end, and always with the lecturers’ permission. If you have to get their opinion on an idea, you can try a quick show of hand vote. If that’s not possible, you can arrange for them to wait around in the theatre for a few minutes tion while the lecture finishes and talk to them all privately. You could also arrange a meeting in the Hub in Áras na Mac Léinn or just meet up outside somewhere if weather permits.

You should also make yourself available to meet your classmates if they have ideas or problems, rather than just telling them to email or Facebook you. Don’t assume you know what your classmates’ views are!

Casework

Casework is the name given to problems that arise from time to time from individual students, a group of students, or the class as a whole. It could involve an academic issue, such as quality of lectures, availability of notes, problems with course structure and so on. It could also involve a welfare issue, like someone who has had a medical problem or bereavement and is now under stress, or someone in financial difficulty. Issues such as these should be politely, and concisely, brought to the appropriate persons’ attention.

This may be a lecturer, a Year Head, a Head of School, the Dean of your College, or the Students’ Union. If you think you’re capable of dealing with the issue yourself, go for it. Research students should be careful not to get involved in the student-supervisor relationship. If you’re in any way unsure of what to do, contact Emmet Connolly (Education issues) or Emma Conway (Welfare issues) in the Students’ Union offices. They can advise you or take over the issue if it’s serious or too much for you to handle along with your studies.

Negotiation

Negotiation is the practice of fulfilling our needs when someone else controls what we want. Negotiation may occur on many levels for a Class Rep; you may have to negotiate on committees, you may have to negotiate on an individual basis with lecturers, and you may have to negotiate in the CRC itself. The University has a large amount of control over our resources whether that is our buildings, student time, our money, or access to University facilities. Negotiation is the most common method used to pursue what you want, whether in the Students’ Union or in business and politics.

• When you are set to negotiate, make sure to have a positive frame of mind. Do not go in with a defeatist attitude. Remember, the person you are trying to negotiate with has probably seen students come along with the same issue many times before over many years, so be confident in your abilities.

• Before a meeting, make sure to research your claims fully. You will not gain any respect, and your claims will not seem credible if you do not understand it properly.

• Before a meeting, understand the relationship you have with the opposing party. Know who will “back you up” and help you in the negotiation process, for example, a sympathetic lecturer.

• Know your parameters. Know exactly what you want, and know exactly how much you are willing to compromise with it. Have a ‘red line’ that you can’t cross, and stick to it.

• If possible, try and figure out a solution which may benefit both parties. It’s much better to go into a meeting with a potential solution of your own at hand rather than just go in complaining about something an expecting a solution to magically appear.

• Know exactly your needs will affect the other party. Try to look at your argument from all angles, if so you may be able to show how the solution will benefit both sides.

• Try to keep the mood of the meeting relaxed and positive. Steer clear of inflammatory comments and accusations, and restrict yourself to a description of the problems and the beneficial consequences of solving them. Remain assertive and not aggressive, confident but not cocky.

• Disagreement and conflict almost always evident in all negotiations. It is important to “give and take” then you can both begin to reach a win/ win situation.

• Use an adjournment if necessary. If you feel you need to get more information, or that your parameters need to be changed, use an adjournment and discuss the issue at another stage.

For example, tell the person you need to consult with your class and will arrange to meet them the following day.

• As always personal beliefs and opinions shouldn’t overshadow the negotiation, especially if the issue revolves around a lecturer or course module you don’t like. Remember, you are representing the beliefs of your classmates and not just your own.

• If your negotiation is successful, do not act arrogant about it, it will damage your credibility if any future negotiations are necessary.

• If you do not understand everything at a meeting, ask. You cannot enter into a discussion without knowing all the details; it will undermine your position, and leave you in a weak position to negotiate.

• Listen to advice from the SU Executive. They know what they are talking about. In a meeting, coordinate your views with an Executive member (if present), it will mean no confusion over the feelings of the student body.

Social Events and Class Parties For all classes in all years of college, but particularly First Year undergraduates and First tion Year postgraduates, class parties are an important and effective way of allowing your classmates to get to know each other in a casual and relaxed way. These are the people you’ll be working and studying with for a considerable length of time, so it’s worth putting in the effort into organising good events. So what kind of events could you organise?

