HANDBOOK 2015/16

This handbook has been put together to support you in your role. It should act as a reference document during your time as a Student Rep.

We’ve filled it with lots of useful information about how Student Reps work and how The Students’ Union at UWE champions student voice; through having Student Reps on key UWE committees and supporting students to run campaigns.

So, keep it somewhere handy, refer to it often and get in touch whenever you have questions.

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02

HELLO AND WELCOME

YOUR PRESIDENTS AND OFFICERS

ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND BOUNDARIES

INTRO TO MEETINGS

MEETINGS WITH YOUR TEACHING STAFF

ACADEMIC FEEDBACK – MEETING STRUCTURE

ENSURING QUALITY OF COURSES

NON-ACADEMIC FEEDBACK

STUDENT REP COMMITTEE

THE STUDENTS’ UNION MEETING AND STUDENT COUNCIL

LEAD THE CHANGE

PROMOTING YOURSELF

GATHERING FEEDBACK

STUDENT REP DECISION TREE

SIGNPOSTING STUDENTS

SKILLS YOU’LL DEVELOP

FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES

REWARD AND RECOGNITION

STUDENT REP SUCCESSES

YOU SAID WE DID AND #ICHANGEDUWE

TOP TIPS

NOTES

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08–09

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03

Congratulations on being elected as a Student Rep for your course. You’re joining a team of over 1,200 students in championing the student voice!

Student Reps are very important to The Students’ Union at UWE and the University, the work you will do is crucial to improving the student experience. Student Reps are the voice of students, working with your course mates to provide feedback and ideas to both The Students’ Union and the University.

Your role has a particular focus on academic experience, and you will spend time working with your teaching staff, but that’s not to say you can’t get involved in tackling other challenges at UWE.

Ultimately we all want you, and the students you represent, to get the most out of your degrees and enjoy your time at university.

Lauren ConenVP Education

HELLO AND

WELCOME

YOUR

PRESIDENTS AND OFFICERS

JACK POLSONSU PRESIDENTSUPRESIDENT@UWE.AC.UK

SCARLETT OLIVERVP COMMUNITY & WELFAREVPCOMMWELFARE@UWE.AC.UK

ADAM BRITTAINVP SPORTS & HEALTHVPSPORTS@UWE.AC.UK

GEM HEYWOODVP SOCIETIES& COMMUNICATIONVPSOCSANDCOMMS@UWE.AC.UK

LAUREN CONENVP EDUCATIONVPEDUCATION@UWE.AC.UK

KEVIN WILSON DISABLED STUDENTS’ OFFICER THESTUDENTSUNION@UWE.AC.UK

JACK LIGHT LGBT OFFICER THESTUDENTSUNION@UWE.AC.UK

RONG CUI INTERNATIONAL OFFICER THESTUDENTSUNION@UWE.AC.UK

CHELSEA MCNULTY COMMUNITY & WELFARE OFFICER THESTUDENTSUNION@UWE.AC.UK

LEYTH HAMPSHIRE SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER THESTUDENTSUNION@UWE.AC.UK

ROISIN GREENUP SPORT & HEALTH OFFICER THESTUDENTSUNION@UWE.AC.UK

SHELLEY FAULKER GLENSIDE CAMPUS OFFICER THESTUDENTSUNION@UWE.AC.UK

BLAKE SEERS BOWER ASHTON CAMPUS OFFICER THESTUDENTSUNION@UWE.AC.UK

See what they’re up to thestudentsunion.co.uk /presidents

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Your Role

To represent the students on your programme and in your year of study. To discuss their feedback and ideas with the University and The Students’ Union. To be involved in and champion projects and campaigns that respond to the student voice.

Your Responsibilities

– Make sure the students you represent know who you are and how they can contact you

– Proactively seek out and identify students’ views on matters relating to their academic student experience

– Represent the students on your programme and take their feedback and ideas to the University and The Students’ Union

– Raise student feedback on both a formal and informal basis

– Attend SRSF meetings (or send apologies) and other informal meetings with academic staff and provide student feedback, opinion and ideas at these meetings

– Update the students you represent on any outcomes coming from feedback you raise or responses from staff

– Attend Student Rep Training or complete the online version.

