Course Rep Handbook, 2014/15

Handbook 2014/15

DAG Development and Approval Group ISSC ASQC NTU

Information Systems Student Committee Academic Standards and Quality Committee Nottingham Trent University

Introduction Hey, Congratulations on becoming a Course Rep! Being a Course Rep is an essential role that enables you to make big changes to the academic experience at NTU. You have a strong voice within the institution and you’re a key connection between your peers and University staff. Gathering feedback from students is key to making these changes. There are so many benefits of being a Course Rep, including developing skills that make you more employable and improving your understanding of the University’s structure. I am here all year to support you in your role, so feel free to drop in whenever you want. I’ll help you in any way I can and will work with you to make the change happen. See you soon, Matthew Scrimshaw VP Education

Key Contacts: Matthew Scrimshaw Emma Raynor VP Education Course Rep Coordinator [email protected] [email protected] Your School Rep: ______________________________________________

Jargon Buster University and Union staff have a tendency to use lots of jargon, so we’ve put together this glossary to help you decipher what we’re saying. Add more words as you discover them!

Chief Executive of the University

Vice Chancellor (VC) Chief Executive of the University Pro-‐Vice Chancellor (PVC) Dean NTSU Course Committee Academic Rep Assembly (ARA) CADQ NSS QAA

Part of the University’s Senior Management Team Oversees one of Trent’s 9 Schools Nottingham Trent Students’ Union Meeting between academic staff and Course Reps Meeting held by NTSU for Course and School Reps Centre for Academic Development and Quality National Student Survey

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education

Welcome to NTSU! Whether you’ve been a Course Rep in the past or you’re new to academic representation at Trent, we’re really happy to welcome you to the team! NTSU is here to represent NTU students on a range of matters, providing support and advice in whatever you’re doing. As a Course Rep, you provide us with valuable feedback, helping us to push for improvements to the educational experience of Trent students. As we’re an independent organisation, you can rely on us to offer impartial advice and guidance with any issues you might come across, ensuring the needs and views of students are always put first. Good luck for the year ahead!

Making the Most of Meetings Course Committee meetings are a great opportunity to speak directly with academic staff about the feedback you’ve collected. Make sure you prepare effectively to make the most of them! During:

o Take lots of notes so that you have lots of extra information that won’t make it onto the minutes;

o Maintain open body language and eye contact to ensure you appear professional and other attendees engage with what you have to say;

o Contribute throughout and don’t be afraid to join in the conversation.

Before the meeting: o Gather feedback from as many students as you

can so you can identify the majority view; o Read through your notes from the last meeting to

remind yourself of what was discussed; o Try to add items to the agenda so that time is

allocated to discuss them.

After: o Complete NTSU’s online feedback form so that

we know how your meeting went and what your next action is;

o Review the minutes to make sure that they are an accurate record of the meeting;

o Ask for support if you need it.

What else can I get involved in? There are plenty of opportunities for you to get more involved with NTSU and NTU. Whether you’re interested in being part of the Development and Approval Group, sitting on the Information Systems Student Committee or nominating yourself for a School Rep position, we want to hear from you! For more information, drop Matthew an email at [email protected].

How do I use NTSU’s feedback form? NTSU ask all Course Reps to provide regular feedback through our online form. This feedback helps us to stay updated on what our Course Reps are doing and allows you to request any support you might need. To access our online feedback form, head to the Course Reps section of the NTSU website and click on ‘Feedback’. If you’ve got several pieces of feedback to submit, separate these into different submissions. This shows us how much feedback you’ve been collecting and means that we can discuss each piece of feedback with you individually. We expect all Course Reps to fill in our online feedback form at least once per term.

What’s in it for me?

All Course Reps receive a certificate at the end of the year which shows if they achieved bronze, silver or gold Course Rep status. These awards demonstrate that you have developed loads of CV-enhancing skills in areas such as problem-solving, communication and time management. Look at the NTSU website for more details. Above everything else, you get the opportunity to make your course better for yourself, your coursemates and future students. You might even win ‘Course Rep of the year’ by doing so!

What do Course Reps do? As a Course Rep, you are responsible for representing your coursemates on a range of academic topics. You provide feedback to academic staff, NTSU and other academic representatives, including other Course Reps and School Reps. Course Reps attend termly meetings called Course Committees, where they share the feedback they have collected and discuss this with academic staff. After the meeting, Course Reps update their coursemates on the feedback they have raised and submit an online feedback form to NTSU. You are also expected to attend NTSU’s Academic Rep Assemblies, which take place once a term on each campus. This meeting is chaired by the VP Education and it’s a great opportunity for you to meet other Course and School Reps at Trent.

Course Rep Hub As well as giving you access to the online feedback form, the NTSU website also has a Course Rep Hub. This Hub is designed for Course Reps and is full of tips, contacts and resources for academic reps. If you can’t find something you need or want something adding to the Hub, let us know!