• class party in the College Bar or pub/club in town (for the College Bar, just drop by and ask for Cormac Donoghue, the manager, who can advise you about arranging a party) • bowling (there is a bowling alley just across the bridge in the Galway Shopping Centre in Terryland).

• paintballing (there are usually leaflets from various companies up in the SU offices) • mystery tours (ask in the SU for more advice about buses and safety) • charity events (why not join up with the SU Crew or an off-campus charity to raise money while also undertaking a class challenge like climbing Croagh Patrick or walking from Galway to Dublin) • domestic trips (Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, a couple of nights on the Aran Islands, a night out in Dublin etc.)

• foreign trips (Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Prague and Budapest are all favourites) • sports (five-a-side football every week, girls vs. boys sports, tag rugby and so on)

One more thing. You can’t blatantly advertise alcohol on campus as it goes against the College Alcohol Policy. So you can say ‘refreshments’ in an email to your class or on a poster, but not ‘drinks vouchers’ or ‘free pints’.

Mentoring

As there is no mentoring programme for research students on campus, postgraduate research reps will have some mentoring duties. This involves meeting new research students in your discipline, giving them a tour of the campus and being a point of contact to answer questions new students may have. It essentially involves ensuring that new research students have someone who can show them around and get them involved in life in their relevant discipline.

Class Reps on University Committees Údarás na hOllscoile (University Governing Authority)

This is the top decision-making body in the University, and the daddy of the mammoth bureaucracy that runs NUI Galway on a daily basis. Some of main activities are: finance issues, development of the campus, public relations, and approval of decisions of lower committees. The Students’ Union President (Peter Mannion) and Vice President/ Education Officer (Emmet Connolly) sit on Údarás, which meets every few months, alongside a Postgraduates Class Rep, who is elected through an election in January.

As their term runs from January to December is generally a research student. If you get elected to this position you can call yourself a Governor of NUI Galway on your CV.

An Chomhairle Acadúil (Academic Council)

Academic Council is also constituted under the Universities Act 1997. It is in place to “control the academic affairs of the university, including the curriculum of, and instruction and education provided by, the university”. Put simply, Academic Council is in charge of the educational side of the university’s management, such as setting courses and the curriculum of those courses, developing new programmes in teaching and research, and setting procedures for exam appeals. The Students’ Union Vice President/ Education Officer (Emmet Connolly) sits on Academic Council, alongside five Class Reps. Three of those are Undergraduate Class Reps, who are elected in Semester 1, along with two Postgraduate Class Reps, who are elected in January. Those three Class Reps and the Vice President/ Education Officer meet up shortly before each Academic Council to discuss the agenda and work out a negotiation strategy if one is needed at that particular meeting.

College Board meetings

Since the University was restructured last year, the traditional faculties have been replaced by Colleges and Schools. The Colleges are as follows: • College of Arts, Social Sciences, & Celtic Studies • College of Business, Public Policy, & Law • College of Engineering & Informatics • College of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Sciences • College of Science

The Vice President/ Education Officer is automatically a member of each of these College boards, alongside one Class Rep from each Faculty Council, who will be elected in Semester 1. A research student is also elected to sit on each College board. tion

Structure of the Students’ Union Referendum

A referendum of the entire student body is the supreme decision-making element of the Students’ Union. They are held to amend the Union’s constitution or Union policy and can be called by the CRC, the Executive officers or at a general meeting. For a referendum to be valid, at least 5% of the members of the Students’ Union must vote.

General Meetings

These are held periodically and are open to all Union members. For decisions to be binding on the Union there must be a quorum of 200 members. An Annual General Meeting is held in Semester 1 each year. A decision of a General Meeting can overrule a decision reached at Class Reps level.

Executive Committee

REFERENDUM GENERAL MEETING CLASS REPS COUNCIL EXEC. COMMITTEE PRESIDENT

The Executive Committee comprises the nine elected SU officers, and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Union. Three of the Executive officers are full-time and are paid a salary which comes from the Student Services Levy that you all pay each September. The other six officers are part-time and unpaid. The various officers’ responsibilities ensure all areas of student concern are covered by a dedicated SU officer.

