2017-18
Design by Amber Ward
CONTENTS
2
Welcome
3
Your Union
5
Your Role
7
Where to Find Help
9
Your University
12
Reward & Recognition
13
Contacts
15
Jargon Buster
17
Timetable
1
WELCOME TO YOUR ROLE! Congratulations on becoming a Course Rep! You will play an invaluable role as intermediary between students, staff and the Students’ Union. In this handbook, you will find all the information relating to your role, such as:
As Course Rep, you will represent all the students on you course, and you are key in bringing student feedback to the forefront of University decision-making. The position requires you to attend meetings, discuss issues and share best practice, to come up with ideas and new initiatives, and to liaise with a wide range of staff and students.
• Your role as Course Representative • Where to go to for help • How your University is structured • Information about Student Staff Course Liaison Group meetings • Information about quality assurance mechanisms • Tips to make the most of your role as Course Rep and get accredited for it
You will develop a wide range of skills through the process and gain an insight into all the work that goes on behind the scenes to make sure the quality of your degree is recognised nationally and internationally. We look forward to working closely with you.
2
YOUR STUDENTS’ UNION What does your SU do for you?
Student Voice Team
The Students’ Union is so much more than bars, clubs and societies. It is the recognised voice of the students at USW. The SU coordinates the entire Student Voice network at USW and provides support and training to Course Reps to help them make the most of their role and improve the student experience for current and future students.
Sophie Banks, Education & Representation Coordinator sophie.banks@southwales.ac.uk 01 443 483 521 (Treforest) 01 443 668 772 (Cardiff) 01 633 432 502 (Newport)
As a student at USW, you are automatically a member of the Students’ Union. The SU is here to guide you and assist you with any issue you may have, so feel free to get in touch if you have any queries. Students’ input into the management of their course is of paramount importance and you will play an essential part in improving the quality of your degree and your University by being the first point of contact between staff and your course mates.
Hannah Fatkin, Student Voice Coordinator hannah.fatkin@southwales.ac.uk Once you have been elected as Course Rep, you need to self-register on UniLife to make sure you are in our database (found on the academic details page). Doing this will also allow students on your course to be able to see who their Rep is when they login to UniLife. Without registering on UniLife, you will not be recognised as an offical Course Rep.
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
You will have many opportunities to develop new skills through the role and your work will be recognised and valued by the Students’ Union. By recording your activities and skills you gain, you will be able to evidence the added value of the role to prospective employers
All USW students are invited to attend the AGM. It is an opportunity for you to have your say on the direction of the Students’ Union. As well as this, it is an opportunity for students to scrutinise the work of elected officers and to ensure that they are fulfilling the promises they made during their election campaign. Decisions made at AGM can have a massive impact on your experience as a student. Attendance also counts towards your Course Rep Certificate! 3
STUDENT REPSRESENTATION Executive Officers The Executive Officers (left), are at the head of Student Council. They direct and shape your Students’ Union and make lasting changes to improve the lives of students. They make sure your voice is heard at the highest level. There are currently three full-time officers who work to improve the academic and welfare provision of the University.
Megan Wilson, Acting SU President
The Officers chair Course Representative Assemblies and liaise closely with Course Reps and Student Voice Reps.
Student Council
Charlotte Billinghurst, VP Education & Welfare Cardiff & Newport
Student Council is run by you, the students. It is the main policy-making body of the Students’ Union and is a platform for discussing the various issues that affect students in order to set the Union’s overall political direction. Full-time and part-time Officers sit on Student Council and help steer the direction of the Union and enhance the student experience. Ollie Britten, VP Education & Welfare Pontypridd
Student Voice Representatives SVRs help the Faculty improve its governance structures and work closely with staff to drive institutional change. They act as agents of change in shaping learning and teaching strategies of the University. They regularly attend Course Rep Assemblies and liaise closely with Course Representatives. 4
YOUR ROLE Student Staff Course Liaison Groups (SSCLGs)
Being a Course Rep is an exciting and important role, but it is also a role that carries great responsibility. Course Reps act as the voice of their peers by representing them and working to help them with course related problems.