– Communicate with the Student Rep Support Team

– Refer students with individual issues to appropriate sources of help, where necessary

– Work with fellow Student Reps, elected officers and staff on ideas and campaigns that will improve the student experience

Your Boundaries

– Student disciplinary issues: It is not a Student Rep’s role to represent students on disciplinary matters. Students who have concerns in this area should be referred to The Students’ Union Advice Centre

– Allegations of harassment or bullying: Students who allege that they have been bullied or harassed should be referred to The Students’ Union Advice Centre

– Complaints: Students who wish to make a formal complaint should be referred to the complaints policy and may wish to seek independent advice from The Students’ Union Advice Centre

– Personal problems: If a student has personal problems you should refer them to the Students’ Union Advice Centre or the University Wellbeing Service as they are trained to give specialist advice and have expertise in this area

ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES

AND BOUNDARIES

As a Student Rep you will be invited to both UWE and The Students’ Union at UWE held meetings. More information about these meetings can be found on the next few pages of this handbook.

It is important that you feel confident to raise the student feedback you have gathered and adequately represent the students on your course at these meetings.

It is important you communicate clearly with both staff and students present at the meeting. The secretary will also be taking minutes and it is important that they can keep up. With this in mind let us introduce you to the 7 Cs of Communication:

ClearEnsure that you speak clearlyConciseDo not lose the message by being long windedCorrectBe accurate and avoid giving misleading informationCompleteGive all the information not just part of itCourteousBe polite, non-threatening and avoid conflictConstructiveBe positive, offer solutions and avoid being criticalConfidentDon’t be afraid to speak up!

The key to confidence at meetings is to remember to come prepared. Make sure you have what you need for the meeting whether that is survey results or notes from discussions with students. Have evidence ready to back up your points.

What you do right before and after the meeting is also important. Make sure you let the Chair know you are coming along, or send apologies if you can’t. After the meeting make sure you communicate any key points about what was discussed and actioned to the rest of your course.

INTRO TO

MEETINGS07

Student Rep Staff Forums (SRSFs)

What are they?

SRSFs are designed to deal with academic feedback at a course level. These meetings are held within each course or a cluster of courses that are similar. SRSFs are attended by programme staff and Student Reps from these courses. As SRSFs usually involve programme managers and some module leaders they are the best place to take course related academic feedback that can’t be resolved at a more informal meeting or would benefit from wider discussion.

What kinds of feedback should I bring here?

– Feedback on exams and assessment – Feedback lectures, seminars, lab sessions – Feedback on Blackboard – Feedback on module handbooks or

programme specifications – Feedback on course organisation and

management – Student opinion regarding course resources

MEETINGS WITH YOUR

TEACHING STAFF

Informal meetings

Sometimes it will be more appropriate, and quicker, to raise feedback directly to a specific member of staff. Do not feel you have to wait for your next SRSF. If you think something can be resolved in this way why not send an email, you might find you don’t even need an informal meeting! Sometimes staff might also ask to meet with Reps if they want your thoughts or ideas on something as it comes up.

Please also be tactful and respectful in what you raise at SRSF. If students have concerns around a lecturer’s teaching style they might be grateful to hear it about it themselves and from you. They will likely be keen to work on a solution and appreciate you coming to them first.

If you are unsure where to take a piece of feedback, email the Student Rep team for advice.

SRSFS AND INFORMAL MEETINGS

UWE COMMITTEESDepartmental Committee

As the name suggests Departmental Committee is a committee held in each department. This committee is made up of key staff within the department and elected Student Representatives. The committee discusses things affecting the whole department or situations that require the department staffs attention. The elected Lead Department Rep and the three additional Department Reps attend this important committee to make sure the student voice is heard here.

Academic Standards and Quality Committee (ASQC)

ASQC is a faculty level meeting which looks at an overview of academic standards and quality within the faculty. Chaired by an Associate Dean this high level meeting is attended by the Heads of Departments as well as the elected Lead Department Rep and deals with faculty level matters affecting students. It also validates new programmes and discusses departmental reports.