Where do I fit in? Mutual Expectations Course Reps are expected to:

o Attend and participate in all appropriate course-level meetings;

o Seek the feedback of their coursemates and present it at these meetings;

o Ensure the view they express is that held by the majority of students on their course;

o Keep students updated on the progress of any issues; o Attend one of NTSU’s Course Rep training sessions; o Support improvement of the Course Rep system by

getting involved in NTSU research; o Regularly update NTSU on the outcomes of Course

Committee meetings; o Use NTSU’s online feedback form to outline how they plan

to address student feedback or request help. Nottingham Trent University will:

o Provide Course Reps with information about training and meetings;

o Provide Course Reps with relevant documentation to allow them to prepare effectively for meetings;

o Consider all feedback presented by Course Reps; o Act on feedback whenever possible; o Update Course Reps on the progress of issues raised; o Support the Course Rep training provided by NTSU.

Nottingham Trent Students’ Union will:

o Provide Course Reps with training for their role; o Provide Course Reps with support throughout the

academic year; o Support improvement of the Course Rep system by

researching student experiences of being representatives;

o Support improvement of the Course Rep system by researching student experiences of being represented.

VP Education Matthew Scrimshaw is an elected representative who forms part of the Exec. He works with all the School and Course Reps and sits on several high-level meetings on your behalf, so make sure you pass on your feedback!

School Reps are elected by students in their School. They provide the VP Education with feedback and work with Course Reps to solve School-specific issues. School Reps attend School Fora where they meet with senior School staff and their Dean.

Course Reps represent students on their course. They work with the VP Education and School Reps to collect feedback and attend Course Committee meetings where they meet with academic staff and other Course Reps.

Students provide crucial feedback that directs the work of NTSU, all academic reps and NTU academic staff.

Collecting & Delivering Feedback What makes good feedback? Accessible Collective Constructive Engaging Structured Sustainable

How do I collect good feedback?

• Talk, talk, talk! • Use a few different methods – give students

chance to provide feedback through direct and indirect routes

• Collect lots of it so that the majority view is clear • Keep it anonymous • Avoid asking leading questions

How do I deliver feedback? When you’re delivering feedback, you will need to adapt to suit your audience and their needs. Answer the questions below each time you deliver feedback to help you think about which method will work best for you.

o Who are you feeding back to? o Is this in a formal or informal setting? o Will your audience understand any jargon you

might use? o Is the feedback sensitive? o Why are you providing this feedback?

Always keep feedback anonymous and avoid directing feedback at particular students or lecturers.

Feedback that can be contributed to by all students

Feedback that represents the majority view

Feedback that aims to work towards a solution

Feedback that students want to provide because it is relevant and of interest to them – because you make it so!

Feedback that is clear, concise and balanced

Feedback that is continuously collected and submitted throughout the year

What do I do if I’m not sure? If you need help with collecting or delivering feedback or you’ve got a tricky bit of feedback that you need to bring up in your next Course Committee, let us know! We’re here to support you in all aspects of your role so don’t be afraid to drop us an email or pop into the office.

Where do I fit in? Mutual Expectations Course Reps are expected to:

o Attend and participate in all appropriate course-level meetings;

o Seek the feedback of their coursemates and present it at these meetings;

o Ensure the view they express is that held by the majority of students on their course;

o Keep students updated on the progress of any issues; o Attend one of NTSU’s Course Rep training sessions; o Support improvement of the Course Rep system by

getting involved in NTSU research; o Regularly update NTSU on the outcomes of Course

Committee meetings; o Use NTSU’s online feedback form to outline how they plan

to address student feedback or request help. Nottingham Trent University will:

o Provide Course Reps with information about training and meetings;

o Provide Course Reps with relevant documentation to allow them to prepare effectively for meetings;

o Consider all feedback presented by Course Reps; o Act on feedback whenever possible; o Update Course Reps on the progress of issues raised; o Support the Course Rep training provided by NTSU.

Nottingham Trent Students’ Union will:

o Provide Course Reps with training for their role; o Provide Course Reps with support throughout the

academic year; o Support improvement of the Course Rep system by

researching student experiences of being representatives;

o Support improvement of the Course Rep system by researching student experiences of being represented.

VP Education Matthew Scrimshaw is an elected representative who forms part of the Exec. He works with all the School and Course Reps and sits on several high-level meetings on your behalf, so make sure you pass on your feedback!

School Reps are elected by students in their School. They provide the VP Education with feedback and work with Course Reps to solve School-specific issues. School Reps attend School Fora where they meet with senior School staff and their Dean.

Course Reps represent students on their course. They work with the VP Education and School Reps to collect feedback and attend Course Committee meetings where they meet with academic staff and other Course Reps.

Students provide crucial feedback that directs the work of NTSU, all academic reps and NTU academic staff.