The most important aspect of your role is attendance at your Student Staff Course Liaison Group (or SSCLG). There will be three meetings per year which will be a formal opportunity for you to feed back any issues or instances of good practice about the course to your Course Management Team.
As a Course Rep, it is your role to represent ALL students on your course and feed back issues/opinions to members of staff. Course Reps actively take part in discussions to improve the management of their course.
Final year Course Reps will be asked to chair the meetings with support from the Course Leader. Tasks for a chair will include; setting the agenda, facilitating the discussion and keeping to a schedule. A Course Representative from another year will record action points of the meeting. These action points should be forwarded to your Course Leader and the Student Voice Team shortly after the meeting. At Course Rep training, you will learn how to chair and take action points.
HELPFUL LINKS Course Rep Registration link https://unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3204-course-representation Course Rep Training dates http://www.uswsu.com/course-reps/training-events Information about SSCLGs http://www.uswsu.com/course-reps/student-staff-course-liaison-group Student Voice Representative Contact List http://www.uswsu.com/findmySVR 5
RESPONSIBILITIES Key Responsibilities of a Course Rep
How to be an Effective Rep
• To gather feedback from your cohort about the academic experience on your course (positive & negative).
Make yourself known to your course mates You can establish quick and easy communication channels as soon as you come into post (Facebook group, Whatsapp chat, use a noticeboard, lecture shout-outs, etc.).
• To attend Course Rep training provided by the Students’ Union.
Attend Training This compulsory training will help you find out about what you are supposed to do and how to go about it. Dates are available on the SU website.
• To attend Student Staff Course Liaison Group Meetings (SSCLGs) once a term and put forward the views of the students you represent. • To feedback to students on the outcomes of meetings you attend.
Don’t wait for feedback to come to you. SuveyMonkey or Google Forms are quick and easy ways to set up surveys for free.
• To keep in touch with your Student Voice Team and Student Voice Rep. • To keep in touch with your Course Leader and course management team.
Use existing research The National Student Survey (NSS) is a good place to start (ask your Student Voice Team for previous results for your course).
• To treat the role responsibly and be prepared to represent the views of the majority of the students even if you do not hold the same views.
Find solutions You will need to think carefully about where and how to raise issues; can it wait until your next Committee meeting?
• To attend Students’ Union meetings such as Course Rep Assemblies and AGM.
Stay in touch with your Course Leader Don’t wait for your course meeting to raise a matter if it needs an urgent resolution.
Boundaries of your role
Close the feedback loop Once you know issues you raised with staff are being addressed, make sure students on your course are not left in the dark about it.
Individual matters (performance, extenuating circumstances, complaints or appeals); complaints about staff members (direct students to one of the Officers); non-academic matters (direct students to the Advice Centre) 6
SIGNPOSTING Module Leader / SSCLG
A student needs more academic help
Study Skills Service Course Leader / SSCLG
There is a need for skills development
Employability Service Module Leader
Issues with feedback
Course Leader / SSCLG
There is a problem with assessments
Module / Course Leader
Issues with timetabling
Module Leader Module Leader
The cohort needs more books in library
Subject Librarian
There are problems with Blackboard
Module Leader
There are issues with course content
Module Leader / SSCLG Course Leader
Issues with learning resources
SVR
TIPS If you are unsure who to go to to resolve an issue, you should first contact your Module or Course Leader. If the issue remains unresolved after doing everything you can, contact your Student Voice Representative to help you. https://www.uswsu.com/findmySVR
7
UNIVERSITY SERVICES There are many services available at the University that are dedicated to dealing with personal issues. It is not your responsibility to resolve this, but you should be able to point them in the right direction. If you are unsure who to direct them to, you can ask a member of your Student Voice Team for help or one of the SU Exectuive Officers.