Learning Teaching and Student Experience Committee (LTSEC)

LTSEC is a University level meeting that is responsible for the enhancement of the University’s approach to teaching, learning and assessment. It also has an oversight of the Student Experience and the maintenance of academic standards. The Vice President Education and five elected Student Reps attend this meeting alongside the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) and Associate Deans and Associate Heads of Departments responsible for student experience.

Academic Board

Academic Board provides the Board of Governors with assurance that the University’s academic strategy is fit for purpose and approves new additions and revisions to academic policy. It has oversight of all academic provision through the Academic Regulatory Framework and the quality management and enhancement mechanisms. It is chaired by the Vice Chancellor and attended by the VP Education, SU President and four elected Student Representatives.

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ACADEMIC BOARDAttended by 2UG, 1 PGT and 1 PGR Lead Representatives electedat SRC

LTSECAttended by one Lead Representative from each Faculty and one PGT Lead Representative elected at SRC

ASQCAttended by Lead Department Reps elected online

DEPARTMENT COMMITTEEAttended by elected Lead Department Student Rep and elected Department Reps elected online

STUDENT REP COMMITTEEAttended by Lead Department Rep and Department Reps. All trained Student Reps invited to attend in addition.

SRSFsAttended by all elected Student Reps electedin class

ACADEMIC FEEDBACK —MEETING STRUCTURE

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ACADEMIC BOARDAttended by 2UG, 1 PGT and 1 PGR Lead Representatives electedat SRC

LTSECAttended by one Lead Representative from each Faculty and one PGT Lead Representative elected at SRC

ASQCAttended by Lead Department Reps elected online

DEPARTMENT COMMITTEEAttended by elected Lead Department Student Rep and elected Department Reps elected online

STUDENT REP COMMITTEEAttended by Lead Department Rep and Department Reps. All trained Student Reps invited to attend in addition.

SRSFsAttended by all elected Student Reps electedin class

ACADEMIC FEEDBACK —MEETING STRUCTURE

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Student reviewers may sit on the panel looking at programmes-this is a separate role to a Student Rep. Look out for your chance to apply later in the year!

Lead Department Reps will get the chance to scrutinise new programmes and modules at ASQCs before they are approved. They will get additional training on this

This is where you come in! Feedback from Student Reps and from student surveys is vital in monitoring how programmes are doing

PROFESSIONAL, STATUTORY AND REGULATORY BODIES (PSRBs)A number of UWE programmes are accredited by PSRBs, such as the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) or the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). PSRBS are often involved in the design, approval and review of programmes to ensure they meet the requirements and graduates have the right skills for those professions

External examiner reports will be discussed in November SRSFs.

ANNUAL MONITORINGevery year programme and module leaders are asked to reflect on how things have gone, considering feedback from students and external examiners and write a report.

PROGRAMMEDESIGNprocess of designing a new programme.

PROGRAMMEAPPROVALofficial approval of new programmes or changes to existing programmes. Occurs at a meeting called a Curriculum Approval Panel (CAP).

PERIODIC CURRICULUM REVIEWevery six years programmes go through a formal review to check how they are performing.

Students and/or Student Reps will be consulted about a new programme

ENSURING QUALITY OF COURSES

EXTERNAL EXAMINERSare academics from different universities who ensure that programmes are running to the correct standard. They review a group of modules and write a report every year.

Student reviewers may sit on the panel looking at programmes-this is a separate role to a Student Rep. Look out for your chance to apply later in the year!

Lead Department Reps will get the chance to scrutinise new programmes and modules at ASQCs before they are approved. They will get additional training on this

This is where you come in! Feedback from Student Reps and from student surveys is vital in monitoring how programmes are doing

PROFESSIONAL, STATUTORY AND REGULATORY BODIES (PSRBs)A number of UWE programmes are accredited by PSRBs, such as the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) or the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). PSRBS are often involved in the design, approval and review of programmes to ensure they meet the requirements and graduates have the right skills for those professions

External examiner reports will be discussed in November SRSFs.