How do I use NTSU’s feedback form? NTSU ask all Course Reps to provide regular feedback through our online form. This feedback helps us to stay updated on what our Course Reps are doing and allows you to request any support you might need. To access our online feedback form, head to the Course Reps section of the NTSU website and click on ‘Feedback’. If you’ve got several pieces of feedback to submit, separate these into different submissions. This shows us how much feedback you’ve been collecting and means that we can discuss each piece of feedback with you individually. We expect all Course Reps to fill in our online feedback form at least once per term.

What’s in it for me?

All Course Reps receive a certificate at the end of the year which shows if they achieved bronze, silver or gold Course Rep status. These awards demonstrate that you have developed loads of CV-enhancing skills in areas such as problem-solving, communication and time management. Look at the NTSU website for more details. Above everything else, you get the opportunity to make your course better for yourself, your coursemates and future students. You might even win ‘Course Rep of the year’ by doing so!

What do Course Reps do? As a Course Rep, you are responsible for representing your coursemates on a range of academic topics. You provide feedback to academic staff, NTSU and other academic representatives, including other Course Reps and School Reps. Course Reps attend termly meetings called Course Committees, where they share the feedback they have collected and discuss this with academic staff. After the meeting, Course Reps update their coursemates on the feedback they have raised and submit an online feedback form to NTSU. You are also expected to attend NTSU’s Academic Rep Assemblies, which take place once a term on each campus. This meeting is chaired by the VP Education and it’s a great opportunity for you to meet other Course and School Reps at Trent.

Course Rep Hub As well as giving you access to the online feedback form, the NTSU website also has a Course Rep Hub. This Hub is designed for Course Reps and is full of tips, contacts and resources for academic reps. If you can’t find something you need or want something adding to the Hub, let us know!

Welcome to NTSU! Whether you’ve been a Course Rep in the past or you’re new to academic representation at Trent, we’re really happy to welcome you to the team! NTSU is here to represent NTU students on a range of matters, providing support and advice in whatever you’re doing. As a Course Rep, you provide us with valuable feedback, helping us to push for improvements to the educational experience of Trent students. As we’re an independent organisation, you can rely on us to offer impartial advice and guidance with any issues you might come across, ensuring the needs and views of students are always put first. Good luck for the year ahead!

Making the Most of Meetings Course Committee meetings are a great opportunity to speak directly with academic staff about the feedback you’ve collected. Make sure you prepare effectively to make the most of them! During:

o Take lots of notes so that you have lots of extra information that won’t make it onto the minutes;

o Maintain open body language and eye contact to ensure you appear professional and other attendees engage with what you have to say;

o Contribute throughout and don’t be afraid to join in the conversation.

Before the meeting: o Gather feedback from as many students as you

can so you can identify the majority view; o Read through your notes from the last meeting to

remind yourself of what was discussed; o Try to add items to the agenda so that time is

allocated to discuss them.

After: o Complete NTSU’s online feedback form so that

we know how your meeting went and what your next action is;

o Review the minutes to make sure that they are an accurate record of the meeting;

o Ask for support if you need it.

What else can I get involved in? There are plenty of opportunities for you to get more involved with NTSU and NTU. Whether you’re interested in being part of the Development and Approval Group, sitting on the Information Systems Student Committee or nominating yourself for a School Rep position, we want to hear from you! For more information, drop Matthew an email at [email protected].

Introduction Hey, Congratulations on becoming a Course Rep! Being a Course Rep is an essential role that enables you to make big changes to the academic experience at NTU. You have a strong voice within the institution and you’re a key connection between your peers and University staff. Gathering feedback from students is key to making these changes. There are so many benefits of being a Course Rep, including developing skills that make you more employable and improving your understanding of the University’s structure. I am here all year to support you in your role, so feel free to drop in whenever you want. I’ll help you in any way I can and will work with you to make the change happen. See you soon, Matthew Scrimshaw VP Education

Key Contacts: Matthew Scrimshaw Emma Raynor VP Education Course Rep Coordinator [email protected] [email protected] Your School Rep: ______________________________________________

Jargon Buster University and Union staff have a tendency to use lots of jargon, so we’ve put together this glossary to help you decipher what we’re saying. Add more words as you discover them!

Chief Executive of the University

Vice Chancellor (VC) Chief Executive of the University Pro-‐Vice Chancellor (PVC) Dean NTSU Course Committee Academic Rep Assembly (ARA) CADQ NSS QAA

Part of the University’s Senior Management Team Oversees one of Trent’s 9 Schools Nottingham Trent Students’ Union Meeting between academic staff and Course Reps Meeting held by NTSU for Course and School Reps Centre for Academic Development and Quality National Student Survey

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education

Handbook 2014/15

DAG Development and Approval Group ISSC ASQC NTU

Information Systems Student Committee Academic Standards and Quality Committee Nottingham Trent University

Course Rep Handbook, 2014/15

Documents

Transcript of Course Rep Handbook, 2014/15