Accommodation Services accom@southwales.ac.uk
Tel. 01443 482044
Student Money Advice money@southwales.ac.uk
Tel. 01443 483778
International and Immigration Service international.advice@southwales.ac.uk
Tel. 01443 482083
Health Service health@southwales.ac.uk
Tel. 01443 482598 (Tref)/01633 465391 (Newport)
Wellbeing Service thewellbeingservice.southwales.ac.uk
Tel. 01443 482080
Disability & Dyslexia Service ddsadvisor@southwales.ac.uk
Tel. 01443 482080
Advice Zones unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3024-advice-zones
Library & Student Support Service studentlibrary.southwales.ac.uk
8
YOUR UNIVERSITY EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
UNIVERSITY EXECUTIVE
FACULTY DEAN / DEPUTY DEAN
SVR
WHOLE UNIVERSITY
FACULTY
SCHOOL HEAD OF SCHOOL / ASSOCIATE HEAD
SCHOOL
DEPARTMENT ACADEMIC MANAGER
DEPARTMENT
COURSE COURSE LEADER
COURSE
MODULE MODULE LEADER
MODULE
COURSE REP
If you are struggling to deal with a student query promptly, you should raise the matter with the next person in charge. You can also bring in your Student Voice Rep for support, as they will have contacts at senior Faculty level who might be able to help.
At every level of the organisation of the University, there is always someone in charge. Your first port of call is your Module and Course Leader. You should liaise with them regularly to ensure any issues are addressed promptly.
9
COMMITTEES
STUDENTS’ UNION TRUSTEE BOARD
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES
UNIVERSITY
TRUSTEES ACADEMIC BOARD FULL TIME STUDENT OFFICERS LTEC/QAC
FLTEC/FQAC COURSE REP ASSEMBLY
STUDENT VOICE REPRESENTATIVES COURSE BOARDS
COURSE REPRESENTATIVES
STUDENT STAFF COURSE LIAISON GROUPS (SSCLG)
ALL STUDENTS
CHECKLIST FOR SSCLGS Find out when and where your meeting will take place, and who the Chair and person recoding action points are. Gather positive and negative feedback from your course mates. Pass on a list of topics you wish to discuss to the Chair. Think about how to resolve issues raised. Print off any relevant document (the agenda, previous action points template). Participate and take notes during the meeting Follow up on action points after the meeting and report back to students on your course.
10
TRAINING AND SUPPORT Being a Course Rep is a great opporunity to develop skills that will make you stand out from the crowd in your future job search. You will learn skills such as: - Mediation - Communication - Time-management - Leadership - Public speaking - Problem-solving - Assertiveness
Training As Course Representative, you will receive a full comprehensive training package at the start of the year and benefit from the availability of staff (the Student Voice Team), on hand to respond to any queries you may have. If this is your first year as a Course Rep, you will be invited to the Students’ Union in Treforest, or to a particular setting in Newport/Cardiff campus, for a training session. The training is compulsory.
You will also gain a better understanding of what goes on behind the scences to make your course the best it can be.
If you are a returning Course Rep from last year, you will be invitied to complete online training. You will have to do a quiz to show that you have watched the training session. The training and the quiz are compulsory.
The Course Rep role will look great on your CV and will help you stand out to employers in the future! You should ask your Course Leader to sign off your Activity Log after each SSCLG as evidence that you have attended. Attendance at all three will count as 30 points towards your Course Rep Certificate.
To help you make the most of you role, the SU will organise Course Representative Assemblies and other events you can take part in. For instance, you could become a Validation Rep and help decide whether courses at USW should run.
11
REWARD & RECOGNITION Course Rep Certificate
GradEdge
To receive your Gold, Silver or Bronze Course Rep certificate, you should submit evidence of your Course Rep activities at the end of the year to your Student Voice Team.
It is a recognition scheme focused on work experience and skills development. You can make the time you commit to being a Course Rep count towards the award.
You should keep track of the training sessions, meetings and Union events you attend to claim your certificate on your activity log. This log will be sent to you but can also be found on the USWSU website (Course Rep section -> rewards section).
The award will help you stand out from the crowd and add to your degree as employers usually look for evidence of work experience in graduates.
Make sure you ask your Course Leader to sign your activities log next to the relevant meeting or your entry will not count! (You may still prove attendance by providing minutes or action points of the meeting).
Student Choice Awards The Student Choice Awards run every year in the second term. Students can nominate staff and student reps for one of the awards and the winners are determined by a student judging panel. One of the awards is Course Rep of the Year. You can earn extra points for your Course Rep certificate if you are nominated for the award, and even more points if you win!