ANNUAL MONITORINGevery year programme and module leaders are asked to reflect on how things have gone, considering feedback from students and external examiners and write a report.

PROGRAMMEDESIGNprocess of designing a new programme.

PROGRAMMEAPPROVALofficial approval of new programmes or changes to existing programmes. Occurs at a meeting called a Curriculum Approval Panel (CAP).

PERIODIC CURRICULUM REVIEWevery six years programmes go through a formal review to check how they are performing.

Students and/or Student Reps will be consulted about a new programme

ENSURING QUALITY OF COURSES

EXTERNAL EXAMINERSare academics from different universities who ensure that programmes are running to the correct standard. They review a group of modules and write a report every year.

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NON-ACADEMIC

FEEDBACKStudent Rep Staff Forums (SRSFs) are a great place to work with staff on course related issues, but what happens when feedback students have is about a topic other than your course?

In these instances the first port of call is usually to encourage students to raise this feedback themselves, straight to the relevant department or service. Keep an eye out for the various ways in which UWE may be gathering feedback on its’ services. There has been talk of everything from text surveys to machines where you can give feedback instantly. Perhaps the student would like to use these methods?

If a student doesn’t feel confident to raise feedback themselves you may wish to support them to. If the issue they are having is affecting more students, or perhaps they’re not the first person to come to you it might be a more representational matter. You might then want to speak to the Student Rep team for guidance on what to do next. If they or you don’t think raising the feedback to the service itself is appropriate you may also need support to come up with a course of action.

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We have created some comprehensive web pages to help you work out how to best raise feedback and who to raise it to, they also include key contact information.

You should familiarise yourself with these pages and use them as a resource to promote to students, or signpost them to as a first port of call.

You can find them on The Students’ Union website:thestudentsunion.co.uk/reps

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STUDENT REP

COMMITTEE (SRC)Student Rep Committee is an opportunity for any trained Student Rep to come along and discuss matters affecting students’ academic experience.

VP Education will host three Student Rep Committees this academic year, and they will be themed. Each meeting will focus on a different topic, with discussions and opportunities to work together to problem solve and come up with ideas or campaigns. In addition VP Education may invite key UWE staff to the meeting so that they can hear first-hand the discussions and answer questions. Reps will be encouraged to suggest topics they think should be discussed at SRC.

VP Education will also update Student Reps about her work, how her meetings with UWE are going and any campaigns she is working on.

The second half of the Student Rep Committee will involve opportunities to develop your skills as a Rep, with sessions put on specifically to support your personal and professional development. These extra training opportunities will help you stand out from the crowd, so do come along if you can.

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THE STUDENTS’ UNION MEETING

AND STUDENT COUNCILEvery year all students at UWE are invited to attend The Students’ Union Meeting (SUM). This year’s SUM takes place on November 19th and it is students’ biggest opportunity to have a direct say on the direction of The Students’ Union and what The Students’ Union’s priorities will be over the coming year.

Students can mandate (tell) The Students’ Union and its elected officer team to follow a certain direction, through proposing ideas to The Students’ Union which, if voted in, will become policy. This means the elected Presidents have to do what they can to ensure the idea happens and support students to work on the idea.

The elected Presidents and staff within The Students’ Union help students get involved by giving guidance on the processes involved in submitting an ‘idea’. An idea put forward at the SUM is likely to be about something big a student wants to change at UWE or The Students’ Union, or something big they want The Students’ Union to do or campaign on. The idea is likely to be less of a quick fix and more of a big change, something that needs the backing of the elected officer team to move forward.

At the SUM students will also have a chance to hear what the elected Officers have been up to so far and ask questions about their work.

As well as the SUM The Students’ Union has a Student Council which can also vote in ideas and make them policy. Student Council meets on a number of occasions after the SUM and if a student missed the opportunity to take their idea to the SUM they can take it to the Student Council. The Council is made up of students elected to sit on it from various places within The Students’ Union. As a Rep you will have the opportunity to run to sit on Student Council.