President of the Students’ Union

Peter Mannion is President of the Students’ Union for 2010/11. He is responsible for the overall running of the Union during her term in office and is the public face of the Union when dealing with the media and the University authorities. He also manages the Commercial Services side of the Union, which runs the College Bar, Smokies Café, The Wall Café, and the SU Shop.

Students’ Union Forum Occasionally, the Students’ Union Executive can arrange an Education Forum and a Welfare Forum to discuss issues in these areas. The Vice President/ Education Officer chairs the Education Forum and the Vice President/ Welfare Officer chairs the Welfare Forum. Any student can attend these meetings and give their opinion. The forums can propose motions to Class Reps Council.

What you get for being a Class Rep Firstly, you get the warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from helping you fellow student, right?

And surely that’s reward enough?

All Class Reps are entitled to be awarded an ALIVE Certificate by the University. These certificates are given to students who have contributed to campus life by volunteering in various ways, such as being involved in clubs, societies, and the Students’ Union.

Handbooks on how to get an ALIVE Cert are available from the Students’ Union. You also get a nice, free hoody which will be given out around late September/ early October.

They always get snapped up fast so don’t delay in getting over the Union to collect yours.

We also regularly have post-meeting sandwiches or drinks in the College Bar after most Class Reps meetings, as well as a training weekend at the beginning of Semester 1 with a night out at the end. In December we’ll be holding a Christmas Party for you all. Lastly, you should remember to put down on your CV that you were a Class Rep, as employers always look for extra-curricular stuff like that In These Recessionary Times.

The Students’ Union website The SU website is accessible at www.su.nuigalway.ie and contains loads of information on tion the Class Reps Council and the Students’ Union in general. By using the website, students can check what second hand books we have available in real time through the online bookstore, can book lockers, and can find grinds or advertise themselves as a grinds tutor. You can also access your Students’ Union account, using your campus password, which allows you to check up on the points you’ve collected on your SU card. We can also communicate information and upcoming events using the Blackboard system, so keep an eye out!

A Short History of the NUIG Students’ Union The NUI Galway Students’ Union was originally established in 1911 as the Students’ Representative Council by Bryan Cusack, as an offshoot of the Literary & Debating Society. This council was short-lived, but the re-establishment of the body was proposed

by Conor O’Malley, auditor of the 1913-1914 session of the Literary & Debating Society.

The council was firmly established by the mid-1920’s, and in the 1960’s was formally developed into the university’s Students’ Union, then known as Comhairle Teachta na Mac Léinn. The Students’ Union we know today is known as Comhaltas na Mac Léinn as Gaelige, and has developed from just representation to running a commercial services company that oversees the College Bar, Smokies and The Wall Cafés, and the SU Shop.

Notable persons involved in the Students’ Union in the past include Michael D. Higgins T.D. (SU President 1964-65), Pat Rabbitte T.D. (SU President 1970-71), and Eamon Gilmore T.D. (SU President 1974-75).

An Introduction to the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) The NUI Galway Students’ Union is a constituent organisation of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). USI is essentially the national students’ union, representing over 250,000 students North and South, and has been in operation since 1959. Over the past fifty years it has been at the forefront of the opening of Irish society to modern ideas, and in campaigning for the liberalising of the law to help achieve social progress.

USI was a leading voice for the legalisation of contraception and homosexual acts in the 1970s and 1980s, and for the distribution of information on abortion during the early 1990s.

Throughout its history USI has lobbied successive governments for adequate student grants, proper accommodation for students, and free access to third-level education; a campaign that continues today.

USI provides valuable training events for its members and provides two weeks of officer skills training in the summer months to give officers the necessary skills and information for their year in office.

USI is the only recognised body in Ireland that represents all third-level students. It currently represents students on a number of bodies such as the Higher Education Authority, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, the Further Education and Training Awards Council, the National Anti-Poverty Council and many others.