12
As part of the Award, you will have to complete 70 hours of work experience (over the course of your study) and will receive CVbuilding and interview skills advice.
UNIVERSITY CONTACTS Vice Chancellor: Professor Julie Lydon Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic): Professor Helen Langton Deputy Vice Chancellor (Strategic Resources): Huw Williams Pro Vice Chancellor (Learning, Teaching & Student Experience: Dr. Ben Calvert
FACULTY OF BUSINESS & SOCIETY
FACULTY OF CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
Dean: Prof Andrew Rogers
Dean: Prof Jane McCloskey
Deputy Dean: Karen Jones
Deputy Dean: Prof Barry Atkins
Head of School of Business: Dr. Dominic Page
Director of Design and Digital - Mark Jackson
Head of School of Law, Accounting & Finance: Sarah Grabham
Director of Production and Performance - Tom Ware
Head of School of Humanities & Social Sciences: Andrew Thompson
FACULTY OF COMPUTING, ENGINEERING & SCIENCE
FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCES & EDUCATION
Dean: Dr. Lucy Meredith
Dean: Dr. Martin Steggall
Deputy Dean: Prof. Stewart Eyres
Deputy Dean: Dr. Carl Peters
Head of School of Engineering: Dr. Daphne O’Dohert
Head of School of Psychology, Early Years & Therapeutic Studies: Jo Davies
Head of School of Applied Sciences: Dr. Dawn Story
Head of School of Health, Sport & Professional Practice: Dr. Linda Evans
Head of School of Computing & Mathematics: Mark Griffiths
Head of School of Care Sciences: Nicky Genders Head of School of Education: Jamie James
13
STUDENTS’ UNION OFFICERS Acting SU President: Megan Wilson - supres@southwales.ac.uk - 01443 83508 Vice President Education & Welfare Pontypridd: Ollie Britten - su.edwelpontypridd@southwales.ac.uk - 01443 83511 Vice President Education & Welfare Cardiff & Newport: Charlotte Billinghurst - su.edwelcarnew@southwales.ac.uk - 01443 654597 / 01633 432502
Student Voice Team
Sophie Banks, Education & Representation Coordinator - sophie.banks@southwales.ac.uk - 01 443 483 521 (Treforest) - 01 443 668 772 (Cardiff) - 01 633 432 502 (Newport) Hannah Fatkin, Student Voice Coordinator - hannah.fatkin@southwales.ac.uk
14
JARGON BUSTER University Terminology
Students’ Union Terminology
(F)LTEC= (Faculty) Learning and Teaching Enhancement Committee
AGM= Annual General Meeting By-elections = elections to fill a vacancy
(F)QAC = (Faculty) Quality Assurance Committee
Course Representative Assembly - meeting between Course Representatives, SVRs and the full-time officers.
ASaQS (or AQS) = Academic Standards and Quality Service
Executive Officers (or full-time officers) full-time elected officers who represent the student voice at University-level.
CELT= Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
FBS= Faculty of Business and Society
Motion - a policy proposal to be adopted either by the Student Council or the Annual General Meeting.
FCES= Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Part-time Officer - elected representative with a remit to cover one of the liberation groups.
FCI= Faculty of Creative Industries
Quorate = when a meeting is attended by a quorum, meaning it has a sufficient number of members for the meeting to go ahead.
DVC= Deputy Vice Chancellor
FLSE= Faculty of Life Sciences and Education PVC = Pro Vice-Chancellor
Single Transferable Voting = the voting system used in the SU. Voters rank candidates according to their preference.
SAMI= Student Administration and Management Information
Student Charter - document to enable students to understand what will be expected of them during their studies..
SAPI= Student Achievement Performance Indicator SAS = Student Administration Services
Student Council - the main policy making body of the Students’ Union.
SSCLG= Student Staff Course Liaison Group Trustee Board - oversees the management and administration of the Union.
VLE= Virtual Learning Environment (BlackBoard / Moodle) 15
JARGON BUSTER PSRB= Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies
Other CPD= Continuing Professional Development
QAA= Quality Assurance Agency FEI= Further Education Institution Terms of reference = the purpose, scope, and membership of a meeting.