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LEAD THE

CHANGEWhat is a campaign?

A campaign is a way of working, in an organised and active way, towards a goal.

The Good Guide to Campaigning and Influencing (NVCO, 2011) defines campaigning as: 'Organised actions around a specific issue seeking to bring about changes in the policy and behaviours of institutions and/or specific public groups…the mobilising of forces by organisations and individuals to influence others in order to effect an identified and desired social, economic, environmental or political change.'

In The Students’ Union at UWE we advocate the ‘insider’ model of campaigning. The traits of which are:

– Collaborative – working together with those in power to achieve something

– Based on establishing shared goals – Mutual compromise – Evidence based arguments

However we also value some of the traits of the ‘outsider’ model such as creative and changing methods and sometimes needing to push for a particular goal.

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Why campaign?

Because it works! Many of the laws, policies and standards of living that we take for granted would not have been possible without the efforts of previous campaigners.

So what now?

Work with the students you represent to find out what the issues are and what ideas they have for change. Take these to meetings and then, as appropriate, think about more creative ways to get the student voice heard. You can seek support from an elected president or officer with your campaign. Pop into the Engagement Space in Union 1 at Frenchay or drop them an email.

You could also present your campaign as an idea and ask the Students’ Union to formally pass policy relating to supporting it or aspects of it.You can do this at the SUM or at a Student Council meeting.

Previous campaigns that students and elected presidents and officers have worked on include ‘The only way is Wessex?’ which lobbied for a better bus service for students, ‘Late Night Do It Right’ which ran throughout Freshers and the ‘Hidden Course Costs’ campaign.

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PROMOTING

YOURSELFAs a result of Student Feedback; your details as a Student Rep will now appear on the myUWE pages of students on your course. You will be visible as a Student Rep somewhere students should continually be looking at and your name and email will only be a few clicks away! In addition we are giving Student Reps who want to use myUWE announcements as a way to communicate with their course mates support to be trained and granted access to do this.

However, you should not solely rely on myUWE to get word out about who you are. You should also consider:

– Asking your Programme Manager to send an email around on your behalf, to all students introducing you and your role

– Creating a social media group and introducing yourself as a Rep on that. Firstly we suggest checking if groups already exist you’d be better off joining

– Following the Student Rep Twitter account (@studentreps) and tweet your existence as a Student Rep, course mates may already be following it

– Making a poster including your face and email address and stating that you are a Student Rep and putting these up near or in places your peers study. You could also ask staff if they can help coordinate a poster to show all the Student Reps in your department as this may have more impact

Remember to be friendly and confident in what you have to offer students, be clear what your role is and respect people’s personal space. If they don’t want to hear from you then and there move on, someone else will, or they might hear from you in another way at another time.

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GATHERING

FEEDBACKTo gather student feedback effectively you need to be organised. Plan ahead, know what agenda items are coming up at your next meetings and gather feedback and ideas with these in mind. Methods of gathering feedback and ideas which previous Student Reps have found effective include:

– Comments box – Facebook post or poll – Online survey or questionnaire – Emails – Post it notes on a poster – Good old fashioned face to face

conversations!

Remember to be as inclusive as possible and work with your fellow Student Reps to use a variety of methods. It might be that you eventually find a method that works well for your group and regularly use this but we do encourage you to try and be diverse with your approach. This is because some students might engage more with you online and others face to face.

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FEEDBACKDOES IT AFFECT MORE THAN ONE PERSON?

DOES IT RELATE TO YOUR COURSE?

IS IT URGENT?

EMAIL OR SPEAK WITH YOUR PROGRAMME

MANAGER

RAISE IT AT YOUR NEXT SRSF

WORK WITH THE STUDENT TO RAISE THE FEEDBACK

DIRECTLY THEMSELVES OR IF NEEDED SIGNPOST THEM TO ADDITIONAL

SUPPORT

WORK WITH STUDENTS TO RAISE THE FEEDBACK TO RELEVANT TEAMS AND IF

NOTHING CHANGES, THINK ABOUT STARTING A

CAMPAIGN. CONTACT THE RELEVANT ELECTED

OFFICER FOR SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE

Yes No

Yes

Yes No

No

DECISION

TREE

SIGNPOSTING

STUDENTSThere may be times when students come to you with very individual issues, such as being accused of plagiarism, making allegations of harassment from staff, feeling homesick or being bullied in halls of residence.