USI continuously campaigns on the issues that affect its members. These include the promotion within the media, Government lobbying, and raising of awareness in society as well as on campus. USI and the British National Union of Students (NUS) has jointly represented the third-level students of Northern Ireland as ‘USI-NUS’ since the 1970s, showing a level of co-operation that was missing on part of the politicians for a good 30 years!

Structures of USI

USI’s structure is one which includes the involvement and communication of all affiliated members, which leads to a national decision making process.

Annual Congress

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Annual Congress is USI’s supreme decision making body which takes place over a fourday period in March. All affiliated unions send a representative number of delegates to Congress. The number of delegates each university sends depends on the number of students at their college (NUI, Galway Students’ Union currently has 20 votes). All Students’ Unions can submit motions and constitutional amendments for Congress.

Congress then debates the various issues and motions submitted by member unions, elects the President, Deputy President, Welfare Officer, Education Officer and Equality officer.

National Council

National Council is USI’s Executive body consisting of representatives from each union and USI’s officer board. It’s convened at approximately six-week intervals for the purpose of discussing the overall work of the national union. It works very much on the same lines as a CRC, except on a national basis.

Regional Conferences

Regional Conferences are held for the main purpose of electing the Area Campaigns Officer for the region. The regions are autonomous and discuss and debate policy for the region to co-ordinate and direct the work of the Area Campaigns Officer. NUI, Galway is in the Western Area.

Standing Conferences

There are four standing conferences held each year with the purpose of electing the part-time officers and to discuss and formulate policy for that brief. The four conferences are: the Irish Language conference; the Disability Rights conference; the Environmental Awareness conference and the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender conference.

Past Presidents of USI include Pat Rabbitte T.D., Eamon Gilmore T.D., Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John L. Murray, and Radio presenter Joe Duffty.

The current President of USI is Gary Redmond, last year’s President of the UCD Students’ Union.

University Contacts Listed below are some useful contact details for the various offices and administrative departments in the University.

The President’s Office: Dr James J. Browne

president@nuigalway.ie

Ext: 2110

General Enquiries / Press & Information Office

info@nuigalway.ie

Ext: 3361

Main Switchboard

+353 (0)91 524411

General Admissions

admissions@nuigalway.ie

Ext: 4023, 4024, & 3878

Student Contact Centre

scc@nuigalway.ie

Ext 5999

Undergraduate Admission

geraldine.gannon@nuigalway.ie

Ext: 3878

Postgraduate Admission

postgrad@nuigalway.ie

Ext: 2844

Registration

reghelp@nuigalway.ie

Ext. 2199

Schools Liaison Officer

mary.coyle@nuigalway.ie

Ext: 2814

International Students

international@nuigalway.ie

Ext: 5277

Mature Students

trish.hoare@nuigalway.ie

Ext: 2695

Adult and Continuing Education Office

adulteducation@nuigalway.ie

Ext: 2062

Access Office

imelda.byrne@nuigalway.ie

Ext: 3553

Special Needs Students

elizabeth.walsh@nuigalway.ie

+353 (0)91 512034

International Summer School

intlofficemis@nuigalway.ie

+353 (0)91 750304

Exams Office exams.

office@nuigalway.ie

Ext: 5999

Fees Office

colette.gill@nuigalway.ie

Ext: 2386

Colleges of NUI Galway The University was restructured in the past few years, so that the old faculty structures are tion gone, and have been replaced by five Colleges, which in turn contain various Schools and departments, as well as the Acadamh, which teaches various Irish-language courses both on and off campus.

