Course rep handbook final 2016/17

2016-17

Design by Amber Ward

CONTENTS

2

Welcome

3

Your Union

5

Your Role

7

Where to Find Help

9

Your University

11

Reward & Recognition

13

Contacts

17

Jargon Buster

19

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 attending meeting, discussing issues and sharing best practice, coming up with ideas and new initiatives, and liaising 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 Student Rep Support Team

What does your SU do for you?

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.

Sian Drew, Student Voice Coordinator sian.drew@southwales.ac.uk Once you have been elected as Course Rep, you should self-register on UniLife to make sure you are in our database. This will allow us to send you lots of great tips and news to support you in your role! Doing this will also allow students on your course to be able to see who their Rep is when they login to UniLife.

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 REPS 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 four full-time officers who work to improve the academic and welfare provision of the University.

Jonathan Jones, SU President

The Officers chair Course Representative Assemblies and liaise closely with Course Reps and Student Voice Reps.

Student Council

Sam Senior, VP Education & Welfare Pontypridd

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.

Kelsey Taylor, VP Education & Welfare Cardiff & Newport

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.

Rachel Watson, VP Student Activities

They regularly attend Course Rep Assemblies and liaise closely with Course Representatives.

4

YOUR ROLE Being a Course Rep is an exciting and important role, but also carries great responsibility. Course Reps act as the frontline face to their peers by representing them and working to help them with course related problems.

Student Staff Course Liaison Groups (SSCLGs) 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 as 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 circulated to all members of the meeting.

The action points should be forwarded to your Course Leader shortly after the meeting.

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/student-voice-reps-svrs/who-is-my-svr 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 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.

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 feedback to students on the outcomes of meetings you attend.

• To liaise with the SU - providing updates on relevant issues and seeking support if needed.

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 keep in touch with your Course Leader and course management team.

Find solutions You will need to think carefully about where and how to raise issues; can it wait until your next Committee meeting?

• 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.

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 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)

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.

6

SIGNPOSTING Module Leader / SSGLC

ACADEMIC SUPPORT

Study Skills Course Leader / SSCLG

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Employability Service Module Leader

FEEDBACK ON ASSESSMENT

Course Leader / SSCLG

ASSESSMENT FORMAT

Module / Course Leader

TIMETABLING

Module Leader Module Leader

BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY

Subject Librarian

USE OF BLACKBOARD

Module Leader

TEACHING CONTENT

Module Leader / SSCLG Course Leader

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 and the matter is pressing, you should get in touch with your Academic Manager (see list at the end of this handbook).

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 Rep Support Team for help or one of the SU Officers.

Accommodation Services accom@southwales.ac.uk/

Tel. 01443 482044

Student Money Advice studentmoney.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 482081

Wellbeing Service thewellbeingservice.southwales.ac.uk

Tel. 01443 482080

Disability & Dyslexia Service dds.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 UNIVERSITY EXECUTIVE

The University is divided into four Faculties (Computing, Engineering and Science; Business and Society: Creative Industries and Life Sciences and Education). Each Faculty has three Schools (except for Life Sciences and Education which has four). Within each School, there are various Departments with oversight of different courses.

FACULTY DEAN / DEPUTY DEAN SCHOOL HEAD OF SCHOOL / ASSOCIATE HEAD

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.

DEPARTMENT ACADEMIC MANAGER

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.

COURSE COURSE LEADER MODULE MODULE LEADER

9

COMMITTEES SSCLG Procedure

Meeting Process

The Chair calls the meeting and draws up the agenda. The Secretary (if there is one) sets the date of the meeting, invites all members to attend and circulates the papers.

Meetings should start with a “welcome and apologies” where absent members will be listed.

The second item on the agenda should be a request from members to approve the action points of the last meeting.

The papers should include the agenda with topics for discussion, action points of the previous meeting and any other report for consideration.

The third item should pick up “matters arising” from the previous meeting.

Student Staff Course Liaison Groups will be organised by your Course Leader. The Final year Course Rep will be asked to chair their SSCLG and another Course Rep should record action points. Action point and agenda templates are available on the Course Rep Organisation on Blackboard.

The next items will either be regular items that are part of the normal structure of the Committee or ad hoc items brought forward by members.

The last item should be left open for “any other business” where members can raise any matter that has not been covered during the meeting.

The meeting will close with the Chair announcing the date of the next meeting.

CHECKLIST 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.

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 on hand to respond to any queries you may have.

You will also gain a better understanding of what goes on behind the scences to make your course the best it can be.

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.

You should ask your Course Leader to sign off your Activities Log after each SSCLG as evidence that you have attended.

Attendance will count as 30 points towards your Course Rep Certificate.

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 and submit an activities log at the end of the year.

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)

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.

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

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: Jane McCloskey

Deputy Dean: Karen Jones

Deputy Dean: Barry Atkins

Head of School of Business: Thomas Chapman

Head of School of Media: Tom Ware Head of School of Art & Design: Mark Jackson

Head of School of Law, Accounting & Finance: Karen Jones

Head of School of Music & Performance: Ruth Shade

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. Geoffrey Elliott

Deputy Dean: Carl Peters

Head of School of Engineering: Prof. Steven Wilcox

Head of School of Psychology, Early Years & Therapeutic Studies:

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:

13

STUDENTS’ UNION OFFICERS SU President: Jonathan Jones - supres@southwales.ac.uk - 01443 83511 Vice President Education & Welfare Pontypridd: Sam Senior - su.edwelpontypridd@southwales.ac.uk - 01443 83508 Vice President Education & Welfare Cardiff & Newport: Kelsey Taylor - su.edwelcarnew@southwales.ac.uk) - 01443 654597 / 01633 432502 Vice President Student Activities: Rachel Watson - su.studentactivities@southwales.ac.uk - 01443 483513