As a Student Rep, we do not expect you to deal with these situations as they are out of your role description. Additionally we have dedicated services to help students in these positions. Therefore, if you do find yourself in a situation like this, we ask that you signpost these students to relevant support services so that they can get help with the issue. Here are the contact details for some of the services you can signpost students to. If you are unsure where to signpost a student please get in touch with your Student Rep Coordinator.

Students’ Union Advice Centre

The Students’ Union Advice Centre provides free, independent, confidential and non-judgemental advice to all UWE students on a range of issues. They can offer advice and assistance on a range of topics including academic appeals and extenuating circumstances through to your rights as a tenant and as an employee. 0117 32 82676advice@uwe.ac.uk thestudentsunion.co.uk/advice

Student Advisers

Student Advisers provide information and advice on a wide range of course and programme related matters. They can advise on course and module changes and extenuating circumstances. Student Advisers can also assist if a student wishes to withdraw from or pause their studies. Student Adviser appointments can be booked through any Infopoint.

0117 32 85678uwe.ac.uk/students

Wellbeing Service

Wellbeing Services offer students personal support whilst studying at UWE. Their trained staff can offer support in a wide range of areas from mental health support and counselling through to mentoring. As a Student Rep we do not expect you to deal with any of these; instead guide the student towards an Infopoint where they can book an appointment with the Wellbeing Service.

0117 32 86268uwe.ac.uk/students

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Our team of Student Reps have written surveys, conducted out and about research on campus, attended conferences, helped improve the design of modules, made posters, planned inductions, taken part in focus groups, made videos to promote themselves… The list goes on! Importantly our Student Reps have grown in confidence.

Being a Student Rep is a fantastic way to open doors to new experiences and increase and diversify your skill set. Here’s a list of just some of the many skills you can hope to develop as a Student Rep. These may not seem as important as the degree you are working towards but they are excellent examples which you can apply to answering questions on job applications and interviews:

– Familiarity with higher education processes – Disseminating information and presenting it in an impartial manner – Engaging with a range of stakeholders – Working in a team – Social media communication skills – Formal meeting experience – Experience of community organising and running campaigns

“I do not believe that I am the same person I was a year ago, but I must be. The change has come from everything that I have learnt, and everyone that I have met. I feel much more confident in myself.”– Student Rep

SKILLS

YOU’LL DEVELOP

FURTHER

OPPORTUNITIESFurther Responsibility

You could put yourself forward for a position with more responsibility such as Lead Department Rep or Department Rep. Elections for these positions will be taking place online so watch your emails carefully to find out how to put yourself forward for these leadership roles.

University Groups

There will be opportunities to work with various UWE departments, services and project teams on specific pieces of work. Student Reps have been involved with the new FBL building working group, developments to do with APTs and Athena Swan to name just a few examples. Visit the Student Rep pages of The Students’ Union website and check your emails regularly to get involved.

Training

We will also be offering additional training sessions from time to time which will give you valuable skills and enhance your employability. Again, keep an eye on your emails for your invite! These will include leadership skills, negotiating with staff and campaigning amongst other things.

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Socials

Lauren, VP Education, will be organising some social events for Reps to attend to get to know each other better and have some fun.

Shout outs

Lauren will be ranting and raving about the great work Student Reps do on her twitter and Facebook and in the Student Rep newsletter, so keep an eye out for your mention.

Lunch on Lauren

Once a month Lauren will buy lunch for a Student Rep whose stood out for doing some awesome work!

Student Rep Awards

During the year there will be an exciting event to celebrate all the hard work and successes of the year for Student Reps – keep an eye out for more details. Last year we ran a combined Student Rep and Student Led Teaching Awards with over 250 people attending. This is an event not to be missed! You could be nominated for an award by your coursemates or staff, or even go on to win the coveted Vice Chancellors’ one.