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, GALWAY President: Dr. James J. Browne, President’s Office, The Quadrangle

COLLEGE OF ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES, and CELTIC STUDIES School Of Political Science And Sociology School Of Psychology School Of Education School Of Geography And Archaeology Archaeology Geography

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES English History Huston School of Film and Digital Media Irish Studies Journalism Philosophy

SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES, LITERATURE and CULTURES Classics French Gaeilge German Italian Spanish Acadamh na hOllscolaĂ­ochta Gaeilge

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, PUBLIC POLICY AND LAW J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics Accountancy and Finance Economics Management Marketing School of Law

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING and INFORMATICS Civil Engineering

Electrical & Electronic Engineering Hydrology Industrial Engineering Information Technology Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES Health Promotion

Occupational Therapy Podiatry Speech and Language Therapy

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Anaesthesia Anatomy Bacteriology General Practice Medicine Obstetrics and Gynaecology Paediatrics Pathology Pharmacology and Therapeutics Physiology Psychiatry Radiology Surgery SCHOOL OF NURSING and MIDWIFERY

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE SCHOOL OF CHEMISTRY SCHOOL OF PSYCHICS SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS, STATISTICS, AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES Biochemistry Botany Earth and Ocean Sciences Microbiology Zoology

tion

Academic Academic Calendar Calendar Arrangements for First Year Students Exceptions apply in the case of: * First Arts (Examination Dates in Semester II)

2010/11

First Semester Orientation Registration and Teaching will take place in the week of 13th September, 2010 in accordance with information which will be provided to students Teaching ends

Saturday and Sunday, 11th and 12th September, 2010 Monday, 13th September, 2010 Saturday, 4th December, 2010

Study Week*

Monday, 6th December, 2010

Examinations begin

Monday, 13th December, 2010

Examinations end

Friday, 17th December, 2010

Christmas Vacation

Sunday, 19th December, 2010 – Sunday, 9th January, 2011

Second Semester Teaching begins

Monday,10th January, 2011

Teaching ends for Easter and teaching is Saturday, 2nd April, 2011 finished for the Semester

Study Week* Examinations

Monday, 4th April, 2011

Easter Vacation Examinations end

Thursday, 21st April – Wednesday, 27th April, 2011 Friday 20th May

Friday, 15th April – Wednesday, 20th April and Thursday, 28th April (pm) - ……………

Easter Sunday in 2011 is on 24th April

Academic Calendar Outline arrangements for Students other than First Year & Clinical Medical Students tion

Exceptions apply in the case of: * Third Year Engineering and IT Students

2010/11

First Semester Teaching begins

Monday, 6th September, 2010

Teaching ends

Saturday, 27th November, 2010

Study Week*

Monday, 29th November, 2010

Examinations begin

Monday, 6th December, 2010

Examinations end

Friday, 17th December, 2010

Christmas Vacation,

Sunday 19th December, 2010 –Sunday, 9th January, 2011

Second Semester Teaching begins

Monday,10th January, 2011

Teaching ends for Easter & teaching Saturday, 2nd April, 2011 is finished for the Semester Study Week*

Monday, 4th April, 2011

Examinations

Monday, 18th April – Wednesday, 20th April and Thursday, 28th April (pm) - …………….

Easter Vacation

Thursday, 21st April – Wednesday, 27th April, 2011

Examinations end

Friday 20th May

Easter Sunday in 2011 is on 24th April Exceptions apply in the case of: * Third Year Engineering and IT Students