HEA = Higher Education Academy HEAR= Higher Education Achievement Report KIS= Key Information Sets NSS= National Student Survey NUS = National Union of Students OIA = Office of the Independent Adjudicator Partner College = College that has entered into partnership with a University to deliver some Higher Education courses.
HELPFUL LINKS Course Rep Registration link https://unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3204-course-representation Course Rep Training dates http://www.uswsu.com/course-reps/training-events Information about SSCLGs http://www.uswsu.com/course-reps/student-staff-course-liaison-group Student Voice Representative Contact List http://www.uswsu.com/findmySVR 16
CALENDAR KEY Colour
Meaning Students’ Union Elections for Executive Officers, Student Voice Representatives and Student Council. Main Elections - Feb By Elections - Sept/Oct As a Course Rep, you will be expected to vote and to encourage your year group to vote. Denotes a day filled with training sessions! These can either be Initial, Extra Development or Webinar training. You will be given all the details for these training sessions. A Course Rep Newsletter will make its way to your student email inbox this week! Course Rep Assemblies will be held on these dates. The initial (T/C/N/G), stands for each campus - this is the same on training days. Annual General Meeting Very important event for all reps to attend! Speak Week Campaign Course Rep Conference is an opportunity for reps to gain extra training from guest speakers - look at for application dates in December. Student Choice Awards - an opportunity for students to vote for their best lecturer, module, course leader and more. There are also student categories, including Course Rep of the Year. Open and Close denote the opening and closing of the nomination period. This is the last day you can fill out the Course Rep Feedback Form and your Activity Log must be sent to the Student Voice Team by this day to ensure you get your Course Rep Certificate.
17
TIMETABLE September 2017 MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
SU
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18 Elections 19 Elections 20 Elections
21 Elections
22 Elections 23 Elections 24 Elections
25 Elections 26 Elections 27 Elections
28 Elections 29 Elections 30 October 2017
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
SU 1
2 Training C 3 Training T
4
9
10
11 Training N 12 Training G 13
16 Newsletter
17 Training C 18
23
24
30 Newsletter 31
5 Voting
7
8
14
15
20
21
22
25 Training G 26 Training N 27
28
29
19 Training T
SSCLG
6
SSCLG
SSCLG
November 2017 MO
6 Training T
TU
7
WE
TH
FR
SA
SU
1
2
3
4
5
8 Training C
9
10
11
12
16 AGM
17 Socials
18
19
23 CRA N
24
25
26
13 Training G 14 Training N 15 Socials Newsletter
20 CRA T
21 CRA C
22 CRA G Webinar
27 Newsletter
28
29
30
18
TIMETABLE December 2017 MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
SU
1
2
3
4 Speak
5 Speak
6 Speak
7 Speak
8 Speak
9
10
11 Newsletter
12
13 Webinar
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
January 2018 MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
SU
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22 Newsletter
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31 Conference
TH
FR
SA
SU
1
2
3
4
8 Training G
9
10
11
16 Elections 17
18
22 Elections 23 Elections 24
25
February 2018 MO 5 Training C
TU 6 Training T
Newsletter
WE 7 Training N SCA Open
12 Elections
13 Elections
14 Elections
15 Elections
CRA C
CRA G
CRA T
CRA N
19 Elections 20 Elections 21 Elections Newsletter
Webinar
26 Elections 27 Elections 28 Elections
19
TIMETABLE March 2018 MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
SU
1 Elections
2
3
4
5 Newsletter 6
7 SCA Close
8
9
10
11
12 Votin
13 Voting
14 Voting
15 Voting
16
17
18
19 CRA N
20 CRA T
21 CRA C
22 CRA G
23
24
25
27
28
29
30
31
FR
SA
Newsletter
26
April 2018 MO
TU
WE
TH
SU 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16 Newsletter
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24 SCA
25
26
27
28
29
30 Newsletter
May 2018 MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
SU
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 Newsletter
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
3
31
1 DEADLINE
20
Contact us studunion@southwales.ac.uk 01443 483500 @USWSU @StudentVoiceUSW fb.com/uswsu