Certificates

Rep Certificate:We run a certificate scheme to reward you for the hard work you put in and for your achievements over the year. If you are a trained Student Rep, all you need to do is submit your Rep Goals to us at the start of the year and then we’ll be in touch about the rest.

Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR):For those Student Reps who complete the Student Rep Certificate Scheme, there are also opportunities for information relating to the Student Rep role to appear on their HEAR Certificate.

Bristol Futures Award: Being a Student Rep also counts as one of the many activities you can take part in for a Bristol Futures Award. Visit the UWE Website for more details.

REWARD AND

RECOGNITION

Attendance Allowance

As Student Rep who has completed training, you are eligible to receive the attendance allowance. For 2015/16 the rate of this is £7.43 per hour spent in meetings only. This allowance is processed three times a year based on hours submitted on your online timesheets.

Payment Deadlines

We need to have your payment paperwork before the below dates to ensure you will be paid. We can take timesheets at any time until the final deadline, but they will only be processed on the days below.

BOWER / GLENSIDE

PAPERWORK DEADLINE

FRENCHAY PAPER WORK

DEADLINE

E-TIMESHEET DEADLINE

STUDENTS PAID

PAYDAY 1 (DECEMBER)

PAYDAY 2 (MARCH)

PAYDAY 3 (JUNE)

10TH DECEMBER

10THMARCH

10THJUNE

11TH DECEMBER

16THMARCH

13THJUNE

16TH DECEMBER

16THMARCH

17THJUNE

31ST DECEMBER

1STAPRIL

1STJULY

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STUDENT REP

SUCCESSESHere are some of the great things Student Reps have achieved. We are looking forward to working with you to achieve even more this year:

– More technical staff have been recruited within labs to support students with lab work

– The work of Student Reps in Computer Sciences to gather feedback on how students’ wanted to be communicated with led to improvements in how staff communicate with students

– Public Speaking Peer Assisted Learning Leaders were introduced in Law thanks to Student Reps raising a need for more support in this area

– Student Reps raised a need for staff to cover some aspects of a particular topic at a slower pace as students were struggling to keep up and they did!

– Student Reps lobbied staff to reschedule cancelled lectures

– Student Reps across UWE were involved in many conversations about the improvement and development of modules and programmes

– Student Reps contributed towards the Hidden Course Costs campaign leading to £15 printer credit for every Undergraduate Student at UWE

– The library on Frenchay campus will be open 24hrs thanks to student feedback

YOU SAID WE DID AND

#ICHANGEDUWEAs a Student Rep we’ll be encouraging you to promote your successes!

Look out for the YouSaidWeDid campaign promoting some of the changes the university has been making in response to student feedback and working with Student Reps.

Then for 2015/16 we’ll be launching a ‘I changed UWE’ campaign in partnership with the university. We’ll be looking for Student Reps and staff to tell the rest of the university about how they have worked together to respond to student feedback.

We look forward to seeing what you’ve been up to!

Both campaigns will be active across social media, so feel free to tweet using:

#IchangedUWE#yousaidwedid #yousaidUWEdid

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TOP

TIPSHere are some tips which will make your role as a Student Rep much easier:

– Put the dates of meetings into your calendar as soon as you get them

– Ask for help if you are struggling to get student feedback

– Don’t forget to let students know what is happening with their feedback

– Be aware of what’s going on and the general feeling of your group

– Make sure to chat to people beyond your friends – you might make some more!

– Try a variety of methods to try to reach everyone

– Be specific – ask specific questions on specific topics

– Get your face out there early on

– Get to know other Student Reps, you’re stronger as a team

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NOTESA page for you to jot down when your meetings are or other important notes.

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Edward BurrellRepresentation Support Coordinator for ACE and FET

Sarah HickieRepresentation Support Coordinatorfor HAS, FBL and PGR

Both can be reached at:studentreps@uwe.ac.uk 0117 32 82963/87572

Your Programme Manager:

CONTACT

US

thestudentsunion.co.uk/repsstudentrepsatuwe

@studentreps