2pm – 3pm

6pm – 7pm

6pm – 7pm

12pm – 1pm

6pm – 7pm

6pm – 7pm

Mon 11 Oct 10

Weds 13 Oct 10

Thurs 14 Oct 10

Mon 18th Oct 10

Tues 19 Oct 10

2pm – 3pm

6pm – 7pm

6pm – 8pm

Mon 8th Nov 10

Mon 8th Nov 10

Tues 9 Nov 10

6pm – 7pm

12pm – 1pm

6pm – 7pm

Thurs 11th Nov 10

Mon 15th Nov 10

6pm – 7pm

12pm – 1pm

6pm – 7.30pm

8pm till late

Thurs 18th Nov 10

Mon 22nd Nov 10

Mon 22 Nov 10

nd

th

Tues 16 Nov 10

th

Weds 10 Nov 10

th

12pm – 1pm

6pm – 7.30pm

Mon 1st Nov 10

st

Thurs 21 Oct 10

th

th

th

th

Mon 11th Oct 10

th

6pm – 7.30pm

10am – 6pm

Time

Mon 4 Oct 10

Sat 2nd Oct 10

Semester 1 Date

TBC

IT125 1st Floor

SC200A

Students’ Union Exec Office

AC216 BS Mac Aodha Room

Students’ Union Exec Office

AC216 BS Mac Aodha Room

IT250 1 Floor st

AC216 BS Mac Aodha Room

Students’ Union Exec Office

IT125 1st Floor

SC200A

Students’ Union Exec Office

AC216 BS Mac Aodha Room

Students’ Union Exec Office

IT125 1 Floor st

AC216 BS Mac Aodha Room

Students’ Union Exec Office

AM 250 O’Heocha Theatre

AC216 BS Mac Aodha Room

Room

Class Representative Council Schedule 2010/2011

TBC

IT Building

Arts Concourse

Áras na Mac Léinn

Arts Concourse

Áras na Mac Léinn

Arts Concourse

IT Building

Arts Concourse

Áras na Mac Léinn

IT Building

Science Concourse

Áras na Mac Léinn

Arts Concourse

Áras na Mac Léinn

IT Building

Arts Concourse

Áras na Mac Léinn

Arts Millennium

Arts Concourse

Building

CRC Christmas Party

Full CRC

Commerce FCRC

Health Sciences

Science FCRC

Law FCRC

Engineering FCRC

CRC Training 2

Arts FCRC

Postgrad FCRC

Union Body

Commerce FCRC

Health Sciences

Science FCRC

Law FCRC

Engineering FCRC

Arts FCRC

Postgrad FCRC

Full CRC

CRC Training 1

Meeting

6pm – 8pm

6pm – 7pm

2pm – 3pm

6pm – 7pm

6pm – 7pm

6pm – 7pm

12pm – 1pm

6pm – 7.30pm

2pm – 3pm

6pm – 7pm

6pm – 7pm

2pm – 3pm

6pm – 7pm

6pm – 7pm

12pm – 1pm

6pm – 7.30pm

6pm – 7.30pm

Mon 17 Jan 11

Tues 18 Jan 11

Weds 19 Jan 11

Weds 19 Jan 11

Mon 24th Jan 11

Tues 25th Jan 11

Thurs 27th Jan 11

Mon 31st Jan 11

Mon 7th Feb 11

Mon 7 Feb 11

Tues 8 Feb 11

Weds 9 Feb 11

Mon 14 Feb 11

Tues 15 Feb 11

Thurs 17 Feb 11

Mon 7th Mar 11

Mon 21st Mar 11

Time

2pm – 3pm

th

th

th

th

th

th

th

th

th

th

th

Mon 17 Jan 11

Semester 2 Date

IT250 1st Floor

IT125 1st Floor

SC200A

Students’ Union Exec Office

AC216 BS Mac Aodha Room

Students’ Union Exec Office

AC216 BS Mac Aodha Room

AC216 BS Mac Aodha Room

Students’ Union Exec Office

IT125 1st Floor

SC200A

Students’ Union Exec Office

AC216 BS Mac Aodha Room

AC216 BS Mac Aodha Room

Students’ Union Exec Office

AC216 BS Mac Aodha Room

IT250 1 Floor st

Students’ Union Exec Office

Room

Class Representative Council Schedule 2010/2011

IT Building

IT Building

Science Concourse

Áras na Mac Léinn

Arts Concourse

Áras na Mac Léinn

Arts Concourse

Arts Concourse

Áras na Mac Léinn

IT Building

Science Concourse

Áras na Mac Léinn

Arts Concourse

Arts Concourse

Áras na Mac Léinn

Arts Concourse

IT Building

Áras na Mac Léinn

Building

tion

Full CRC

Union Body

Commerce FCRC

Health Sciences

Science FCRC

Law FCRC

Engineering FCRC

Arts FCRC

Postgrad FCRC

Union Body

Commerce FCRC

Health Sciences

Science FCRC

Engineering FCRC

Law FCRC

Arts FCRC

Full CRC

Postgrad FCRC

Meeting

For More Information Log onto

www.su.nuigalway.ie Š NUI Galway Students' Union 2010 Phone: +353 (0)91 524810 / Email: udentsunion@nuigalway.ie