Student Rep Support 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) Sian Drew, Student Voice Coordinator - sian.drew@southwales.ac.uk

14

ACADEMIC MANAGERS Business and Society

Computing, Engineering & Maths

International & European Development: Gina Parselle PG Coordination: Helen Power Partnerships: Monica Gibson-Sweet Academic Admissions Manager:Jo Jones Enterprise: Paul Davies Work-Based Learning: Helen Holleman

Computing & Mathematics: Computing: Ian Wilson / David Farthing / Stuart Lewis Mathematics: Stephanie Perkins

Industrial Partnerships (Computing & Mathematics): Paula Thomas Engineering: Aircraft Maintenance: Zahid Baig Aeronautical Engineering: Alex Chong Mechanical Engineering: Rae Gordon Civil Engineering: Paul Davies Electrical & Electronic Engineering: Mike Price Built Environment: Trefor Williams CEPE: Stephen Gardner CAPSE: Jonathan Williams Professional Academy: Steve Thomas

Strategy: Lesley Long Marketing & Events: Henry Enos Economics & Enterprise: Chris Miller HRM & Enterprise: Vacancy Law: Vacancy / Clare Lewis Accounting & Finance: Mike Porch / Jonathan Evans / Jared Davies Criminology: Ian McKim Social Sciences: Gerwyn Henderson / Emma Chivers English:: Nicholas Dunlop History: Dr Brian Ireland

Applied Sciences Forensic & Analytical Science: Paul Jones Biology: Martin Powell Earth, Space & Environment: Malcolm Thomas Partnerships Management (Science): Anthony Harris Chemistry: Suzy Kean

15

ACADEMIC MANAGERS Creative Industries

Life Sciences & Education

Drama: Michael Carklin Drama/Music: Steve Fisher Music: Matthew Lovett Animation: Pete Hodges Games: Corrado Morgana Broadcasting & Journalism: Robert Campbell Media & Culture: Philip Mitchell Film: Phil Cowan Communication Design & 3D: Emma Marshman Fashion & Interior: Patricia Brien Art & Foundation: Chris Nurse Photography: Geraint Cunnick

Policing & Security: James Gravelle Sport (on-campus): Paul Rainer Sport (off-campus & Football): Rob Griffiths Ultrasound: Annemarie Bevan Chiropractic: Mark Webster / Mike BarberSocial Work & Well-being: Michelle Culwick Exercise, Health & Well-Being: Simon Williams Independent Prescribing: Simon Young Secondary ITT: Kerie Green Primary ITT: Jonathan Berry Adult Nursing: Matthew Thornton Critical Care & Advances practice Nursing: Jeff Evans Child Nursing: Mark Broom Community Health Nursing: Caroline Whittaker Mental Health Nursing: Ian Beech Learning Disability Nursing: Robert Jenkins

Psychology (Social and Developmental): Rachel Taylor Psychology (Biological and Cognitive): Phil Tyson Early Years: Alison Murphy Counselling and Psychotherapy: Sheila Spong Behaviour Analysis Unit: Jennifer Austin Therapeutic Studies: Judith Mulcahy Post-compulsory Education & Training: Lisa Davies Masters & Post Graduate Education: Shirley Egley 

16

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) 17

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.

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/student-voice-reps-svrs/who-is-my-svr 18

TIMETABLE September 2016 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 F

20 F

21 F

22 F

23 F

24

25

26 Training

27

28

29 Training

30

SA

SU

1

2

October 2016 MO

TU

WE

TH

FR

3 Training

4 Training

5

6 Training

7

8

9

10 Training

11 Training

12

13 Training

14

15

16

17 Training

18 Training

19

20 Training

21

22

23

24 Training

25 Training

26 Training

27 Training

28

29

30

31 Training

SSCLG

SSCLG

SSCLG

SSCLG

SSCLG November 2016 MO

TU

WE

TH

FR

SA

SU

1 Training

2 Training

3 Training

4 SSCLG

5

6

SSCLG

SSCLG

SSCLG

7 Training

8 Training

9 SSCLG

10 SSCLG

11 SSCLG

12

13

SSCLG

SSCLG

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 CRA

29 CRA

30 CRA

Please note, you will only be expected to attend ONE training session.

Compulsory training

Optional training 19

TIMETABLE December 2016 MO

TU

WE

TH

FR

SA

SU

1 CRA

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

FR

SA

January 2017 MO

TU

WE

TH

SU 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

February 2017 MO

TU

WE

TH

FR

SA

SU

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13 CRA

14 CRA

15 CRA

16 CRA

17 N open

18

19

20 SSCLG

21 SSCLG

22 SSCLG

23 SSCLG

24 SSCLG

25

26

27 SSCLG

28 SSCLG

20

TIMETABLE March 2017 MO

TU

WE

TH

FR

SA

SU

1 SSCLG

2 SSCLG

3 SSCLG

4

5

6

7

8

9 Close

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

24

25

26

SA

SU

1

2

20 V

CRA

27

21 V

CRA

28

22 V

CRA

29

23 V

CRA

30

31

April 2017 MO

TU

WE

TH

FR

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24 SSCLG

25 SSCLG

26 SSCLG

27 SSCLG

28 SSCLG

29

30

May 2017 MO

TU

WE

TH

FR

SA

SU

1 SSCLG

2 SSCLG

3 SSCLG

4 SSCLG

5 SSCLG

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

21

ACTIVITIES LOG MEETING NAME

DATE

NOTES

22

Contact us studunion@southwales.ac.uk 01443 483500 @USWSU fb.com/uswsu